BROOKLYN, N.Y.-At all costs, avoid converting core systems if you have a good relationship with your current data processing vendor-even if the system itself needs some work, recommends Gene Brody, president at Bay Ridge FCU.
"If you have a reliable vendor, one who is sincerely responsive to your needs, do not switch," he said. "If you must switch, get on a plane with your staff and speak to existing users without the processor's representatives present."
"You need to have a processor you can communicate with and get help from," agreed Joy Benedek, CEO at Alcose CU. "If you truly have that now, there is no need to change. If you do not, run as fast as you can but investigate numerous processors before making a decision."
Good communication can often result in "fixes" to any system defects, explained Brody and Benedek.
