DDI (Data Directions) vs. Trinergy (AMI) vs. CEFCore
The three platforms used by the majority of U.S. Church Extension Funds. See how they compare across architecture, features, compliance, and pricing.
Est. ~1990 | Indianapolis, IN
Legacy on-premise system used by many large CEFs including The Solomon Foundation, DCEF, and others. Partners with VSoft for the Arya online banking portal. Desktop-first architecture with batch processing.
Applied Microsystems | Portland, OR
On-premise platform serving mid-size CEFs. Known for their Trinergy suite covering loans, investments, and GL. Desktop application with optional web portal. Used by WatersEdge Ministry Resources, NCP, and others.
Cloud-Native SaaS | Built 2024-2026
Purpose-built cloud-native platform designed from the ground up for Church Extension Funds. Modern API-first architecture with real-time dashboards, integrated compliance, and white-label portals. No legacy tech debt.
Comprehensive comparison across 46 features spanning architecture, core capabilities, compliance, operations, and more.
| Feature | DDI | Trinergy (AMI) | CEFCore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture | |||
| Deployment Model | On-premise / hosted | On-premise / hosted | Cloud-native SaaS |
| Modern Web Interface | Legacy desktop + VSoft Arya portal | Legacy desktop + web portal | Modern React/Next.js dashboard |
| Mobile-Responsive | Arya portal only | Portal only | Fully responsive all screens |
| API-First Design | |||
| Multi-Tenant | Single-tenant per install | Single-tenant per install | Native multi-tenant |
| Real-Time Updates | |||
| White-Label Portals | Limited (Arya branding) | Limited | Full white-label per tenant |
| Core Features | |||
| Loan Servicing | |||
| Investor Note Tracking | |||
| Double-Entry General Ledger | |||
| Cash Management | |||
| Escrow Tracking | Basic | Basic | Full sub-ledger |
| Fee Management | Basic | Basic | Automated fee engine |
| ACH/NACHA Processing | |||
| Interest Accrual Engine | Daily batch | Daily batch | Real-time + daily batch |
| Compliance & Security | |||
| 1099 Reporting (IRS) | Automated generation | ||
| Statement Generation | Manual/batch | Manual/batch | Automated monthly |
| Immutable Audit Trail | Basic logging | Basic logging | Cryptographic hash chain |
| Multi-Factor Authentication | TOTP + backup codes | ||
| Role-Based Access (RBAC) | Basic roles | Basic roles | 7+ roles with granular permissions |
| Maker-Checker Workflow | Four-eyes principle | ||
| Transaction Limits | Role-based daily/per-txn limits | ||
| Fraud Detection | Real-time anomaly detection | ||
| KYC/AML Compliance | Built-in screening | ||
| SOC 2 Ready | Not certified | Not certified | Designed for SOC 2 |
| Operations | |||
| Loan Origination System (LOS) | Separate module | Integrated with scoring | |
| Asset-Liability Management | Built-in ALM dashboard | ||
| CRM / Relationship Management | Integrated CRM | ||
| Custom Report Builder | Canned reports | Canned reports | Drag-and-drop with Highcharts |
| Automated Backups | Manual | Manual | Automated with DR testing |
| Bank Feed Integration | Plaid integration | ||
| Monitoring & Alerting | Real-time with PagerDuty/Slack | ||
| Rate Limiting | Token bucket per endpoint | ||
| Customer Experience | |||
| Online Investor Portal | VSoft Arya (separate) | Separate portal | Integrated portal |
| Online Loan Application | White-label application portal | ||
| Customer Document Upload | Email/mail | Email/mail | Self-service portal |
| Real-Time Balance Inquiry | Portal (delayed) | Portal (delayed) | Real-time via API |
| Integration | |||
| REST API | 200+ endpoints | ||
| Webhook Support | Event-driven outbox | ||
| OpenAPI Documentation | Swagger UI included | ||
| Third-Party Integrations | Limited | Limited | Plaid, PagerDuty, Slack, email |
| Pricing & Support | |||
| Pricing Model | License + annual maintenance | License + annual maintenance | Monthly SaaS subscription |
| Implementation Timeline | 6-12 months | 6-12 months | 4-8 weeks |
| Data Migration Assistance | Additional cost | Additional cost | Included in onboarding |
| Ongoing Updates | Annual releases | Annual releases | Continuous deployment |
| Support Model | Phone/email business hours | Phone/email business hours | Priority support + SLA |
Get up and running in weeks, not months. DDI and Trinergy implementations typically take 6-12 months. CEFCore includes data migration assistance at no extra cost.
Built-in MFA, maker-checker workflows, immutable audit trails, fraud detection, and KYC/AML screening. Legacy systems require expensive add-ons for basic compliance.
No upfront license fees. No annual maintenance surprises. One monthly subscription includes hosting, updates, support, and compliance features.
Integrate with any system via RESTful APIs. DDI and Trinergy offer no public APIs, making integrations expensive and fragile.
New features deployed continuously. No waiting for annual release cycles. Legacy vendors ship updates once or twice a year.
Give your investors and borrowers a branded experience. Loan applications, balance inquiries, and document uploads -- all under your brand.
See how CEFCore compares to your current system with a personalized demo.