On May 1, 2025, Canadian credit union executives across Canada gathered virtually for the “Navigating the Forge Migration: Lessons From Industry Leaders” webinar hosted by Aequilibrium. The panel, featuring six industry experts, explored the challenges, strategies, and insights surrounding the migration from the Forge digital banking platform. With an hour of rich discussion, the event offered attendees actionable lessons on turning a necessary tech migration into a long-term strategic advantage.
This blog distills their candid commentary and expert guidance for those preparing to embark on or navigate a post-Forge transition.
Defining Roles: Strategy vs. Execution
Shelley McDade, CEO of Sunshine Coast Credit Union, highlighted the distinction between executive execution and strategic governance:
“As a CEO, my role is to implement projects on time and on budget. On the board, I focus on systemic risks and stakeholder oversight.”
McDade advised credit unions to define the digital role within their overall strategy clearly. At Sunshine Coast, digital is reserved for transactional activities, while personal advice remains employee-led. Her final note? Treat digital transformation as a recurring capability—not a one-off project.
Platform Commitment: Key Factors
Lloyd Smith, CEO of FirstOntario Credit Union, offered a real-world example of dual-platform management and eventual consolidation. With Temenos already in use for core banking, the credit union chose to transition fully to Temenos Digital:
“We didn’t want to run two platforms forever. Our experience with Temenos gave us confidence.”
Key factors in the decision included robust API integration, a strong partner network, and favourable research reports such as Forrester’s evaluation of digital providers. Smith emphasised thorough evaluation and strong internal governance—including a steering committee and layered project management—to stay on schedule.
Following the Signals: SASCU’s Path
Barry Delaney, President and CEO of SASCU, described his credit union’s approach as “scoping and coping.” SASCU is relying on a combination of internal assessments and the wisdom of peers:
“We’re watching what the large credit unions are doing. It’s like a Burger King building across from McDonald’s.”
Barry brought humour and honesty to the panel, highlighting SASCU’s participation in the Community-Based Credit Union Futures Committee, a collaborative group of over 40 credit unions seeking a shared vendor solution.
Governance & Velocity: The Coalition Perspective
Carrie Forbes, CEO of Rockstar Advisory and former CEO of League Data, has guided over 40 credit unions through a unified Mambu core transition. She stressed the importance of decision governance:
“It’s not just about tech. It’s about whether the coalition can make good decisions quickly—decision velocity is everything.”
Forbes warned against rushing into technical decisions without cultural alignment, governance design, and capability matching across coalition members. She called for partners who are not just technical providers but cultural fits for long-term collaboration.
Technology with Autonomy: First West’s Strategic Architecture
Darrell Jaggers, CIO and Chief Transformation Officer at First West Credit Union, shared a deep dive into their evaluation process. Their priorities were clear: modernization, API readiness, user experience, and independence.
“We needed the ability to control our own destiny.”
First West aligned its selection with a Microsoft-based tech stack, aiming to build a Microsoft reference architecture for the Canadian credit union ecosystem. Jaggers introduced the idea of “Forge Parity Plus”—not just matching Forge’s functionality, but modernizing it:
“We liken Forge to a 2014 Corolla. The new platform should be a 2025 model—not just equivalent, but better.”
Practical Wisdom: Scoping, Budgeting, and Risk Management
Several leaders shared practical tactics for avoiding budget and timeline pitfalls. Smith’s team uses a tiered project management structure and a steering committee for oversight and agility. McDade advocated for staged funding releases and early talent assessments to avoid resource mismatches. Delaney prioritizes timeline over budget, noting that numbers can be vague while deadlines provide clarity. Jaggers warned against “scope creep” and advocated for a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) approach to go live quickly and then evolve.
Collaboration vs. Independence: Can Coalitions Succeed?
A key theme was whether small and mid-sized credit unions should go it alone or join forces.
McDade was optimistic:
“If small and medium credit unions work together with expedited governance, the cost and learning curve savings are phenomenal.”
Jaggers supported this with a practical analogy:
“Think of agreeing on a chassis—shared parity. Some build a basic model, others a Ferrari. But the base matters.”
Adrian Moise, CEO of Aequilibrium, stressed the risk of delay:
“The longer the wait, the more you fall behind member expectations. Time is of the essence.”
Choosing the Right Partners
When it comes to selecting vendors and integrators, leaders agreed that this decision carries long-term implications and should be approached with strategic care. The first step is to assess core competencies: does the partner specialize in this particular space, or are they stretching beyond their strengths? Next, evaluating both their roadmap and risk posture is essential—are they actively modernizing, and can they confidently meet evolving regulatory requirements? As McDade said, “right at the start of the game, when you start negotiating your contracts, consider, you know, rewards and penalties,” Beyond technical qualifications, the human element matters just as much. Cultural alignment can be the make-or-break factor in long-term collaboration. Contracts are necessary, but shared values are vital. Forbes captured the sentiment succinctly: “It’s not a date. It’s a marriage. Choose a partner with aligned values and shared accountability.”
What About the Public Website?
Most agreed: separate it, but Delaney confirmed:
“We’ve separated the Forge transition and our public website. They may intersect, but they don’t have to.”
This separation allows for faster progress and less entanglement of requirements.
Maintaining Member Loyalty Amidst Change
The final audience question of the session turned the spotlight on member engagement during times of transition—a topic that sparked a strong consensus among the leadership panel. The first key takeaway? Members are far more technologically adept than many assume. As Shelley McDade pointed out, “They deal with updates every day—from Netflix to apps,” emphasizing that digital change is already a regular part of their lives. Darrell Jaggers echoed this sentiment, noting the lack of recent innovation in the space: “They haven’t had innovation from us in years. Let’s raise the bar.” The second core message highlighted that action speaks louder than intent. “It’s the post-launch support that defines success,” McDade reminded the audience. “Be ready for the yellow font complaints,” she added with a dose of realism, underlining the importance of recovery and responsiveness in earning long-term trust.
All panelists agreed on five critical points:
- Start with alignment: Executive and board buy-in is foundational.
- Prioritize and phase: MVPs reduce risk and build momentum.
- Collaborate smartly: Small and mid-sized credit unions can benefit from shared platforms if governance is strong.
- Choose the right partners: Cultural alignment, domain expertise, and execution capability matter most.
- Center the member: Migration should enhance, not disrupt, the member experience.
This webinar offered a rare, transparent look at the realities of digital banking transformation in Canada. From strategic governance to MVP tactics, from platform selection to coalition building, our speakers shared invaluable lessons for all credit unions navigating the Forge sunset. In a landscape defined by rapid change and evolving member expectations, the Forge migration presents not just a challenge—but a unique opportunity to modernize, align, and transform. Let’s start thinking outside the box together.
See You In Halifax!
Aequilibrium will be at the Canadian Credit Union Conference (CCUA) between May 11-14th in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Stop by our booth (#20) and meet CEO and Founder Adrian Moise, Growth and Partnership Manager, Henry Morato and Marketing and Communications Manager Mariam Ordubadi.
Missed the Webinar?
Watch the entire session here:
