 Keith Riddle Payfinia, an independent payment services firm providing an open payments framework, announced a new partnership with Deluxe, a trusted Payments and Data company serving millions of small businesses and financial institutions. Together, the organizations are expanding access to Paze®, a digital wallet and online checkout experience developed by Early Warning Services and offered by leading U.S. financial institutions.
Through this collaboration, Payfinia will support credit unions and community banks in enabling Paze for their cardholders, while Deluxe empowers merchants to accept Paze at checkout. The combined effort strengthens the availability of secure, bank-supported digital payments on both sides of the ecosystem – issuers and acquirers. For Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) building commerce, billing and vertical market platforms, the partnership delivers a turnkey way to embed Paze directly into their applications. Through Deluxe’s payment gateway and network, ISVs can offer a bank supported digital wallet inside their software without managing issuer relationships, wallet integrations, or ongoing certification. This allows software platforms to deliver a modern checkout experience while maintaining control over the user experience, data flows, and monetization strategy. Paze offers a fast, secure, and password free online checkout experience that can be embedded directly into software platforms. By integrating Paze into its payment network and gateway, Deluxe enables ISVs and merchants to accept bank supported digital wallet payments natively within their applications, accelerating time to market while reducing integration complexity. Payfinia further extends these capabilities, enabling community financial institutions to activate Paze’s digital wallet services within their online and mobile banking applications for seamless cardholder access. “Community financial institutions are prioritizing seamless eCommerce experiences, and their cardholders increasingly expect checkout options that originate within their trusted digital banking environment,” said Keith Riddle, General Manager of Payfinia. “Our collaboration with Deluxe strengthens Paze’s presence across both sides of the transaction. As issuers activate Paze for their cardholders, merchants are simultaneously enabled to accept those payments. Together, we are elevating the digital commerce experience to enhance security, expand payment choice, and drive long‑term value for financial institutions, merchants, and consumers.” As a Paze merchant partner, Deluxe enables its broad merchant base to add Paze alongside existing payment methods, helping businesses reduce checkout friction, decrease cart abandonment, and improve consumer trust. “Software platforms are increasingly responsible for how payments are experienced, secured, and monetized,” said Brian Mahony, President of Deluxe Merchant Services. “This partnership allows ISVs to embed Paze into their platforms using our payments infrastructure, giving them access to a bank supported digital wallet without taking on additional operational burden. Together with Payfinia, we are enabling software companies to deliver trusted, modern payment experiences at scale.” For ISVs, the collaboration provides a scalable payments foundation that supports embedded checkout, stronger consumer trust, and long-term platform differentiation.
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 “Credit unions share the goal of helping Americans manage debt and improve their financial well-being, but creating a patchwork of state-by-state interest rate caps is not the right solution. This approach would create a fragmented lending system, increase compliance complexity, and ultimately reduce the availability of responsible, lower-cost credit offered by not-for-profit credit unions. Credit unions already deliver some of the lowest credit card rates in the market because of their member-owned structure.
“If Congress wants to address rising debt, it should focus on policies that expand access to safe, affordable credit and support financial stability, rather than proposals that risk cutting off millions of consumers from the credit options they depend on. Congress should look to credit unions for solutions on affordability.” - America's Credit Unions President/CEO Scott Simpson  The Cal Coast Cares Foundation has begun accepting applications for its next round of college scholarships for local students. The application period runs through March 20th.
The nonprofit foundation will award scholarships of up to $2,000 to deserving college students, graduating high school seniors, and foster students who are in or have been in the foster care system in San Diego or Riverside counties, and have a proven commitment to academic excellence and leadership in the community. Recipients of first-year foster student scholarships will also be eligible for second-year scholarships by continuing to meet the requirements. To review eligibility requirements and apply, visit https://www.calcoastcu.org/community/cal-coast-cares-foundation/ . Cal Coast Cares Foundation Manager Penney Newell said, “These scholarships open doors for students who are working hard to achieve their dreams, often while overcoming significant challenges. By easing the financial burden of higher education, we hope to empower local students to focus on their studies, leadership, and service to others. This work is made possible through the charitable contributions of generous individuals, businesses, and community partners who share in our mission to uplift students and support educators.”  Fred Campobasso Great Lakes Credit Union (GLCU) and Takara today announced the launch of DREAM (Discount for Real Estate Affordability and Mobility), to address one of the most pressing challenges in today’s housing and mortgage markets: the mortgage lock-in effect.
