Microsoft Canada Co. announced today that Meridian Credit Union Ltd. is creating a new service experience for its 180,000 members by standardizing its operations on a range of Microsoft.NET connection software.

Replacing numerous, inefficient paper-based processes, the solution will enable Meridian staff to fulfill member service requests through a single desktop view. It will also help employees to better serve members.

The result of a $3.5 billion merger between Niagara Credit Union and Hepcoe Credit Union, Meridian is Ontario’s largest credit union, operating 43 branches and 63 ATMs across the province. As a result of the merger, the new company supported a mix of aging business software, some of which was based on proprietary, UNIX-based software that could not be easily integrated with existing Windows and other legacy-based assets.

Meridian needed a platform that would help it achieve near-seamless integration across the organization, enable the easy sharing of data, and that would support continued growth, with security a paramount concern.

“As a credit union our members are our owners, so we’re focused on making their experience with us as simple and efficient as possible. By standardizing on the Microsoft .NET-based platform we can deliver new services to them more quickly and cost-effectively. It is a key enabler to our vision of reinventing Neighbourhood Banking,” said Steve Gesner, chief information officer, Meridian, in a news release.