The impetus for streamlining application portfolios can originate from many different directions and catalysts. In this case it was simple: The bank's board of directors mandated that IT management cut IT costs by 10% and stipulated a five-year period by which time the target must be reached. As a mature, global-sized bank, where to find fertile ground wasn't the issue so much as where it could achieve the biggest bang for the buck. The CIO turned to application portfolio management (APM) for answers.