1,000 credit unions shift card processing to Triumph software.

CSG Card Services, a division of the Credit Union National Association Inc., has converted more than 1,000 member credit unions to the Triumph card-processing system.

Triumph accounting software, developed by Banc One Corp. and Andersen Consulting, was released about two years. ago and is said to allow more flexibility and efficiency.

Keith Floen, senior vice president of CSG, said that Banc One had customized Triumph for credit unions.

Triumph runs on Banc One's processing system in Columbus, Ohio, while CSG is responsible for training, support, education, consultation on pricing, and developing portfolios as well as turnkey systems and back-office cardholder support.

CSG tested Triumph with about 200 credit unions.

The conversion added more than a million accounts from credit unions in 38 states.

Rollie Penn, systems Vice president at CUNA in Madison, Wis., said that the work was completed overnight and was "by and large a very successful conversion."

Triumph offers workflow management capabilities and a risk-identification system to alert the appropriate bank officer to credit- or fraud-related problems.

"You can vary fees and interest rates based on individual account performance," Mr. Penn said.

More than seven million accounts are now being pressed with Triumph software, with Banc One affiliates making up the greatest share.

Richard T. Robida, executive vice president, Speer & Associates Inc., the Atlanta consulting firm, said that although he is impressed with the overall number of accounts, "no one of any significant size is operating on Triumph." He continued, "CUNA is the first major conversion I've heard about."

Other Processors Have Similar Software

Mr. Robida pointed out that the nation's leading third-party processors, First Data Resources and Total Systems Inc., offer their own versions of versatile software.

M. Troy Woods, senior vice president of Total, said. that First Omni Bank, the credit card subsidiary of First National Bank of Maryland, will complete conversion to TS2, Total Systems' new software, by Aug. 15, bringing 750,000 accounts on board, and a deal signed with Bank of America is expected to add 7.5 million accounts by 1995.

Mr. Robida said, large processors won't invest in the systems without seeing results. "If this CUNA conversion proves successful, that will give the much-touted [Triumph] software some needed credibility."

CSG, the fifth-largest credit card processor, the largest one serving credit unions, and the exclusive provider of Triumph to credit unions, is planning to convert the remainder of its 2,260 credit unions to the Triumph system by early 1995.

CSG also provides statement preparation, printing and mailing, data entry, remittance processing, and lock-box services.

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