Client Comments
No matter how good you think your staff is at IT or the costs involved with software, you will find yourself an amateur compared to using Chip to help you through a time consuming, confusing and tedious negotiation process. He knows what the industry charges and recognizes what a good deal is and what is not. He will also cover your bases for future increases in rates and potential penalties. The Core Processing system is one of your most critical components in your bank. Don't pretend you have knowledge, expertise or time to do this on your own. The service was exceptional. Chip gives you a total impartial opinion on your options. He is working for you. Of all the costs involved with the acquisition; attorneys, accountants, penalties, etc, the check I wrote to The Bank Consultant was the only one that I felt I got a good deal on and huge return on my money. I met Chip by chance through a banking transaction, and I was lucky. Don't rely on luck to get you through this process. Just make the call and hire Chip. You will not regret it.
- - Stock Growers Bank – President (formerly Sargent County Bank)
As our contract with our Core Processer was maturing and the outlook of additional products and services being purchased from our Core we became overwhelmed with contract language, terms and conditions. After a few months of negotiating with the Core we engaged Chip to help us get the contract terms consistent and understandable as well as getting us the right terms on our new purchases. The final product was well suited for our Bank and we understood where we were at with our contract and what the future held. We will plan to use Chip in the future and based on our actual experience would recommend his services.
- - Iowa State Bank – President
Chip stepped in at a very critical time for the bank. We were merging three charters together and wanted to go from using Fiserv inhouse to outsourcing with Fiserv. He was meticulous in the details and did a great job of explaining it to me, a non-technical person. Not only was he actively involved in the negotiations, but he also followed up after the contract was signed to ensure that we were only be billed for what our contract stated. I trusted Chip to put the best interests of the bank as his highest priority, and as a result my own involvement was minimized. In addition, we were able to form a friendship from our many conversations on the phone. I would highly recommend Chip to help another bank.
Unity Bank - President
Our core processing contract was due to expire in 18 months, so we decided to explore other core vendors along with our existing processor. We knew there are a lot of nuances and pitfalls in core contract reviews and negotiations. Fortunately, we knew Chip Hortness and engaged his services. He thoroughly analyzed our existing contract and presented to our management team some of the challenges we faced should we decide to change vendors. By fully understanding those issues we were able to proceed, with Chip’s expert assistance, to compare two new vendors against our existing solution. Through his meticulous guidance, we decided to move to a new core solution with what we believe will be an enhanced product offering at a competitive price point. Chip’s attention to detail was critical in negotiating a successful agreement. If your institution is considering a core contract assessment and/or contract negotiation I would strongly recommend you reach out to Chip.
- - One American Bank – CEO
Chip was an extremely valuable member of our team during our contract negotiations. He was able to provide us with a road-map on how to accomplish our goals in a cost-effective way. His analysis of our contract, identification of “hidden” provisions and recommendations for improvements will also provide ongoing value to our bank as we continue to grow and add services. I also believe the fee charged by Chip was very reasonable and an excellent value for us. I can highly recommend Chip to help with your contract negotiations.
- American Bank – President
Chip assisted our institution through the complex process of analyzing our move from an in-house system to a service bureau contract. He took the time to understand our bank and the key issues that senior management was striving to achieve. Chip had great insight on the key points for both sides and was able to carve out the best deal for our bank.
- - Peoples Bank – CEO/President
Chip is the best kept secret in the banking industry. His calm manner and in-depth knowledge of Fiserv products, decision makers, contract negotiation tactics make Chip an invaluable teammate.
He works tirelessly to bring all parties together to finalize a contract. His service after the contract closes is like having your own Fiserv expert on your staff. Chip is the kind of fellow who delivers what he promises. He will work endless hours to satisfy his clients.
- - Eden Financial Corporation – EVP/CFO
When our current core data provider gave us notice that they would no longer be offering that service for us, we began the process of selecting another vendor. After a few months of struggles and frustrations, we called Chip to discuss our situation. From our very first meeting, we knew that we needed his experience and expertise in data processing and contract negotiations from that day going forward. Chip helped lower the overall stress level at the bank and helped ink a contract that we will be pleased with for years to come. I could not imagine doing this project without him.
- - Premier Bank – President
Chip's knowledge and experience helped us identify conditions in our contracts that we were unaware of. His analysis of our costs was very detailed. His negotiation resulted in an agreement with significant savings to our financial institution now and in the future. We would highly recommend him.
- - Frontier Bank – CFO
I would like to thank Chip Hortness for his assistance in negotiating our data processing contract. We were able to take advantage of his extensive knowledge of products and pricing to establish a contract that is date integrated across all product lines and achieve significant long term cost savings. His presentation and summary of proposals and ability to understand and represent our interests were a real benefit. I would highly recommend Chip.
- - First Security State Bank – President
We engaged Chip to help us with our contract renewal. His expertise was valuable to us in just about every area of the negotiations. He brought many things to our attention that we would not have considered and saved us time and money. He is very detailed and was easy to work with. I would highly recommend him.
- Central Bank – SVP/Cashier
We were transitioning from an in-house to outsource data processing environment. Chip did an excellent job structuring our outsourcing contract and helped us avoid many pitfalls. Chip has an in-depth knowledge of the banking industry. He has gone above and beyond our expectations. I would highly recommend Chip.
- United Community Bank – SVP/CTO