March News: Tech Trends Driving Canada’s Future; CRA & InfoLend Updates; Conference Recap and more!
Tech Trends
Trends Driving Tech in Canada
From AI regulation to workforce upskilling, March's tech trends highlight the evolving landscape of Canadian innovation. This month’s roundup explores how companies are adapting to generative AI, strengthening cybersecurity, and addressing talent gaps through education and reskilling. A great snapshot of the forces driving transformation across Canada’s tech ecosystem.
Industry News
Intellect Design Takes Over Management of Forge from Central 1
Intellect Design Arena and Central 1 have officially announced that Intellect Design will take over full management of the Forge Digital Banking Platform; while Central 1 shifts its focus to payments and related initiatives. Intellect Design will continue to support credit unions with customized digital services.
Product Updates
CRA Filing Season
As CRA requirements continue to change, staying compliant means adapting quickly and accurately. In this article, we share how InfoCore was updated to meet the latest filing standards—streamlining schema changes, automating CRA forms, and helping credit unions submit with confidence and speed. Take a look behind the scenes at how our team made it happen. 👉 Read the full article here.
InfoLend Update - Excitement builds ahead of launch!
We’re thrilled to share that InfoLend, our modern and re-imagined Loan Origination System, is generating strong interest across the credit union space. Last month, our team attended the Ontario Credit Union Conference, where we had the opportunity to demo InfoLend live at our booth.
We received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many attendees highlighting the platform’s clean, user-friendly interface and the thoughtful attention to the credit union lending workflow. The level of curiosity and engagement reaffirmed the growing demand for a fresh, intuitive LOS solution tailored to the Canadian credit union market.
As we approach our official launch, we’ve already begun scheduling onboarding sessions for early clients, starting in April. These include participants from our Early Access Program as well as new credit unions that have recently signed on.
If you're interested in seeing InfoLend in action, feel free to reach out — we’re happy to schedule a demo. Book a demo here
Customer Success
Reminder that basics can often solve problems
Recently, I had a client call in with a fairly serious problem: they were unable to connect their laptop to their credit union's banking system. They were in a hurry, as they needed to assist some members ASAP and had already tried to log in several times before calling us.
While reviewing the situation, I asked if their internet was working and whether they had a good connection… suddenly, there was a pause. They had internet, but in their panic, they had forgotten to connect to their VPN. It's such an easy detail to overlook in the heat of the moment, particularly when juggling multiple applications or dealing with time-sensitive issues.
In today's fast-paced, high-tech world, it can be easy to overlook the basics. With advancements in artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud computing, and other cutting-edge technologies, troubleshooting IT issues can seem like a task that requires high-level expertise and sophisticated tools. Yet, time and time again, simple fixes—such as plugging in a cable, restarting a system, or ensuring a VPN is turned on—remain some of the most effective solutions to tech problems.
Despite the rapid advancements in technology, some of the most effective troubleshooting techniques haven’t changed in decades. Whether you're managing a high-powered server or troubleshooting a personal computer, the first steps in resolving an issue often involve simple checks. Looking behind stacked computer equipment—perhaps a little dusty—can sometimes reveal a cable that is damaged, frayed, or crimped. Or you might even find a power bar that is no longer working or has accidentally been turned off.
When it comes to software problems, the first solution is often the simplest one: restarting the system. Whether it’s an application freezing or a slow response time, rebooting a system can resolve many software glitches. Restarting resets the system, clears temporary files, and can even fix minor software bugs. In a world where updates, patches, and new applications are released constantly, rebooting remains one of the most effective ways to clear up minor issues quickly and efficiently.
Similarly, make sure all software updates are installed and that firewalls or security protocols aren’t inadvertently blocking access to necessary systems. These simple checks can often resolve problems without the need to deep-dive into more intricate troubleshooting.
In a world driven by technology, it’s easy to overlook the importance of simplicity. But the reality is that many IT issues—from hardware failures to software glitches—can still be resolved with basic problem-solving techniques. Simple steps like checking connections, rebooting systems, and ensuring network configurations are correct can save time, reduce frustration, and prevent unnecessary costs.
— Greg Radwan
Client Spotlight
Ontario Educational Credit Union
We’re proud to have Ontario Educational Credit Union (OECU) as one of our valued partners. For over 50 years, OECU has been dedicated to serving Ontario’s educational community with integrity, personalized service, and a deep commitment to member well-being.
Their collaborative spirit goes beyond day-to-day banking—OECU played an active role in testing and shaping our FSRA EDC module, providing thoughtful and consistent feedback that helped us improve the solution and make it more reliable for all our partners.
We’re grateful for their trust, insight, and continued partnership.
What’s New at Infonancial?
Supporting small credit unions
March was an exciting month for Infonancial as we had the honor of being the title sponsor for the Ontario Credit Union Conference in Toronto! This event brought together industry leaders and small credit unions for a day of insightful discussions and networking opportunities.
We had a fantastic time attending the informative sessions hosted by other sponsors and engaging in meaningful conversations with small Credit Unions during the networking breaks. It was inspiring to connect with so many passionate professionals dedicated to driving innovation!
We were also thrilled to take part in the speaker sessions! Our very own Tucker Sholtes delivered an insightful talk on Digital Transformation and Streamlining the Back Office to Elevate Member Experience.
A huge thank you to everyone who attended and participated—we appreciate the engaging discussions and shared perspectives. We’re grateful for the opportunity to support and collaborate with the small Credit Union community and look forward to more events like this in the future!