UFS acquires Safe Systems

GRAFTON, Wis. — UFS, a technology outfitter for community banks, announced it has acquired Safe Systems, a provider of fully compliant IT and security services for approximately 260 financial institutions.

According to UFS, this acquisition marks a pivotal step toward fulfilling its purpose of empowering community banks across the United States to thrive through exceptional industry expertise and customer experience, cybersecurity as a service, managed IT services, private cloud, vulnerability management, advisory services, and hardware and infrastructure support services. The Safe Systems community will now have access to the full array of UFS purpose-built solutions, and UFS customers will have access to Safe Systems' compliance and security services.

The combined organizations will now serve nearly 400 financial institutions.

"UFS' acquisition of Safe Systems is a game-changer for community banks across the country," said Dave Mayo, founder of Bankers Helping Bankers and CEO and founder of FedFis. "This is a strategic move that will both elevate and broaden the quality of solutions and services available. Talk about perfect timing, this enables Bankers to better serve their customers. By combining their expertise and resources, these two companies are positioned to deliver unmatched support to the industry."

"I am immensely proud of what our team has built over the last three decades and the positive impact we've made on our industry," noted Darren Bridges, president of Safe Systems. "UFS has an exceptional reputation and shares our vision for supporting our customers through a consultative and relationship-first approach. I look forward to an even brighter and successful future ahead for the Safe Systems and UFS communities and am confident that our combined strengths will be of tremendous value to community banks and credit unions."

UFS cited high levels of customer service, expertise in the financial industry and experienced, dedicated IT, security and compliance resources are among the factors that differentiate Safe Systems. The company said it believes every financial institution, regardless of size, should be able to leverage the best technology, compliance and security solutions to serve the financial needs of their community.

"For the past decade of our 33-year history, UFS has been strategically reinventing our business to become the technology outfitter for community banks," added Mike Tenpas, UFS Board chairman and CEO. "This investment in Safe Systems doubles down on our commitment to see that vision through, and our significant growth has demonstrated that bankers have found value in our purpose. Community banks deserve partners who can deliver solutions that empower them to succeed, and we are excited to bring the best of these two organizations together with this investment and do just that."