The Core Vendor Evaluation Playbook

A No-Nonsense Guide for Banking Executives Navigating

One of the Most Critical Decisions of the Decade

You’re Not Buying Software — You’re Placing a Bet.

Choosing a core vendor isn’t a procurement task — it’s a long-term bet on your institution’s operational future, customer experience, and ability to innovate.

This playbook flips the script. It’s not about vendor features or sales flash. It’s about regaining leverage, surfacing trade-offs, and making the kind of decisions that protect your institution for the next decade.

What’s Inside?

  • Power Dynamics in Vendor Deals – Understand how vendors subtly control the conversation and how to take it back.

  • Demo Theater and Sales Illusions – Why polished demos are more magic show than reality and what to demand instead.

  • Questions Vendors Hope You Won’t Ask – Get 10+ killer questions that expose red flags early (hint: legacy tech doesn’t die easily).

  • Scoring the Contenders – A proven scorecard framework to filter out hype and focus on what matters post go-live.

  • Negotiating From Strength, Not Desperation – How to hold your ground and walk if needed, without derailing momentum.

  • Avoiding Contract Trapdoors – Identify legal language designed to lock you in, and learn how to renegotiate smarter.

  • The Truth About “Best Fit” – There is no perfect vendor. But there is a best-fit-for-your-reality if you map trade-offs honestly.

  • Post-Go-Live Mastery – Why the real winners treat go-live as Day 1 and what they do differently.

Who This Is For?

  • Banking Executives, COOs, CIOs, and Board Members looking to challenge assumptions.

  • Transformation Leaders seeking a stronger grip on vendor dynamics.

  • Procurement & Legal Teams wanting to avoid being boxed in by vague SLAs and renewal clauses.

  • Any Bank about to enter the evaluation or negotiation phase with a core vendor.

Bonus Toolkit

CSP’s Core Vendor Challenge Questions — 30+ brutally effective questions across architecture, APIs, support, contracts, and more. Use them to cut through sales armor and get real answers.

Why This Guide Matters?

The biggest mistake banks make? Giving away their leverage before they even ask the first question. This guide teaches you how to walk in with clarity, confidence, and control.

Don’t just survive vendor evaluation — own it.

Ready to place the right bet?

Get the guide that top-performing banks are using to transform vendor conversations — and outcomes.