Credit unions are on the brink of being able to choose best-of-breed applications from multiple
"With web services, it's 'Ready, set, go!' for credit unions wanting to consume different applications through third
As web services mature, IT folks are realizing that a document-sharing focus on systems integration really IS better
In addition, web services, such as check imaging or data storage, can represent different types of data that older
"Web services provides an easy way to integrate systems that share data," said Mills, who recently won the 2002
Northwest Corporate created a Simple Access Object Protocol (SOAP)-based check imaging web service. SOAP is a
"Everybody agrees that web services is a standard," he continued. "We don't have to argue about which interface is
"Web services is therefore less focused on the political, and more focused on the technical," he added.
Credit unions are starting to feel the power of Web services, Mills said.
For example, Northwest Corporate's check imaging Web service is available to credit unions through the corporate's
True to web services' reputation for suppleness, that same CU was even able to put up the Intranet check imaging
No additional hardware or software needed to be installed in the same network as the CU's homebanking Web
And because of the flexibility of Web services, "I haven't had to change the check imaging web service at all to
Furthermore, the Northwest Corporate check imaging service requires end-users to authenticate only at the CU's
"As soon as these diverse applications are designed as web services, institutions can authenticate other institutions
Northwest Corporate has plans to design additional applications as web services- though Mills was reluctant to
The $1.3-billion Northwest Corporate CU serves more than 300 credit unions in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska