Design Partner Program
Help define the next operating model for banking.
The adapfin Design Partner Program selects five community banks to shape Nucleus BankOS with adapfin’s leadership, evaluating it alongside their existing core through side-core deployment.
At a glance
- Cohort
- Five community banks
- Selected on
- Alignment, objectives and strategic fit
- Deployment
- Side core, alongside existing systems
- Work with
- adapfin leadership, product and architecture teams
- Open to
- Institutions in the US, Canada and Mexico
- To apply
- One short application form
Why now
A different foundation, not another layer.
Fragmented stacks, rising compliance expectations and AI pressure are pushing banks to add more software. adapfin believes the answer is a different operating foundation.
Why institutions engage
Modernize without a rip-and-replace.
- Reduce vendor fragmentation
- Unify operational and customer intelligence
- Accelerate product deployment
- Modernize compliance and fraud operations
- Evaluate AI-native workflows safely
- Lower transformation risk with a side core
What design partners receive
Direct collaboration with the people building the platform.
- Strategic product influence
- Early access to capabilities
- Executive collaboration sessions
- Dedicated implementation alignment
- Priority roadmap consideration
- Transformation planning support
Ideal institution profile
Leadership that wants a lower-risk path to modernization.
- Community banks
- Seeking operational modernization
- Evaluating AI-enabled workflows
- Experiencing vendor fragmentation
- Prioritizing innovation and efficiency
Participation
By selection, in four steps.
Strategic alignment
We meet executive and operational stakeholders on priorities, challenges and readiness.
Collaborative evaluation
Partners evaluate workflows, deployment models and fit with adapfin leadership and product teams.
Side-core planning
A phased plan designed to reduce operational disruption and implementation risk.
Ongoing design collaboration
Partners help shape capabilities, workflows and the roadmap.
Questions
About the program
What is the adapfin Design Partner Program?
It is a program in which five community banks help shape Nucleus BankOS directly with adapfin leadership, product and architecture teams. Partners evaluate the platform alongside their existing core through side-core deployment.
How many institutions are selected?
Five. adapfin limits the cohort so every partner gets meaningful collaboration and implementation focus.
Does a design partner have to replace its core?
No. Side-core deployment lets a partner evaluate modernization next to its existing infrastructure and move in phases.
How are design partners chosen?
Applications are evaluated on institutional alignment, operational objectives and strategic fit. adapfin follows up directly with every applicant.
Five founding institutions will define what comes next.
If your bank is evaluating a lower-risk path to modernization, apply to participate.