 Annie Stuart Gemineye is delighted to announce the winner of their first ever Client Developer Award. This award represents the very best in data analytics application and innovative solutions to financial services’ pain points. The award was given to P1FCU, led by Annie Stuart (pictured), Senior Business Intelligence Analyst at the $2.2B, Lewiston, Idaho-based credit union. P1FCU has grown tremendously over the past decade and is now a financial leader in the Western Idaho region.
The Gemineye Client Developer Award is based on several criteria, including innovation and creativity, technical excellence, impact on operations, and collaboration. "The Gemineye Developer Award was created because we are constantly impressed with the way our clients have adopted the Gemineye Lakehouse and gone on to build more tools and dashboards unique to their team,” said Maggie Chopp, Director of Business Development at Gemineye and creator of the Client Developer Award. “We wanted to find a way to recognize and reward the effort of these analysts, engineers, and architects, and the tangible impact they have on their credit union. We are proud to support the foundational technology - but even prouder to be an ongoing partner to these development teams." P1FCU’s project submission featured a report that visualized how much time tellers at each branch were spending on operational activities. Clint Johnson, VP of Data and Analytics, Stuart, and the rest of the data team collaborated cross-departmentally to answer the age-old question that plagues financial institutions: “What’s actually happening at our credit union branches?” And with 26 branches – another one on the way early next year, understanding what operational needs were required of each branch was critical to the credit union’s success as they continued to grow. Stuart explained, “We really wanted to answer the question: How many people do we need in each branch? What are they doing with their time? What level of staff do we need?” The project revealed key insights about how personal opinion shapes what it means to be busy at the branch level. And when it comes to analyzing nuanced data like new branch performance, the Gemineye Data Lakehouse has the flexible structure to support these initiatives. VP of Data Analytics Johnson explained, “Having the right platform that's flexible and capable of holding and reporting all your data is very convenient. The Gemineye Data Lakehouse is built on Microsoft Azure and Databricks, which allows us customization - We add to it constantly. It's far faster than having a whole system in house on premise.” A big congratulations to P1FCU and the data team for their innovative and collaborative efforts in branch operations. For more information on P1FCU, visit their website or find them on social media.
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 Denny Howell Cross Valley Federal Credit Union (‘Cross Valley’) has enhanced its digital banking platform with Mahalo Banking, a CUSO that provides online and mobile banking solutions for credit unions. The rollout modernizes Cross Valley’s digital infrastructure with a streamlined user experience, improved functionality, and stronger security features.
Cross Valley selected digital banking provider Mahalo due to the Thoughtful Banking platform’s flexibility, user-focused design, and alignment with the credit union’s member-first approach commitment. Mahalo platform’s deep core integration also supports a smoother, more connected experience across systems for both members and staff. The technology transformation reflects a broader trend among community institutions to replace legacy systems with adaptable platforms that support long-term growth, security, and member satisfaction. “We are focused on giving members greater control over their financial lives, and Mahalo’s platform self-service capabilities help us bring that vision to life,” said Traci Donahue, President and CEO of Cross Valley. “It also reinforces our commitment to security, giving our members peace of mind through stronger protections and greater transparency in how their information is managed.” Mahalo’s solution supports greater self-service functionality, streamlined account management, and unified online and mobile banking—improving both usability and back-end efficiency. Members can now manage their accounts, cards, and loans in one centralized location, with the flexibility to make internal or external transfers, apply for loans or memberships, and update personal details with ease. Card management is also more accessible, enabling members to lock or unlock cards, submit travel notices, request replacements, or apply for credit limit increases within the same digital environment. “Cross Valley’s forward-thinking approach to digital transformation shows how credit unions can embrace technology without compromising on trust,” said Denny Howell, COO of Mahalo. “Their focus on elevating security and usability aligns perfectly with our mission of delivering a modern, intuitive platform that empowers members and strengthens the credit union’s digital foundation.” Carefull, the first financial safety platform built specifically for older adults and their families, announces the launch of LegacyKit, a secure digital solution that automatically and seamlessly collects essential financial information and ensures it reaches loved ones when it’s needed most—while giving financial advisors a powerful new way to build next- generation relationships and reduce asset attrition.
