Its Symitar® division today introduced SymAdvisor™, a consultancy service to help credit union clients maximize the value of their Symitar solutions.

With regulatory bodies such as the NCUA and the FFIEC putting vendor management under a magnifying glass, credit unions face pressure to tighten project management and installation requirements, and to have an in-depth knowledge of how their technologies perform. SymAdvisor provides on-site consultants to help credit union managers develop a strategy to most effectively utilize their Symitar systems, complementary Jack Henry solutions, and integrated third-party vendor products.

The $3 billion Wright-Patt Credit Union used SymAdvisor to gain an outside perspective on how its business and IT units can further maximize efficiencies with the Episys® platform. After a site visit, the SymAdvisor team generated a report that prioritized the areas in which the credit union could implement updates or new strategies. Aaron Vaubel, one of the credit union's IT managers, said, "The SymAdvisor team identified areas for improvement its first day on site and guided us through the best way to incorporate them. The SymAdvisor process gave us a new view of how to better leverage the technology we already have, and fresh ideas for changing key operating procedures."

SymAdvisor provides credit unions with high-level recommendations on getting more out of their existing technology investments, and offers practical recommendations as well as any staffing resources needed to move a project forward. Within this process, Symitar compares third-party products as well as Jack Henry products, helps determine the technology required, and then creates concrete steps for reaching each project's objectives. The goal is to help credit unions avoid roadblocks and minimize the delivery time of projects that will ultimately improve performance and operating efficiencies, enhance member service, and support growth across multiple areas of the institution.

Ted Bilke, president of Symitar, said, "Symitar has always cultivated an attention to service, and our reputation in the industry is evidence of that commitment. While ongoing support has forever been a key facet of each credit union relationship, formalizing a program with SymAdvisor further reinforces our goal to facilitate our clients' success and optimize growth in the credit union industry."