In the fast-moving SaaS industry, 20 years is a lifetime. Technology evolves, leadership changes and priorities shift, but some partnerships stand the test of time.
This year, Protecht and Unity Bank celebrate something rare and remarkable: a 20-year partnership built on trust, shared values, and a mutual commitment to risk maturity and innovation. It all began with a signature on a contract back in September 2005, and we haven’t looked back since.
“Long-term partnerships like this are the ultimate proof that when you combine shared values with shared vision, you get something special.”
— Jason Phillips, CEO, Protecht
Where it all began
The current Unity Bank was created in March 2025 by the merger-of-equals between Unity Bank and G&C Mutual, both long-time Protecht customers. But back in 2005, G&C was known as SGE Credit Union: a member-owned institution committed to fair, ethical banking. Protecht, for its part, was a bold young company with a mission to transform risk from a burden into a strategic advantage.
The technology? Well, it had a certain charm. The original Protecht ERM deployment (then known as WORMS, before the founders had a marketing team to inform them that this was a terrible idea) ran on a 256MB RAM Pentium III system with a 15" monitor and a screen resolution of 1024×768. But while the hardware was modest, the ambition was anything but.
“Back then, the technology was very different, but the vision was already there. Unity always saw enterprise risk management and asset & liability management as strategic priorities, not just compliance checkboxes.”
— David Bergmark, co-founder and former CEO, Protecht“The 20-year relationship with Unity reflects the epitome of why we set Protecht up and what Protecht stands for. As an early adopter of our Protecht ALM and Protecht ERM systems to SGE Credit Union being our landlord for a few years, we have developed an enduring relationship with Unity. We have forged many deep personal relationships based on trust and respect. We hope there is another 20 years!”
— David Tattam, co-founder, Protecht
Growing together
Over the years, G&C evolved from credit union to mutual bank. and most recently, into its next phase as part of Unity Bank. The institutions that merged in 2017 to form Unity Bank, MMPCU and BCCU, were also both long-time Protecht customers. Each step in Unity Bank’s evolution has represented a deepening of its commitment to community, resilience, and member value.
Protecht has grown alongside it, transforming from a small Australian startup into a global leader in enterprise risk management, with offices in Sydney, London, and Los Angeles. Yet the partnership remained constant, with each organisation shaping and supporting the other’s journey.
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“Protecht has been with us through every major milestone: not just as a vendor, but as a partner who understands our journey.” |
Technology that keeps evolving
When Unity Bank first implemented Protecht’s risk system, the goal was simple: centralise risk data, improve visibility, and reduce manual work. As time went on, the technology matured to meet expanding needs.
Over the years, Unity Bank has taken advantage of Protecht’s capabilities in ERM software, in risk training, and in asset/liability and treasury management.
In 2016, Protecht introduced powerful dashboard and reporting functionality, putting risk data at users’ fingertips without needing the IT department to build it out. That self-service capability laid the groundwork for a more agile and responsive risk culture.
Since then, Protecht ERM has grown into a fully integrated platform supporting enterprise-wide workflows, real-time analytics, and intuitive user experiences. Most recently, it has been instrumental in providing Unity Bank with the risk and resilience management tools needed to enable Unity Bank to meet APRA’s CPS 230 operational risk standard.
And now, in 2025, the next leap is incoming: AI-driven capabilities designed to help risk teams surface insights faster, test controls intelligently, and stay ahead of emerging threats.
The human side of risk
While the technology has changed dramatically, the human story has remained consistent. Protecht and Unity Bank have always shared a belief in empowering people, whether frontline employees managing operational risks or risk leaders driving strategic resilience.
Both organisations are grounded in strong values: cooperation, trust, and long-term thinking. Unity Bank’s mutual ethos and Protecht’s people-first culture have helped ensure the partnership was never just about software, but rather about shared goals and real relationships.
Looking ahead together
With the merger complete and a single brand set to roll out over the next 12 months, a new chapter begins for Unity Bank. And as Protecht enters its own next era under new CEO Jason Phillips, it does so with a continued focus on helping customers like Unity Bank stay resilient, forward-looking, and empowered by technology.
“It's been incredibly rewarding to support Unity Bank over the years, to grow alongside them and see how far both of us have come.” — Soe Vloebergs, Chief Customer Officer APAC, Protecht
“As we enter this next chapter together, it’s reassuring to know that Protecht will continue to evolve with us. We’re proud of the partnership we’ve built together.” — Kellie Tait, Chief Risk Officer, Unity Bank
Here’s to the next 20 years
Great partnerships don’t happen by accident. They’re built year by year, project by project, and conversation by conversation. They don’t just survive change, but grow through it.
Here’s to 20 years of shared progress, and many more to come.
Want to know what a 20-year journey with Protecht could look like for your risk team? Let’s start the conversation:
