Curtis Banks has joined the growing list of major financial services platforms and SIPP providers signing to Options Transfers, the automated re-registration and cash transfers service run by Origo, the eCommerce standards and services body for the financial services industry.
This sees Curtis Banks able to effect orchestrated asset transfers involving SIPP (Self Invested Personal Pension) and SSAS (Small Self Administered Scheme) pension arrangements.
Options Transfers, which orchestrates pension transfers, has reduced the average transfer time by 80% since its launch in 2008. The enhanced service now also enables the re-registration of assets making it the only complete transfers service in the market.
Rupert Curtis, Managing Director of Curtis Banks, said: "Curtis Banks has always invested in modern and efficient systems, designed for ease of use and full flexibility. RDR is highlighting the need for efficient transfer of assets whether on or off platform and we want to be in the forefront of companies offering that capability to our advisers and their clients. Using Options Transfers simply makes sense - it is already developed, proven technology from a company with many years history of improving business efficiencies for advisers, platforms and providers alike."
Paul Pettitt, Managing Director of Origo, said: "Curtis Banks' signing to Options Transfers reinforces the value that Origo's complete transfer service brings to the market.
"Options Transfers supports a range of assets and product wrappers for re-registration- stocks and shares ISAs, GIAs and importantly full support for SIPP assets and wrappers, the only service in the market able to offer this.
Options Transfers also provides platforms and providers with a 'plug and play' solution to automated re-registration. It gathers the required information, removes paper work and chases, tracks progress and orchestrates the re-registration of assets electronically. It makes a costly manual process, an efficient, paperless transaction. The fast and efficient transfer of assets fits both TCF and RDR principles, by keeping the client centre of mind, delivering the service that customers expect, and the administration efficiency that platforms and providers need."