When a loved one passes, families often face a stressful scavenger hunt, spending hundreds of hours searching not only for financial accounts, but also critical day-to-day information: passwords, insurance documents, healthcare contacts, digital logins, even the location of a safe deposit box or the name of an estate attorney. Despite the $84.4 trillion in assets expected to transfer between generations by 2045, many families have yet to discuss wealth transfer plans. Meanwhile, advisors are under growing pressure to support both clients and their families through these difficult transitions. Currently, more than 90% of heirs switch advisors after inheriting wealth. By facilitating early conversations and providing tangible support at the time of loss, LegacyKit helps advisors connect across generations and reinforce their broader value proposition. Existing document vault solutions are often time-consuming, or digital versions of analog issues- fragmented, often-outdated, and place a heavy manual burden on the advisor. LegacyKit streamlines and automates the entire process, starting with automatic account syncing and continuing with real-time updates making it easier to deliver meaningful impact without added complexity. A Simple, Secure Way to Ease Family Burden LegacyKit enables clients to compile everything their family will need in one secure, digital location. Key features include:
“The big problem with ‘vaults’ is that they rely on the user to do all the work upfront and then come back again and again to update them over time. We all know that no one actually does that. In order for an advisor to be a trusted partner to families at one of the most difficult times in their lives, the deliverable itself has to be current. The best part about LegacyKit is it automatically adjusts and updates as your financial life does. It's not just an online manilla folder,” said Max Goldman, Co-Founder of Carefull. A New Way to Support Client Continuity For advisors, LegacyKit offers a proactive, low-lift way to build continuity with the next generation powered by automated updates that reduce manual work and surface key moments to connect. Without exposing sensitive client information, advisors can:
Built with Security at Its Core LegacyKit follows the same rigorous security standards as the rest of the Carefull platform, including two-factor authentication, military-grade encryption, and zero-visibility architecture– ensuring that even Carefull cannot view a user’s stored information. LegacyKit is included as part of every Carefull subscription, making it easy for advisors to deliver lasting value at no additional cost. LegacyKit is currently live for all financial advisor clients and will be available to financial institutions later this quarter. Financial professionals interested in learning more or requesting a demo can visit getcarefull.com. Veep, a leading AI driven Anytime Wage Access Platform, Secures Backing from Leading Credit Unions7/29/2025  Louis Hernandez, Jr. Veep Software (“Veep”), the AI-powered platform transforming Anytime Wage Access, today announced growing support from some of the nation’s most respected credit unions as part of their investment in private equity firm Black Dragon Capital℠, Veep’s lead investor.
Veep Software is an innovative on-demand pay solution that empowers employees by providing secure early access to their earnings, reducing financial stress, and fostering job satisfaction. By delivering solutions like Earned Wage Access (EWA), Veep offers a seamless, automated experience that connects employers, employees, and financial institutions, providing a leading solution for financial health and workplace satisfaction. Black Dragon Capital℠ ("Black Dragon") is a multi-phased global investment partner which focuses on advanced technology that addresses the most significant issues industries face. The firm has entered strategic partnerships with a growing list of the most innovative Credit Unions and CUSOs in the industry, including SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, First Tech Federal Credit Union, AltaOne Federal Credit Union, California Credit Union, Canvas Credit Union, and SECU of Maryland, to advance sustainable fintech innovation — with Veep at the forefront.“Veep is an AI company focused on Anytime Wage Access,” said Drew Hyatt, CEO of Veep. “Credit unions are investing in our future because they share our belief that wage access should be safe, fair, and compliant. We’re proud to build an AI platform that puts people first, backed by partners who care about long-term financial health.” AI-Powered. Designed for Trust. Built for Scale. At its core, Veep is powered by proprietary AI models that deliver real-time, behavior-based wage access with member care at the forefront. Its adaptive, intelligence-driven approach stands in sharp contrast to legacy solutions that rely on static percentages and risk-blind access. This compliance-first, data-driven model is exactly what credit unions are investing in — not just as funders, but as advocates for smarter, safer member services. “Veep is determined to provide important front line, back office and hourly employees the right tools to better manage their finances through it’s advanced AI early wage access platform in partnership with their trusted financial institution, making it a safe, lower cost, and more compliant solution. We are excited to bring our strategic partnerships with some of the most respected and advanced credit unions in the country to bear in expanding the solution for communities across the country,” said Louis Hernandez, Jr.,, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Black Dragon Capital. “These advanced credit unions are helping lead the way for a better future for many underserved who are being exploited.” Alkami Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALKT) (“Alkami”), a leading cloud-based digital banking solutions provider for financial institutions in the U.S., today announced a powerful new integration between its Full Funnel Marketing (including Customer Insights & Marketing Automation) solution and HubSpot, the customer platform for scaling businesses. As a HubSpot solutions partner, Alkami enables financial institutions to orchestrate deeply personalized, data-driven engagement strategies that drive measurable marketing return on investment.
