Although development banks are not for profit making, they are mandated with providing much needed financial services and assistance to South Africans. Nevertheless, the bulk of South Africa's development banks have recently suffered financial loses, while others have seen their earnings decrease. This paper argues that, to maximise performance and the subsequent success, development banks must align their information technology and business strategies. The argument is that when an organisation's business and information technology strategies are aligned, that improve performance and in turn may increase profits. The business problem is that South African development banks lack a guiding framework for aligning business and information technology strategies. This paper utilises a case study research strategy to describe how business and information technology alignment can be achieved through thorough strategic planning and execution. The paper employs business and information technology alignment models as lenses to show when and how information technology could better enable the business processes in South African development banks, when there is alignment. The paper provides a framework for business and information technology alignment.

Keywords : Alignment, Business Strategy, IT Strategy, Development Banks, South Africa