ATLANTA, July 26, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- SEFCU, a $1.2 billion credit union serving employees from a variety of New York businesses as well as employees of the State of New York, has successfully converted to Harland Financial Solutions' ULTRADATA(r) core processing system. The ULTRADATA System is a real-time host processing solution delivered as an in-house or service bureau offering to over 400 credit unions. The total solution includes powerful applications for lending, retail & branch operations, electronic banking and member relationship management.
With more than 124,000 members, SEFCU is among the 100 largest credit unions in the United States and is the largest in the Capital Region of New York State. Their new ULTRADATA system is powered by a UNIX-based Hewlett-Packard 9000 rx5670 system and the advanced jBASE database management system, with capabilities for 24/7 processing, online transaction journaling and hot standby.
The ULTRADATA system's open architecture enables real-time integration with other software and technology. The system's open Transaction-Exchange architecture will be used to implement Harland Financial Solutions' entire suite of business intelligence tools for financial, transaction and loan risk analysis, Touche(r) member relationship management solution, INTERLINQ(r) E3 mortgage loan production and servicing platform, and Laser Pro(r) business loan origination solution.
Transaction-Exchange was also used to integrate SEFCU's existing Internet banking system, and provides a Web services gateway to the core ULTRADATA application for future integration with other solutions chosen by SEFCU.
"We expect our current growth to accelerate over the next several years," Michael Castellana, SEFCU's president, said. "We chose Harland Financial Solutions because the open architecture of the ULTRADATA System enables us to easily implement our integration strategy and optimize efficiency. Both of these elements are key to our future growth and emphasis on serving our members."
Over a recent three-day weekend, a team of experts from Harland Financial Solutions was onsite to ensure a successful implementation. SEFCU went live with a complete new framework of technology, replacing a legacy system they had used for the past eight years.
"Harland Financial Solutions is dedicated to providing our clients with the highest level of implementation services and support to ensure a smooth conversion and a positive experience," said Jim Berthelsen, senior vice president and general manager of Harland Financial Solutions' Credit Union Core Systems Group. "Our conversion team worked very closely with the credit union and by early Monday evening sign-off was secured and the system went live."
"During the first day SEFCU was live on the system, the new Web-based loan application solution accepted online applications and rendered credit decisions for over $3 million in new consumer loans," said Bob MacLasco, executive vice president of lending at SEFCU. "It was a great beginning to reaching our ultimate lending goals. In addition, more than 11,000 calls were processed on the new telephone banking system."
"Business (commercial) lending is an important element in our growth projections. With Laser Pro, we can more effectively serve our individual and business members," continued MacLasco. "In addition, with INTERLINQ E3 loan production and INTERLINQ loan servicing products, we expect to gain improved workflow, operational efficiencies and increased member service while providing the ability for our members to make loan payments from any channel. After many years of working with stand-alone mortgage systems, the integration of E3 and Loan Servicing with the ULTRADATA System will enable us to enhance our mortgage delivery for the benefit of our members."
"We continue to provide our clients with best-in-class technology that enables them to improve the level of service they provide their members," said John O'Malley, president of Harland Financial Solutions. "The unprecedented connectivity between our products provides our clients with the competitive advantage so necessary today. We are delighted to have SEFCU in our credit union family and look forward to showcasing them to the rest of the credit union industry."
INTERLINQ, Laser Pro, Touche, and ULTRADATA are registered trademarks of Harland Financial Solutions, Inc. All other brands and products or services are trademarks and/or service marks of their respective owners, may be registered, and should be treated appropriately.
About SEFCU
Established in 1934, SEFCU serves not only New York State employees but more than 700 member groups in the Capital Region, Syracuse and Binghamton areas. Today, SEFCU is the largest credit union in the Capital Region and one of the largest in upstate New York. In the past year, SEFCU has been granted charter expansions by the NCUA (National Credit Union Administration) to open full membership eligibility to eight cities and towns within the credit union's service areas. SEFCU offers members a full array of electronic delivery options including online banking and bill payment, eStatements and online Visa account access, and wireless banking, in addition to its broad spectrum of individual and business deposit and loan products.
About Harland Financial Solutions
Harland Financial Solutions (www.harlandfinancialsolutions.com) supplies software and services to thousands of financial institutions of all sizes. Harland Financial Solutions is a leader in deposit & loan origination, platform, teller, call-center, mortgage, business intelligence, core systems, customer relationship management systems and compliance training software.
About Harland
Atlanta-based John H. Harland Company (NYSE:JH) (www.harland.net) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "JH." Harland is a leading provider of software and printed products to the financial institution market. Harland's software solutions include deposit & loan origination, platform, teller, call-center, mortgage, business intelligence, core systems and customer relationship management systems. Harland's printed products offerings include checks, direct marketing and financial forms. Scantron Corporation (www.scantron.com), a wholly owned subsidiary, is a leading provider of software services and systems for the collection, management and interpretation of data to the financial, commercial and educational markets.
This press release contains statements, which may constitute "forward-looking statements." These statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of John H. Harland Company and members of its respective management, as well as the assumptions on which such statements are based. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Reference is made to the Risk Factors and Cautionary Statements in Harland's Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filed under the Securities Exchange Act.