Mergers and acquisitions are often described in financial terms—numbers, multiples and valuations. But here at Red Fan, we know that behind every transaction is a deeper story: one of people, vision and the confidence required to move forward.

That’s the story we told for CSI, a company shaping the future of banking for nearly six decades.

Founded in 1965, CSI is now one of the nation’s top four core banking providers. Its financial technology powers hundreds of community and regional banks, offering regulatory, cybersecurity, and banking solutions that help local institutions compete with national players.

Then came 2022. CSI transitioned from a publicly traded company to a private-equity-backed platform with new ownership, new acquisitions, and an expanded suite of products. CSI was entering a new era.

Red Fan partnered with CSI to turn a complex series of transactions into a unified story of modernization and innovation. We needed to not only build confidence across stakeholders but also position CSI as a fintech leader for community and regional banks.

Using Communications as the Great Unifier

CSI’s leadership needed to articulate how each acquisition and investment directly advanced its long-term vision, and where the company was headed and why. But first, it had to identify and integrate the unique opportunities facing the company:

• Multiple ownership evolutions and capital investments within two years.
• Three acquisitions that needed to be integrated under a unified brand.
• A workforce seeking clarity on what these changes meant for their future.
• Differentiating CSI’s expanded capabilities from competitors in a crowded fintech market.

 

They turned to Red Fan to build and execute a comprehensive communications plan that would align internal and external stakeholders and elevate CSI’s leadership position in the fintech space.

The Red Fan Approach: Strategic Communications

We began with a guiding principle: “Clarity through consistency.” 

Red Fan developed a holistic M&A communications strategy designed to unify the CSI brand story, amplify company leadership, and sustain visibility across stakeholders throughout each transition.

Messaging Strategy and Media Relations

The first step was establishing a messaging hierarchy by meeting with CSI leadership to determine how to showcase the new technologies and ownership while reassuring employees and customers. Woven throughout was CSI’s mission to modernize community banking through secure, scalable innovation. Based on this messaging foundation, Red Fan created press materials, media advisories, stakeholder communications and CEO quotes tailored for national business and financial publications.

Internal Stakeholder Communications

Before going live, internal stakeholders needed alignment. Leadership emails, FAQs, and employee materials explained each move transparently, ensuring employees understood how changes benefited customers and their own growth.

Executive Thought Leadership

Positioning CSI’s executives as credible industry voices was essential. Through media training, messaging briefs and interview preparation for key leaders, CSI executives were equipped to speak on the company’s changes and the broader implications for the fintech ecosystem.

Integrated Communications Execution

From here, each milestone was introduced with coordinated timing and messaging across audiences. Between major announcements, Red Fan kept CSI in the conversation through proactive thought leadership, rapid-response commentary and trend-driven storytelling that demonstrated the company’s ongoing relevance and industry leading positioning.

M&A Communications Results and Impact

The impact of this cohesive approach was measurable and lasting:

• Achieved nearly 200 earned media placements in 2023–2024, including The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, American Banker, Axios Pro Rata, Bank Automation News, and PYMNTS, signaling confidence and positioning CSI as synonymous with fintech innovation.
• Ensured consistent, confident communication across internal and external audiences during high-stakes transitions. Employees felt informed and included, understanding how each acquisition contributed to the company’s broader mission. Externally, customers and partners saw a brand that wasn’t just expanding—but evolving with purpose.
• Positioned CSI’s executive team as go-to thought leaders in M&A-driven fintech transformation.

 

By aligning all messages under a single narrative, CSI transformed what could have been a fragmented M&A journey into a cohesive brand evolution story.

Key Takeaways for M&A Communications Leaders

Each communication—from press outreach to employee town halls—reinforced that these moves were investments in customer success and innovation.

The right narrative transforms complex transactions into a clear story of purpose, direction, and opportunity. Are you planning for a strategic M&A in the next 3-6 months? Consider the following communications principles to drive alignment across your stakeholder groups:

• Control the narrative early. Don’t let the market define your transformation—build the story before it breaks.
• Internal buy-in drives external credibility. Your people are your first and most important audiences.
• Train executives as communicators-in-chief. During M&A, leaders don’t just run the company—they embody its evolution.
• Momentum must be managed. Integration isn’t the end of the story; it’s where credibility is earned. Sustained visibility between transactions maintains confidence and brand equity.

 

CSI’s success is proof that with the right strategy, even the most complex M&A process can become a defining chapter in a brand’s growth story.

At Red Fan, we transform moments into stories that strengthen stakeholder trust and market leadership. If your next chapter involves an acquisition, divestiture, or integration, let’s make sure the story you tell builds lasting value.

Is your company transaction ready? Book a consultation with us today.