Prosperity Bank Upgrades To Precision Product

Prosperity Bank has contracted with Precision Computer Systems, a Sioux Falls, S.D.-based software company, for a new core system, Vision. The system, which replaces an older product from a different vendor, was selected based on its ease of use, functionality, service, and price.

Because it's acquiring banks at a rapid rate, Houston-based Prosperity Bank needed a state-of-the-art product offering a fourth-generation language and relational database. Vision offered both.

Vision is a Windows-based system. "The combination of Vision software and IBM hardware will provide us with a solution that has unparalleled scalability and flexibility," said Dan Rollins, senior vice president at $1.8 billion Prosperity Bank.

Rollins also pointed out that the software interfaces better than the previous system, allowing a better flow of information. In addition, the software should improve customer service, especially for online customers.

Through the use of digital keys, Prosperity Bank can turn features on or off. "If we pay for it, the feature is turned on," said Rollins. "With other vendors, it was an add on, so that additional software interfaces would have to be added to the main software."

According to Rollins, Precision Computer Systems' service has been outstanding. The responses are quick and the people the bank is dealing with are quite knowledgeable. Questions are answered over the phone quickly, correctly and efficiently.

In order to select the right vendor for its 45 bank locations, Prosperity last spring put together a team of leaders from different areas within the bank. The team was interested in not only the latest technology, but in making sure the system would be easy to understand for employees and customers, and that it was easy to operate.

Last year, three vendors were called in for product presentations. After visiting three banks using Vision, the Prosperity team chose PCS

With five acquisitions in 2002 and two this year, conversions are being conducted in sequence. At the end of the process, all locations will be on the same system. As Prosperity acquires more banks, they will be converted, too.

Although the actual conversion is performed overnight, it requires weeks to prepare data files. So far, Prosperity's timetable is being met, and Rollins is quite satisfied.