Millions of Americans are stuck with low-rate mortgages, limiting their ability to move, constraining housing inventory, and weighing on balance sheets. DREAM offers a simple solution: members receive a discount when paying off their mortgage balance, unlocking flexibility and freeing the market. The result is a win-win: families regain mobility, and credit unions strengthen their financial position. “With discounts reaching 10% or more, DREAM helps families move forward and credit unions grow stronger,” said Fred Campobasso, Chief Lending Officer at GLCU. “It’s a smart, proactive solution to the mortgage lock-in challenge that aligns borrower affordability with responsible, sustainable lending.” The “Golden handcuffs” created by the rate cycle is a real challenge for families nationwide. DREAM creates alignment – giving borrowers payoff discounts with no loss to lenders. Because it’s built on existing rails, DREAM is easy to implement and requires no additional systems or integration. “DREAM provides flexibility – for borrowers who want to move and with the discount are able to afford it, and for credit unions to stimulate growth in their portfolios,” said Jonathan Arad, CEO of Takara. “We’re proud to partner with GLCU to bring this innovation to market.”  Park View Federal Credit Union (Park View) is excited to announce the launch of Penny, a next-generation AI-powered digital concierge designed to enhance the online experience for members and prospective members alike. Powered by Neural Rails, Penny delivers comprehensive answers, personalized guidance, and intuitive website navigation, helping users quickly find the information they need when they need it.
Unlike traditional chatbots, Penny offers a conversational experience that feels natural, intelligent, and highly responsive. By leveraging advanced agentic AI, Penny can assist with everything from answering everyday banking questions to guiding users through products, services, and loan options 24/7. “Neural Rails harnesses the power of agentic AI and seamlessly integrates onto any website,” said Rick Phillips, Founder of Neural Rails. “Our AI assistant delivers conversational intelligence that goes far beyond simple chatbots or search tools. Once deployed, the platform ingests the institution’s website to create a comprehensive knowledge base and then trains leading AI models, including ChatGPT, Grok, Claude, and Gemini, on that content. The result is an AI assistant that truly understands the institution for direct responses and prevents hallucinations. Penny has become the absolute expert on all things Park View.” For Park View, Penny represents a meaningful step forward in digital innovation and member service. “Penny is an exciting addition to our website and a reflection of our commitment to innovation,” said Krista Westfall, Director of Marketing at Park View. “She makes it easier for members and visitors to find exactly what they’re looking for, whether that’s quick answers, loan information, or personalized support, without having to click through multiple pages. Introducing Penny is just one more way we’re enhancing the online experience for our members.” One of Penny’s most powerful capabilities is her ability to learn and improve over time. Designed to deliver increasingly personalized interactions, Penny’s long-term goal is to recommend the most relevant products and services based on where members are in their financial journey, bringing a more human, consultative experience to digital banking. “One of the primary challenges Neural Rails solves is recreating the in-branch experience online,” Phillips added. “Penny functions like a 24/7 digital loan officer, answering questions, guiding members through the loan process, and helping them take the next step from the comfort of home. From opening a new account to applying for a loan, Neural Rails acts as the ultimate personal assistant for both members and financial institutions.” With the launch of Penny, Park View continues its mission to make banking more accessible, efficient, and member-focused, both in-branch and online.  Liz Stanislawski World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) has hired Liz Stanislawski as its new Director of Communications, bringing on a seasoned journalism and strategic communications leader to advance the organization’s global advocacy, member engagement and digital presence.