Powered by Alkami’s proprietary data science, Data Insights identifies account holders' lifestyle, financial behavior, and engagement patterns—creating precise, actionable segments that can be synced to HubSpot for tailored email campaigns and offers. Financial institutions can maintain up-to-date audience lists in HubSpot with automatic daily refreshes, ensuring communications remain relevant and accurate without manual effort. Campaigns executed through HubSpot benefit from full-cycle attribution reporting via Alkami, offering visibility into revenue impact and helping marketers double down on high-performing strategies. “We completed the integration in less than two weeks—and did it entirely through email,” said Caleb Wallis, director of marketing at Atomic Credit Union. “What stood out most was how seamless the setup process was and how much time we’ve saved by syncing our audience lists directly with the platform. With automated daily syncs and a consistent weekly update cadence, our marketing efforts have become significantly more streamlined and impactful.” Today’s account holders demand relevance in every digital interaction. Research from The Center for Generational Kinetics reveals that digital banking users who are completely satisfied with how their data is used to make relevant product recommendations are more likely to be loyal to the provider (42%) and more likely to recommend the provider to family and friends (42%). The new Alkami integration for HubSpot empowers banks and credit unions to meet this expectation, without the heavy lift of data wrangling. “Integrating Alkami's Customer Insights & Marketing Automation with HubSpot has truly streamlined our marketing operations,” said Laurie Masera Garza, digital marketing manager at PrimeWay Federal Credit Union. “The ease and speed of integration, coupled with the automated list uploads, immediately eliminated the time constraints of manual list uploads and enhanced our data flow. This seamless connection allows us to leverage Alkami's insights for highly personalized communications and targeted content delivery. It also presents our financial services representatives with relevant and timely cross-sell opportunities with far greater precision and impact. It's truly transforming how we engage and grow.” The integration allows marketers at financial institutions to shift their focus from time-consuming data management to high-impact engagement. Whether launching personalized onboarding journeys, cross-sell campaigns, or reactivation flows, the synchronized insights between Alkami and HubSpot ensure every message is timely and relevant. “This integration exemplifies Alkami’s commitment to helping financial institutions deliver the right message to the right account holder at the right time,” said Mark Leher, director of product management at Alkami. “By linking the intelligence of Alkami’s Customer Insights with the advanced automation of HubSpot, our customers can now execute more agile and results-driven marketing.”  Chris Cox Apiture, a leading provider of digital banking solutions, today announced the availability of real-time payment capabilities for its community bank and credit union clients. With this enhancement, Apiture clients can enable their consumer and business account holders to send and receive payments instantly, 24/7/365, through The Clearing House’s RTP® network and the Federal Reserve’s FedNow® Service.
