The $636 million Northern Credit Union in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, has joined the 46 other organizations certified to create custom core extensions for Open Solutions Inc.'s DNA platforms.

The Glastonbury, Conn.-based provider of core processing and other services to 450 credit unions launched its DNAappstore last year as a place where financial institutions can buy and sell software applications that extend the functionality of the core solution.

More than 130 DNAapps have been created and they've been downloaded more than 900 times by banks and credit unions around the world, Open Solutions said.

“We are looking forward to developing solutions for our credit union more quickly and cost effectively than ever before,” said Northern CU President/CEO Al Suraci.

“Any Open Solutions client, partner or independent third-party developer can become a DNAapp developer to create its own custom solutions, shattering the top-down development model of legacy providers whose clients are beholden to their vendor's priorities and release schedules,” Open Solutions said in a statement.

Open Solutions competitor Symitar opened its own app store this summer. COCC, which runs the Open Solutions platform through its service bureau, did the same last fall.