The $4.9 billion Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union in Tampa,Fla., said it plans to convert to the Acumen account processingsolution from Fiserv Inc.

The 520,000-member credit union, Florida's largest, cited thecore platform's open architecture and Fiserv's stability in itsdecision. It also selected teller capture and multi-channelmarketing solutions from the Brookfield, Wis., company.

“Suncoast Schools FCU has a strong technology culture and hasdeveloped proprietary applications that create competitiveadvantage and cost savings for the organization. The credit unionwill retain the operational efficiencies of these applications byeasily integrating them with Acumen using Web services, saving thecredit union the expense of replacing or redeveloping theapplications,” the company said.

Mark Sievewright, president of Credit Union Solutions at Fiserv,said, “As Suncoast Schools FCU continues to rapidly grow itsmembership base, Acumen will provide the ability tocost-effectively scale its infrastructure to keep pace withexpansion.”

Suncoast Schools currently uses Fiserv's Spectrum coreprocessing platform, according to the Technology Survey fromCallahan & Associates.

Fiserv introduced Acumen as a new flagship platform and said itnow has sold it to more than 30 credit unions in the United Statesand Canada. It's based on Internet technologies and providing360-degree member views.

The Acumen solution was introduced to the U.S. market in late 2009 after it wasdeveloped in Canada under the iSpectrum name. The first U.S.commitment was from the $522 million Christian Community CU in San Dimas, Calif., in early 2010.

The company said more than 30 credit unions have since thencontracted for Acumen. And it appears to be gaining traction amonglarge American credit unions, its prime audience. Along withSuncoast Schools, that includes the $1.3 billion NavigantFCU in Rhode Island, $4.8 billion Randolph-Brooks FCU in Texas, $3.6 billion Patelco CU in California, $1.7 billion Georgia'sOwn CU and the $1.1 billion GESACU in Washington state.