As demand for faster, more reliable payment experiences continues to grow, real-time payments adoption is steadily increasing, especially among businesses. Over half of American companies were already using RTP and FedNow in 2024, according to a study from U.S. Bank, with adoption projected to reach 80% by 2026. As real-time payments shift from a competitive advantage to a customer expectation, offering this capability is becoming increasingly important for community banks and credit unions to compete with larger financial institutions. The Apiture Digital Banking Platform provides a comprehensive suite of payment options enabling consumers and businesses to choose the best payment method based on their specific use case. The new real-time payments capability builds upon Apiture’s existing faster payment options, including domestic and international wire transfers with real-time foreign exchange rates. Additional payment services available to Apiture clients include bill pay, peer-to-peer payments, internal and external transfers, and ACH transactions. “Whether to support company payroll, bill payments, gig worker payments, early wage access, government disbursements, or P2P transfers, real-time payments have emerged as a highly effective way for consumers and businesses to instantly send and receive account-to-account payments,” said Chris Cox, chief operating officer at Apiture. “This represents another step in our ongoing mission to help community and regional financial institutions deliver the features today’s consumers and businesses need and expect.” For more information, visit https://www.apiture.com/payments-and-transfers/.  Nearly 450 credit union leaders, young professionals and retirees gathered in Alpharetta, GA, from July 21-24, 2025, for the African-American Credit Union Coalition’s (AACUC) Annual Conference. Set against the backdrop of one of Georgia’s fastest-growing business communities, the weeklong event spotlighted the power of purposeful leadership under the theme “Not Like Us: We Are Bold, Mindful, and Brave.”
The 2025 AACUC Annual Conference, with industry leader TruStage serving as Conference Title Sponsor and Awards Title Sponsor, delivered a compelling blend of inspiration, strategic insight, and recognition. This year’s gathering showcased innovative approaches to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the credit union movement, with a strong emphasis on what it means to boldly, mindfully, and bravely live out the “people helping people” philosophy for communities of color and other marginalized groups in today’s complex political and socioeconomic climate. “This conference felt like a collective charge forward,” said Renée Sattiewhite, AACUC President/CEO. “Our theme was more than aspirational — it became the standard. AACUC continues to lead with vision, heart, and conviction.” From dynamic keynotes to immersive workshops, attendees explored the intersections of culture, strategy, and leadership. The week included:
“AACUC’s unwavering commitment to career development, inclusive leadership, and industry transformation is what sets us apart,” said Whitney Anderson, AACUC Board Chair. “We are intentional about creating spaces where every voice is heard, every leader is valued, and every community is empowered.” A major highlight of the conference was the 2025 Maurice R. Smith DEI Leadership Awards dinner and celebration. This year’s six honorees exemplify the bold, mindful, and brave leadership that defines AACUC’s mission. The distinguished recipients were:
“Every element of this conference was designed to challenge and uplift,” said Sattiewhite. “We leaned into what makes us unique — our voices, our values, and our vision. And we left with a renewed sense of purpose to keep pushing the movement forward.” From leadership development to celebration, the 2025 AACUC Annual Conference was more than an event — it was a call to action.  Redwood Credit Union (RCU) is helping bring fresh, local food to more tables through a $10,000 grant to the Good Farm Fund, reinforcing RCU’s commitment to strengthening local economies and increasing food access across the communities it serves.
RCU’s longstanding partnership with Good Farm Fund supports the economic viability of small farms in Lake and Mendocino counties. By financially empowering local farmers, RCU ensures that the benefits of sustainable agriculture are accessible to those who need it most. This funding is part of RCU’s broader mission to create social impact by aligning its core business with community investment. “We are very fortunate to have the support of Redwood Credit Union, an organization which has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to supporting local farms and food security across the region,” said Caroline Radice, project coordinator of Good Farm Fund. Through the grant from RCU, Good Farm Fund is providing agricultural producers with essential funding for capacity-building projects critical to their business success. With RCU’s support:
Previous RCU grants to Good Farm Fund have provided direct support for small farms including Cerro Negro Farm, Coming Home to Country Farm, Folk Life Farm, Headwaters Grazing, Inland Ranch Organics, Irene’s Garden, Rancho Mariposa & Cinnamon Bear Farm, and Wavelength Farm. RCU’s partnership with Good Farm Fund exemplifies its dedication to fostering economic vitality and food equity across the region.  Kyle Hauptman The National Credit Union Administration Board held its fourth open meeting of 2025 and received briefings on artificial intelligence, the Office of the Ombudsman’s post exam survey results, and the NCUA’s Central Liquidity Facility (CLF).
