TROY, Mich. – Credit union data processor GALAXY Plus has a new leader who is pushing for a new image. Tim Milz has been named president of GALAXY, a Fiserv subsidiary. He assumes the post from Bob Miotke who retired after leading the company since 1989. Miotke has been in the data processing arena since 1996. Milz has been in financial services for 24 years, joining GALAXY in 1999 as director for systems and development, later being named a VP. GALAXY has 344 credit union clients that are in the mid to small range. Its system is both in-house and online. The average size for the online GALAXY credit union client is $27 million with about 6,700 members. On the in-house side it's $132 million with an average of 21,600 members. "Of course we want the size to grow. Now with all the consolidation in the marketplace we have a shrinking number of credit unions. So far it's been a wash for us. We lose some to mergers and pick up some," said Milz, who wants CUs to trust that they can stay with GALAXY as they grow, something he's not sure it has right now. GALAXY is revamping its technology. It has just gone through a hardware migration from Data General to IBM. It is also in the midst of a major software migration from the old green screen based system to a Windows and a browser-based system. Milz said he knows that GALAXY may not have the best technology reputation right now, but that will change. "First and foremost we are doing a complete transition of our core product. We have to become more responsive, and continue to focus on quality," said Milz. "There's probably some question out there about our sense of urgency, that GALAXY really needs to move forward with its technology product to be responsive to the strategic plans of its credit unions. There's been some complacency there." Milz believes the company has an innovative track record. It developed its own home banking system, known as Netbranch, that 140 of its clients utilize. It also has e-statement integration, paperless receipts, signature pads, and an integrated chat product where members can engage in online chat sessions with their credit union. "The big thing really is system stability, product quality, product support. That's all going to have to play into a total member satisfaction vision," said Milz. "I've been doing a number of road trips since we made this transition (his president appointment) to let our credit unions know we're committed." But Milz knows the products have to be there in step with credit unions' strategic goals. Along those lines Milz said commercial offerings, which CUs are getting deeper into, is on the front burner of GALAXY's product strategy -not just a loan product, but deposit as well. GALAXY has some catching up to do with providers like OSI, Aurum, Symitar and others offering its CUs commercial solutions. Finally, Milz said GALAXY will become more marketing savvy, getting its name out there in the marketplace. "That's always important," he said. As one of six credit union data processing subsidiaries of Fiserv, Milz said the company has well-defined rules of engagement that keep the companies from in-fighting. "There's also not much overlap. We all have our niches. But if there's a problem, we know the rules." Milz has a bachelor's degree in business computer systems from Eastern Michigan University. He and his wife and two children live in Romeo, Mich. [email protected]