Stanislawski joins WOCCU with more than 15 years of experience across journalism, nonprofit, government, higher education and healthcare sectors. In her new role, she will lead WOCCU’s corporate communications strategy, oversee global digital content and media relations, manage brand identity, and serve as a public-facing representative of the organization. “Liz brings exactly the kind of strategic thinking, editorial rigor and leadership we need at this moment in WOCCU’s evolution,” said Paul Treinen, President and CEO of World Council of Credit Unions. “Her background in journalism, combined with senior-level communications leadership, gives her a rare ability to translate complex global policy and advocacy issues into clear, compelling narratives for members, partners and policymakers.” Stanislawski will oversee all trade association communications, including news and digital content, executive communications, advocacy messaging, global media engagement, annual and impact reporting, and communications for major events such as the World Credit Union Conference, along with global initiatives including International Credit Union Day. She will also partner with the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions to strengthen the unified WOCCU enterprise communications. Most recently, Stanislawski served as a senior communications leader at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she led executive communications and strategic messaging for a large, complex division spanning 150 staff and multiple programs. Her work included executive speechwriting, media relations, crisis communications, organizational change communications, and integrated digital campaigns. She began her career in journalism, spending several years as a producer, reporter, and editor, developing a strong foundation in human-centered storytelling. “I’m excited to join World Council of Credit Unions at such a pivotal moment for the global credit union movement,” said Stanislawski. “WOCCU plays a critical role in advocating for financial cooperatives around the world, and I’m energized by the opportunity to help elevate the organization’s voice, influence and impact through strong, strategic communications.”  Rise Analytics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Trellance, began 2026 with strong market momentum, signing seven new credit unions in Q4 2025 and early 2026, while securing renewals with twenty existing partners.
The seven new credit unions include:
Essential Analytics, launched in Q4 2025, is Rise Analytics’ cost-effective entry offering designed for credit unions seeking fast access to trusted insights without the complexity of a full enterprise analytics deployment. Ellafi Federal Credit Union and Minnco Credit Union are the second and third adopters of Essential Analytics, respectively, following NorState Federal Credit Union, which signed in late 2025. In addition to new business, Rise Analytics renewed partnerships with twenty credit unions, including several large and mid-sized credit unions such as:
“Meeting the analytics needs of credit unions is at the core of our mission,” said Paolo Teotino, Executive Director of Rise Analytics. “Starting the year with this level of new and renewed partnerships reinforces that credit unions trust Rise Analytics to deliver analytics that drive smarter decisions and stronger member outcomes.” Rise Analytics looks forward to a strong 2026, continuing to support both new and long-standing partners. To learn more about Rise Analytics solutions, including Essential Analytics, visit www.riseanalytics.com and meet us at GAC at booth #925.  SELCO Community Credit Union will begin accepting applications on Sunday, Feb. 1, for nearly $80,000 in SELCO Steps Up scholarships. The application window will remain open through Tuesday, March 31.
SELCO will award 20 eligible students with a $3,500 scholarship. Additionally, one Lane County student will receive the $7,500 Richard Metzler Opportunity Scholarship, awarded to a student who has demonstrated excellence in education, leadership, or civic responsibility despite adversity or a lack of opportunity. In all, SELCO will award $77,500 in scholarships to eligible students, which include high school seniors planning to attend an accredited two- or four-year college, as well as vocational, continuing, and nontraditional students. Graduate students are not eligible. “Students approach education differently than they once did,” said Craig Carpenter, SELCO’s Senior Vice President of Lending & Business Banking. “It’s why SELCO’s scholarship program evolved to support a diverse cross-section of students, including those planning to attend technical school or returning to finish their degree. As a credit union founded by teachers 90 years ago, meaningful student and educator support will continue to be foundational to how we give back.” Now in its 36th year, SELCO’s scholarship program is part of the SELCO Steps Up philanthropy initiative that the credit union launched in 2024. In 2025 alone, SELCO reinvested nearly $415,000 in the communities it serves through educator grants, scholarships, and impact-driven sponsorships, while SELCO team members committed nearly 1,700 volunteer hours. Whether it's support for students or teachers, many of the Steps Up programs seek to address issues in education. SELCO’s scholarship program aims to address the cost of school, which is the most often cited barrier for those who wish to attend college but don’t. SELCO’s scholarships can also be used for any educational-related expense, so they are uniquely suited to help students meet the demands of rising educational costs. Ethan Amato, a University of Oregon freshman from North Bend, earned a SELCO scholarship in 2025 and is now studying pharmacology. He said that the scholarship has “helped relieve the stress” of meeting educational costs. “It was a huge sigh of relief when I found out I’d received the SELCO scholarship,” said Amato, who also helped found UofO’s first-ever Pharmacy Club for future pharmacists and serves as the organization’s co-president. “The scholarship has really helped relieve the burden of paying for college—not just for me, but for my parents as well.” To qualify, applicants must:
SELCO’s Scholarship Panel will review each application, and funds will be released to scholarship recipients by the end of June. The Richard Metzler Opportunity Scholarship winner will be selected from Lane County applicants. Prospective students are asked to apply online at selco.org/scholarships by March 31. For more information on the scholarship program or other SELCO Steps Up programs, visit www.selco.org/steps-up.  Ashish Garg APL Federal Credit Union prevented an $80,000 wire fraud attempt by using Eltropy Video Banking to verify a suspicious transaction, protecting a member who had already lost more than $1.2 million to fraud at another financial institution.
