Guest blog: Reaping the benefits of collaborating on technology

Scotwest Credit Union has been running a Credit Union Service Organisation (CUSO) for its core banking system with Capital Credit Union for the last decade. Here, Frances McCann, CEO of Scotwest, shares details of its most significant collaboration to date.

Frances McCann, Scotwest Credit UnionAt the Building Societies Annual Conference in May, Frances McCann, CEO of Scotwest Credit Union, took part in a discussion on collaboration in technology. Scotwest has been running a Credit Union Service Organisation (CUSO) for its core banking system with Capital Credit Union for the last decade. She now leads Scotwest into its most significant collaboration to date, partnering with Capital Credit Union and Glasgow Credit Union to set up CU Share Limited, a new mutual organisation whose vision is to develop and offer services to the credit union sector and beyond. 

Collaboration between different organisations can undoubtedly be challenging. You are bringing together groups of people who may have different organisational cultures, conflicting priorities and potentially competing resources and interests. 

However, in my experience, if you can overcome these barriers, there is an opportunity to reap considerable benefits. In particular, when it comes to the significant investment required for the adoption of new technology infrastructure. 

Over a decade ago, that was the opportunity Scotwest and Capital Credit Union grasped when it came to investing in a new core-banking platform. 

We were naturally ambitious for our members in that we wanted them to benefit from a cloud-based system that was efficient, effective and could adapt to a future we could see would be defined by rapid change in new technology. 

At the same time, just as it is for any smaller financial institution, cost was a barrier. 

By setting up the shared services organisation, we were able to afford a cloud-based core banking system, the type normally only utilised by tier 1 banks.  In our case, that system was TCS BaNCS, provided by the global IT supplier Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).  

In terms of running the CUSO with another organisation, there were obviously challenges from bringing together different outlooks and views. Nonetheless, we found that if everyone is focused on a shared vision, then people always find a mutually agreeable path.  

It also helped considerably that we had an excellent partner in the form of TCS, who were supportive throughout the onboarding process. They provided technology that enables rather than constrains our strategy and the service we can provide to our members. 

The initiative symbolised a commitment to collaboration and that is the driving force behind the new CUSO that has recently been incorporated for the purpose of delivering a broader range of services. 

The new venture has been part funded by grant money received from the Scottish Government in the aftermath of Covid. 

For the newly incorporated CUSO, CU Share Limited, Capital and Scotwest have partnered with Glasgow Credit Union and we are currently going through a process of mapping out what we want this new shared services organisation to deliver. There are currently seven areas for consideration, including, governance, risk and compliance, HR, collections services, data analysis and technology infrastructure.  

Although we have a primary requirement to spend the grant money for the benefit of Scotland, we are open to providing services to organisations outside the credit union sector, such as building societies. 
By collaborating via sharing costs and our collective expertise with our existing CUSO, it has enabled us to punch well above our weight in terms of the systems and services we can provide. 

I am genuinely excited by the possibilities that our new CUSO could deliver and the ultimate value this will provide to our members and communities for years to come. 

Next steps: Visit https://www.scotwest.co.uk/ 

This article was first published in Society Matters magazine.

You may also be interested in...

BSA Card
  • BSA.PressRelease Press Release
  • Mortgages & Housing

Joint Industry Statement on Cladding

The joint industry statement on cladding has been updated to address the use of EWS1 forms over five years old and scenarios where forms may be signed...

BSA Card
  • BSA.PressRelease Press Release
  • Mortgages & Housing

Consumer confidence in the housing market declines

Just 17% of people agree now is a good time to buy a property, a decline from 20% just three months ago.

BSA Card
  • BSA.Event Event
  • Mortgages & Housing

AI-Powered Digital Transformation for Building Societies Webinar

AI isn’t just an upgrade for building societies—it’s the foundation for staying competitive. In this exclusive webinar, we’ll explore how Gen AI is re...

BSA Card
  • BSA.PressRelease Press Release
  • Thought leadership

Mutuals Group urges action to realise huge growth and social dividend from Labour’s ‘doubling’ ambition

New Independent Report shows removing financial barriers will unlock growth for mutuals and deliver on Labour’s Manifesto

BSA Card
  • BSA.Newsbite_1 Society Matters
  • Mortgages & Housing

A steadfast purpose helping to drive our collective future

Celebrating the history of building societies and the potential for growth of the mutual sector. 

BSA Card
  • BSA.IndustryResponse Industry Response
  • Mortgages & Housing

Reforming the Energy Performance of Buildings Regime

The BSA responded to the government’s consultation on reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings regime. The consultation sought input on changes ...

BSA Card
  • BSA.IndustryResponse Industry Response
  • Conduct Risk & Regulation

BSA response to PRA CP17/24 and FCA CP24/28 on operational resilience: operational incident and outsourcing and third party reporting

The BSA has issued a combined response to PRA CP17/24 Operational resilience: Operational incident and outsourcing and third party reporting and FCA C...