Artificial Intelligence The NCUA Board received a briefing on artificial intelligence (AI) from Amanda Parkhill, Acting Director of the Office of Examinations and Insurance and Amber Gravius, Director of the Office of Business Innovation and the Acting Chief Information Officer. The briefing discussed known use cases for AI within the credit union industry, NCUA.gov’s new AI resource page for credit unions, and how AI may support NCUA’s internal operations. The briefing described artificial intelligence as defined in Executive Order 14179 Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence and examined the ways AI is currently helping to enhance or streamline the work of financial institutions. The July briefing also discussed report findings from a May 2025 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office. That report recommended NCUA update its model risk management guidance. The NCUA conducted a review of existing guidance and concluded that focusing solely on model risk management would not provide timely, use-case appropriate guidance for all of the ways that credit unions are, or could be, using AI. The NCUA also asserted that any new requirements from possible guidance would need to be established through the rulemaking process. “There’s a lot we’re still learning about AI use at financial institutions. As it continues to evolve and mature, we too must evolve along with it” said NCUA Chairman Kyle Hauptman. “Credit unions have long been early adapters of innovative technology and are already using AI to increase efficiencies and enhance customer service. We want to know more about these use cases and the ways the NCUA can provide stronger regulatory and supervisory clarity so that credit unions can operate in a safe and sound manner while using artificial intelligence.” Mr. Hauptman encouraged credit unions and others to submit AI feedback to Ask NCUA. Ombudsman Overview and Update on Post Exam Survey Results The NCUA Ombudsman, Shameka Sutton, provided an overview of the Office of the Ombudsman’s purpose and programs. The Ombudsman also provided a briefing on the post exam survey results and discussed 2024 observations, examiner feedback, and credit union feedback on exam procedures. Central Liquidity Facility Central Liquidity Facility President, Anthony Cappetta, gave the NCUA Board an overview of the CLF. The briefing highlighted the benefits of membership and having access to a federally contingent liquidity provider. The Board was also briefed on the CLF’s second quarter 2025 financial highlights including membership trends, investment portfolio performance, operating and budget trends, and the facilities near term objectives. Follow @TheNCUA on X, and access Board Action Memorandums and NCUA rule changes at www.ncua.gov. The NCUA also live streams, archives, and posts videos of open Board meetings online.  James Leford CoastHills Credit Union’s Board of Directors has named James Ledford President and CEO effective Aug. 1, 2025. Ledford has held several executive-level leadership positions since joining the Credit Union in 2015. Most recently, Ledford served as EVP Chief Experience Officer - overseeing Lending, Collections and Member Experience. In August 2024, Ledford was appointed interim CEO as the board conducted a nationwide search for the position.
While acting as Interim CEO, Ledford and the Credit Union executive team developed and began implementing a three-year strategic plan focused on culture, finance, and service. “From the moment I was given the opportunity to lead, I made it a priority to put culture at the heart of everything we do,” said Ledford. “What makes CoastHills truly special is our incredible team and our loyal members. I’m committed to strengthening our Credit Union from the inside out - ensuring everyone we serve feels valued and knows how much their membership means to us.” Ledford, a U.S. Army Veteran, earned an MBA in business administration from Western Governors University and has more than 25 years of leadership experience in financial services, including several senior management roles at JPMorgan Chase. “James has consistently gone above and beyond in his service to CoastHills, our members and our employees,” said Homero Contreras, board chairman. “His leadership style, experience, and dedication to CoastHills’ vision of making a difference in our neighbors’ lives make him the ideal choice for President and CEO. During his time as Interim CEO, every key financial measure improved. We’re grateful for James’s continued commitment to strengthening the financial well-being of our members, and we look forward to collaborating with him as we move the organization forward.” |
Author: Mike LawsonMarried to a most gorgeous and wonderful wife, raising 5 kiddos (including twins!), enjoy helping others tell their stories, and love surfing SoCal waves. Keep it simple. Archives
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