Overview

In April 2025, Four Points Federal Credit Union went live with Corelation and Identifi on the same day. Fourteen days later, CFO Gavin Peterson was at the Corelation conference in San Diego, telling other credit unions they should work with Identifi.

That timeline is unusual. Most credit unions wait 6-12 months after switching cores before implementing new document management systems. They operate with incomplete imaging capabilities while teams stabilize the new core. Core conversions consume every available person, and adding an ECM project means splitting already-stretched teams between competing priorities.

Four Points didn’t have that option. Their core conversion meant their existing document imaging couldn’t be transferred. They were managing documents across multiple disconnected systems and various automation tools—with manual processes creating bottlenecks at every handoff. Waiting meant months of operating on a new core with gaps in document access, gaps that would become permanent workarounds.

They chose Identifi because the implementation model solved the staffing problem. Identifi handled 90% of the work, allowing Four Points to keep their team focused on the core while document management ran simultaneously.

Challenges

A Core Conversion that Eliminated Document Management Options

Four Points’ previous core system included a very basic built-in document management. The integration was straightforward because both came from the same vendor. Limited, but functional.

However, converting to Corelation didn’t allow for this option. A different solution would need to be identified and implemented by a staff already stretched too thin.

Waiting wasn’t possible. It would mean operating on a new core with incomplete imaging capabilities, forcing the team to rely on workarounds that would become permanent inefficiencies.

Too Many Handoffs, Too Many Failure Points

Before Identifi, getting documents into searchable systems required coordination across multiple vendors. Files moved from Keystone (running batch jobs) to WRG (their core services provider), then to Jack Henry (their outsourced IT), and finally to various automation tools.

“[We were] trying to get all those different parties to communicate,” said Peterson. “It [was] insane.”

Each handoff created failure points. Jack Henry requires static IPs. Moving receipts and checks between systems meant coordinating permissions and protocols across partners who don’t regularly communicate.

Member services needed better document import capabilities. They were handling manual uploads for documents that should have been automatically captured and indexed.

The pain was constant friction that slowed processes, created confusion about where documents lived, and made scaling harder.

No Staff Available for Dual Projects

Core conversions pull everyone who understands systems, data flows, and processes into planning and implementation.

Four Points faced three options:

• Wait 6+ months for document management
• Split staff between projects and guarantee neither gets adequate attention
• Find a partner who could work without constant internal support

Solution

Implementation that Doesn’t Drain Staff

Four Points signed with Identifi in September 2024, starting the project in Q1 2025 alongside core conversion preparation.

“A large percentage of the customer’s implementation is handled by our implementation team,” explained Shane Asbel, VP of Sales for Identifi. “When you’re doing a core conversion, all your people are focused on core. Having your doc imaging partner take the bulk of that workload off is a no-brainer.”

Lisa Paetzold, Identifi’s Director of Projects and Implementation, ran bi-weekly meetings with stakeholders from Identifi, Four Points, and Westcom. Sessions addressed specific modules (scanning, uplink, workflow), resolved technical issues with other vendors, and kept vendors aligned.

Four Points brought in representatives from loans and new accounts to shape how Identifi would work for their processes. Identifi collected requirements and built the system to match.

Because Four Points’ staff were fully consumed by the core conversion, Identifi structured training to fit their limited availability. The team used recorded sessions and short small-group meetings so employees could learn the system without stepping away from core-related priorities.

Financial Services Expertise that Accelerates Setup

Generic ECM providers build systems for hospitals, law firms, and manufacturers. These systems can handle documents, but aren’t designed with a deep understanding of the regulatory requirements and operational workflows specific to financial institutions.

Identifi’s team has 75 combined years of banking experience. “Not only do we have a purpose-built ECM strictly for banks and credit unions,” said Asbel, “but our experts worked for banks and credit unions. We speak the language.”

Questions about loan document categorization, retention policies, and audit trails don’t require lengthy explanations. When Four Points encountered IP address coordination issues, Identifi immediately understood the banking infrastructure constraints.

Modules that Automate Manual Work

The implementation began with Identifi’s scanning module, which allowed Four Points to capture physical documents directly. The team is now finalizing workflow automation and the tracking module, including the newly released tracking-to-workflow bridge.

Identifi’s importers with Keystone remove manual steps by automatically ingesting documents from Corelation, auto indexing, and archiving without a single manual step. “Staff can type in an account number and access all related documents immediately,” said Paetzold.

By consolidating access into a single interface, employees save time on every interaction, adding up across hundreds of tasks each day.

Results

The Go-Live that Worked

Four Points went live with Corelation and Identifi simultaneously in April 2025.

“They were dealing with a core conversion and document conversion on the exact same day,” said Asbel. “Lots of heartburn, sleepless nights, and a little bit of fear goes into that.”

Two weeks later, Peterson was at the Corelation conference in San Diego publicly advocating for both systems. The simultaneous launch succeeded because Identifi carried the implementation load while Four Points kept their team focused on core. Both projects ran without competing for the same people.

Efficiency Gains Beyond Time Savings

Peterson estimates the credit union is saving roughly 10 hours weekly as workflows reach full automation. Processes are still being implemented, and the number is expected to grow.

Electronic annotations improve recordkeeping and audit readiness. Less printing reduces costs and physical storage needs. “It helps keep us from printing everything off,” said Peterson.

Identifi came in roughly cost-neutral compared to the previous system. That said, Four Points had much more to show for it. They gained more scanning and uploading licenses, automation capabilities they didn’t have before, and centralized document access across departments.

Support that Actually Responds

“The service we’ve received from Identifi has been wonderful, above and beyond,” said Peterson. “They’ve helped us with resolutions, scripts to extract files. They’re always there if we have questions.”

“Support is always a top priority, our customers’ tickets are responded to promptly,” said Asbel. “When I was in banking on a different ECM provider, we would have 13, 14, 15 tickets open, and it would take weeks to get a response.”

Peterson’s assessment: “We have some unique stuff that’s making the situation more challenging. They’re helping us find solutions.”

Conclusion

Most credit unions treat core conversions and ECM implementations as separate projects. Attempting both simultaneously with typical vendors creates too much risk because implementation drains the same staff that the core conversion needs.

Four Points proved you can break that pattern. When your ECM partner handles 90% of setup, understands financial services operations, and responds to support requests in hours instead of days, the staffing constraint disappears.

The question for credit unions planning core conversions isn’t whether to delay document management, but whether your ECM vendor can work independently.

Planning a core conversion? Contact Identifi to discuss ECM implementation that doesn’t compete for your team’s attention.