Press
Balance Sheet Solutions and ISI Forge Partnership
Todd Adams
Director of Affiliated Business Solutions
Alloya Corporate FCU
(630) 276-2770
todd.adams@alloyacorp.org
Michael T. Doherty
President
CU Investment Solutions, LLC
(913) 912-5232
mdoherty@cu-isi.org
Warrenville, Ill., and Overland Park, Kan. (7/30/12) – Balance Sheet Solutions, LLC (BSS) and CU Investment Solutions, LLC (ISI) announced today that they are working towards joining forces to better serve credit union investment needs. BSS, a wholly owned CUSO of Alloya Corporate Federal Credit Union, is a leading broker/dealer, investment advisor and ALM risk management consultant to credit unions. BSS has decided to partner with ISI to realize significant operational efficiencies while continuing to support the investment needs of its credit union members.
ISI, chartered in 1998 and located in Overland Park, Kansas, is a corporate credit union controlled brokerage firm that cleared over $10 billion in trades for credit unions during the past 12 months. BSS cleared close to $3 billion in trades during the same time period. Operating a brokerage firm is an expensive proposition, most notably because of costs related to mandated compliance requirements. By partnering with ISI, BSS is able to essentially out-source the back office compliance function along with the operation, trading and settlement functions.
Chuck Furbee, CEO of Alloya Corporate Federal Credit Union noted: “Our credit union members set the foundation for Balance Sheet Solutions nine years ago and formed a trusted credit union service organization to meet credit unions’ growing investment needs. BSS has a unique understanding of credit unions and the ability to “do the right thing” for its clients. BSS does not carry inventory or conduct operations for the benefit of private stockholders – critical differences compared to its various competitors that lets them focus on the welfare of its clients. Between the two firms, over 650 credit unions have found value and have purchased at least one investment during the past 12 months. I don’t see why that number can’t double or triple.”
Michael Doherty, CEO of ISI stated: “The BSS and ISI cultures are perfectly aligned as both are credit union controlled and share a common goal – serve credit unions to the best of our abilities. We have worked hard at ISI to build a highly efficient brokerage operation to serve credit unions and are thrilled that BSS has chosen to partner with ISI for these services. There is little reason for both organizations to operate independent trading platforms and bear the associated costs.”
Todd Adams, Director of Affiliated Business Services at Alloya said: “The decision to partner with ISI at this time was an easy choice. ISI offers an attractive business model and a talented team of investment professionals that will nicely complement our existing BSS team. While ISI provides the behind the scenes back office support, the team at BSS, in partnership with ISI, will be 100% available to support all of your investing needs.”
“Too often, we see credit unions paying too much for an investment,” Adams continued. “One of our hopes is that all credit unions will take advantage of the services provided by BSS, if for nothing else, to double check that they are receiving a fair price from their current brokerage firm. Obtaining a price from our team of investment professionals will cost nothing, yet provide our credit union members with the peace of mind that they are receiving a fair deal.”
About Balance Sheet Solutions, LLC
Balance Sheet Solutions, LLC is a member FINRA/SIPC and provides a wide range of services to credit unions, focusing on trades of marketable securities and jumbo certificates, ALM risk management, and advisory services. BSS actively served 850 credit unions over the previous year representing investable assets of $74 billion and total assets of $200 billion. Balance Sheet Solutions is headquartered in Warrenville, Illinois, with major operations in Albany, New York and Covina, California. Learn more at www.balancesheetsolutions.org.
About CU Investment Solutions LLC
CU Investment Solutions, LLC (ISI) located in Overland Park, Kansas and chartered in 1998, is a Corporate Credit Union Service Organization registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. CU Investment Solutions, LLC is registered in the state of Kansas as an investment advisor and a member of FINRA and SIPC. CU Investment Solutions, LLC operates in all fifty states and is owned by eleven corporate credit unions. CU Investment Solutions, LLC board of managers is made up entirely of corporate credit union executives.