Case Studies Client Engagements

Our negotiation services have delivered significant savings for banks and credit unions while securing advantageous terms on high-cost systems and ancillary solutions. Below are examples highlighting total cost reduction and the negotiation of removal of exclusivity, reduction in liquidated damages, merger and acquisition terms, tiered pricing, SLAs, service escalation, and flexibility in a variety of terms.

Core Banking Systems

A mid-sized bank with $8 billion in assets was renewing its core banking system contract, with the vendor proposing a total cost of $25 million over five years. CCG Catalyst negotiated a 28% reduction in total costs, saving $7 million, by implementing a tiered pricing structure based on transaction volume growth. We removed an exclusivity clause, reduced liquidated damages for early termination, and secured a merger and acquisition clause. Additionally, we negotiated SLAs guaranteeing uptime with penalties for non-compliance, established a clear service escalation process for critical issues, and added flexibility in contract renewal terms to allow the bank to reassess needs every three years instead of five.

Digital Banking Solutions

A regional bank with $5 billion in assets sought a new digital banking platform, with the vendor quoting $10 million over five years. We reduced the total cost by 22%—saving $2.2 million. We removed an exclusivity clause that would have locked the bank into using the vendor’s payment gateway, reduced liquidated damages, and secured a merger and acquisition provision. SLAs were negotiated to ensure platform availability, with a defined service escalation process for downtime, and we added flexibility in integration terms to allow the bank to connect with alternative fintech providers as needed.

Payment Systems

A community bank with $3 billion in assets faced a payment system renewal. CCG Catalyst achieved a 30% cost reduction—saving $2.7 million. CCG Catalyst reduced liquidated damages and added a merger and acquisition clause. We also negotiated SLAs for 99.9% transaction processing uptime, established a service escalation process with 24/7 vendor support for critical incidents, and ensured flexibility in payment volume adjustments to accommodate seasonal fluctuations.

Loan Origination Platforms

A growing bank with $4 billion in assets needed a new loan origination system, with the vendor quoting $7 million over five years. We negotiated a 25% total cost reduction—saving $1.75 million. We removed an exclusivity clause restricting the bank from using competing origination tools, reduced liquidated damages and included a merger and acquisition provision allowing fee adjustments. A service escalation process was adopted, and we added flexibility in implementation timelines to align with the bank’s internal project schedule.

Trust Systems

A regional bank with a $6 billion trust portfolio was renewing its trust system contract, with a proposed total cost of $5 million over five years. CCG Catalyst reduced the total cost by 20%—saving $1 million. Negotiated reasonable liquidated damages and secured a merger and acquisition clause ensuring no additional fees if the bank’s trust division was sold. SLAs guaranteed 99% system reliability, with a service escalation process for priority support during tax season, and we ensured flexibility in training schedules to accommodate the bank’s staff availability.

Ancillary Solutions: Credit and Debit Cards, Call Center, BaaS, Account Opening, Wealth Management

Beyond core systems, CCG Catalyst excels in negotiating contracts for ancillary solutions, delivering similar cost savings and strategic terms. For example, a mid-sized bank with $6 billion in assets renewed its credit and debit card program contract, initially quoted at $4 million over three years. We reduced the total cost by 18%—saving $720,000 and we added flexibility in rewards program customization to align with the bank’s marketing campaigns. Similar successes have been achieved for call center outsourcing, BaaS integrations, account opening platforms, and wealth management tools, ensuring comprehensive savings and flexibility across all vendor relationships.

Why Choose CCG Catalyst?

• Proven Savings with Strategic Terms: We’ve saved banks hundreds of millions while securing terms like removal of exclusivity, reduction in liquidated damages, tiered pricing, and robust SLAs that enhance operational efficiency.
• Banking Expertise: Our deep knowledge of banking systems ensures negotiations address both cost and critical terms unique to your institution.
• Customized Approach: We tailor every negotiation to your bank’s size, goals, and operational requirements, delivering personalized outcomes.
• Comprehensive Risk Mitigation: From merger protections to service escalation processes, we safeguard your interests while driving down costs and ensuring flexibility.