The fraud attempt began when a wire transfer request for $80,000 appeared in APL FCU's online system with what appeared to be legitimate documentation. A payment support specialist noticed the wire was going to an individual rather than a title company and initiated a verification call. When the voice didn't match the member's profile and the caller resisted video verification, the credit union froze the wire. Three days later, the actual members called APL FCU and confirmed he had been the victim of a $1.2 million wire fraud at a separate institution. He lauded APL FCU’s security measures for acting as a critical final line of defense, keeping his remaining funds secure during the multi-institution attack. Video Verification as Standard Practice APL FCU implemented risk-based video verification with Eltropy Video Banking as part of its fraud prevention strategy. The credit union established a clear policy: any wire over a certain monetary amount to a third-party beneficiary requires video verification. "One of the rules we implemented when we took on the video portion of Eltropy was: any wires over a certain monetary amount to a third-party beneficiary will always require video verification," said Denise Webster, Accounting Manager at APL FCU. "This approach doesn't force staff to justify every video verification request; the policy does that for them." The video verification process takes two to three minutes but creates what fraudsters view as an insurmountable barrier. "At the end of the day, we're protecting our members and the credit union from loss," Webster said. "Once the money is gone from a wire or Zelle transaction, it's gone." Sean Manion, Vice President of Lending at APL FCU, said the business case is straightforward. "All we need is one big loss to offset such a cost-effective tool," he said. "I went into it thinking that this solution would help lending, and it's just morphed into something so much bigger." APL FCU staff have become advocates for video verification at industry conferences, sharing first-hand information about scenarios where the credit union has caught potential losses and how the additional layer of security protects members. "The longer credit unions wait to implement video verification, the longer it's going to take to reap results," Manion said. "If leaders want to change things in their credit union or banking world, they need to go with Eltropy." Ashish Garg, Co-founder and CEO of Eltropy, said APL FCU's experience demonstrates how video verification has become a critical fraud prevention tool. "What happened at APL FCU shows why video verification matters – it gave their team the ability to act decisively on their instincts and stop a catastrophe," Garg said. "The fraudsters couldn't bypass that face-to-face moment of truth, and an $80,000 loss became an $80,000 save instead." APL Federal Credit Union, founded in 1954 by employees of The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, serves 31,000 members with $700 million in assets. The credit union has been named "Best Bank/Credit Union" in Howard Magazine's "Best of Howard County" poll for eight consecutive years. The complete story of the credit union’s success with Eltropy can be found at How Humans of APL and Eltropy Video Banking Stopped Fraud in Its Tracks.  Scott Simpson Following President Trump’s announcement highlighting the launch of Trump Accounts, America’s Credit Unions welcomed the focus on helping American families build long-term financial security for their children and underscored the important role credit unions can play in delivering these accounts. Scott Simpson, President/CEO of America’s Credit Unions issued the following statement:
“The President’s announcement today recognizes something credit unions have long understood: the best way to strengthen families and communities is to help them build savings, ownership, and opportunity from the very beginning. Trump Accounts represent a meaningful step toward helping parents invest in their children’s futures, and credit unions are well positioned to help make that vision a reality. “As not-for-profit, member-owned financial cooperatives, credit unions exist to serve the financial well-being of their members and their families. For generations, credit unions have helped parents save for education, homeownership, and small business dreams, particularly in communities that have historically been left out of traditional financial systems. “Credit unions have deep experience administering specialized savings products and custodial accounts under strong safety, soundness, and consumer protection standards. They are trusted, locally rooted institutions that already serve more than 145 million Americans and stand ready to help families open, manage, and grow Trump Accounts with care and responsibility. “As implementation moves forward, expanding access to trusted institutions like credit unions will help ensure Trump Accounts deliver on their promise to support children, families, and long-term economic opportunity across the country.” |
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