CCEC Credit Union (CCEC), Vancouver Firefighters’ Credit Union (VFCU) and Slovenia Credit Union (SCU) All Sign Agreements to Convert to Smart Solution's Universa Premier Core Banking Suite

We were off to a great start this year, signing three clients within the first five months of 2015 and with more prospects in the wings in this second half of the year! Smart Solution, a leading provider of financial management solutions, announced recently the successful signing of binding Agreements to convert CCEC Credit Union, Vancouver Firefighters’ Credit Union and Slovenia Credit Union from their existing banking systems to Smart Solution's Universa Premier Core Banking Suite. Universa is a state-of-the-art, browser-based banking platform, written from the ground up, using the latest industry standard technologies. Once the installations at CCEC and VFCU go “live”, it will firmly establish Universa as a leading contender in cutting-edge banking platforms in the province of British Columbia where Smart Solution already services several other clients. And with SCU’s conversion to Universa, will add yet another limb to its ever-growing customer tree in Ontario.

All three credit unions are moving to Smart Solution's “SAAS – Software as a Service” bureau solution, and away from running their own in-house systems due to the increased complexity of keeping their systems and third party interfaces up and running 24/7. This is a business solution in which Smart Solution specializes. Universa’s modular architecture allows the client to tailor an overall banking solution that best fits the current and future needs of its organization. Universa’s agile, rapid release development process enables Smart Solution to translate client business needs or new ideas into customizable system functionalities that are fully under the client’s control through Universa’s security framework. The possibilities for customization are endless and new additions are seamless.

All three credit unions had expressed concerns about how they were positioned to meet the future challenges of the ever-changing financial services marketplace. CCEC and SCU, both already clients of Smart Solution running on the legacy SmartCUT platform, discussed those concerns with Smart Solution and were presented with various Universa options. VFCU, a new client, had expressed similar concerns. All three were not only intrigued by Universa’s possibilities but also delighted by how easily it would enable them to enhance member services. In 2016, CCEC (originally formed by “The Lower Mainland Community Congress for Economic Change Society”) will be celebrating its 40th anniversary. “It’s the perfect time to migrate to a new, up-to-the-minute banking solution like Universa,” said Ross Gentleman, General Manager, CCEC.

“Our aim has always been to serve Vancouver’s firefighters and their families; this switch to Universa will allow us to serve them even better now and in the future. Just like a fire can change its direction at a moment’s notice, Universa will allow us to adapt quickly to any market changes,” stated David Meers, General Manager of VFCU.

Since its inception in 1957, Slovenia Parishes (Toronto) Credit Union Limited, “SCU”, has employed the credo of “people working for people”. “This conversion to the Universa platform is wholly in line with our mission, which is to be a financial co-operative that provides superior services and advice and which improves the economic and social environment of its members within the Slovenian Community in Ontario,” commented Peter Markes, CEO of SCU. He added further [that]: “This new banking platform will enable SCU to become the preferred financial institution to all within our field of membership”.

“We were pleased and excited when these three Credit Unions chose to convert from their existing banking systems to our Universa platform to support their individual focuses on customer service over the coming years,” said Iean Tait, President and CEO, Smart Solution. “With these three Credit Unions agreeing to join our ever growing Universa client list, we are confident in inviting any financial institution looking to upgrade to a modern, flexible and robust core banking platform at a competitive price, to join our team.”

For more than 38 years, Smart Solution and its group of companies has provided innovative core banking systems and financial management solutions to financial institutions worldwide. Smart Solution supports a client base of more than 40 financial institutions, including some of the top Canadian and Caribbean Credit Unions.