BrightStar Credit Union chooses Jack Henry for core upgrade

By Gloria Methri

Jack Henry™ has announced that BrightStar Credit Union (BSCU), one of South Florida’s largest credit unions, has selected the Symitar® core platform and a suite of complementary products to support its long-term growth and elevate its member experience.

Founded in 1946 by 26 educators, BSCU serves nearly 60,000 members with $948 million in assets. Known for its dedication to financial literacy and community impact, BSCU had outgrown its legacy core system and was seeking a modern, scalable platform. BSCU highlighted Jack Henry’s hands-on approach, technical expertise, and cultural alignment as key factors in forging what it sees as a strategic, long-term partnership.

“We have had a great experience with the Jack Henry team from start to finish,” said Biana Murnane, CEO and President of BrightStar Credit Union. “They understand our goals and priorities, especially our focus on delivering faster, smarter, and more personalised services for our members and employees. This upgrade reflects our ongoing commitment to making banking easier, more secure, and better tailored to member needs, and it will expand our commercial lending and business banking capabilities.”

Previously hosting its core in-house, BSCU is now migrating to a private cloud environment powered by Jack Henry. This shift not only boosts operational efficiency but also allows the credit union to focus on its mission—empowering nearly 60,000 members with accessible, secure financial services.

With increasing fraud threats in the region, BSCU is replacing manual fraud detection with Jack Henry Financial Crimes Defender™, enabling real-time, automated risk mitigation. The move is set to significantly improve the credit union’s security posture while reducing internal workload.

BSCU is also stepping into the future of payments by adopting the RTP® network and FedNow℠ Service through JHA PayCenter™, offering members instant payment capabilities and keeping pace with evolving digital expectations.

“It is special when a credit union shares our same values and goals of strengthening their local communities through service and support,” commented Brynn Ammon, President of Credit Union Solutions at Jack Henry. “We are proud to welcome BSCU as a client – a credit union dedicated to maximising technology and our relationship to make a meaningful impact. We look forward to expanding their reach, supporting more educational communities, and helping them deliver excellent service.”