​Alkami Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALKT) ("Alkami"), a digital sales and service platform provider for financial institutions in the U.S., today announced that Strata Credit Union has selected Alkami's Digital Banking Platform to modernize its consumer digital banking experience and support its long-term strategy of delivering personalized, secure, and mobile-first banking that helps members build stronger financial futures.

Through its partnership with Alkami, Strata Credit Union will create a connected digital banking ecosystem designed to simplify everyday banking, reduce friction across digital interactions, and deepen member relationships. The modern, mobile-first experience will bring together financial tools, payments, and personalized engagement into a unified Platform while giving the credit union the flexibility to continue innovating as member expectations evolve.

"We believe technology should do more than make banking easier; it should help improve our members' financial lives," said Brandon Ivie, chief executive officer at Strata Credit Union. "Our members are at the center of everything we do, and partnering with Alkami will help us make financial tools and insights more accessible so members can better understand their financial health and make confident financial decisions. As we evaluated our long-term digital strategy, Alkami stood out as the partner that shares our vision for combining intuitive digital experiences with meaningful financial wellness and personalized engagement."

Strata Credit Union will leverage Alkami's open and extensible architecture to create a cohesive digital experience that connects best-in-class technologies across its ecosystem. The Platform will bring together capabilities such as payments, transfers, card management, financial wellness tools, and security features into a unified experience, while helping members gain greater visibility into their financial health through spending insights, savings goals, and a more holistic view of their finances.

The investment also supports Strata Credit Union's broader mission of helping members build stronger financial futures. By combining digital banking with intelligent personalization and integrated financial wellness tools, the credit union is creating a more proactive banking relationship that helps members make informed financial decisions, receive more relevant guidance and insights, and reduce friction across every digital interaction.

"As member expectations continue to rise, credit unions need modern technology that helps them deliver personalized, secure, and seamless experiences without sacrificing the flexibility to innovate," said Benjamin Conant, chief product officer at Alkami. "We're excited to partner with Strata Credit Union as they advance their digital banking strategy with a Platform designed to strengthen financial wellness, deliver more personalized experiences, and deepen long-term member relationships. Together, we're building a foundation that will help Strata continue delivering exceptional member experiences for years to come."

To learn more about Anticipatory Banking and the Alkami Digital Sales & Service Platform, visit here.

​In conjunction with “Credit Union Day” at the Iowa State Fair, Governor Kim Reynolds proclaimed today as “Credit Union Day in Iowa.” Credit union leaders from around the state are celebrating the day with a tent on the Grand Concourse at the fair.
 
The Governor’s proclamation reads:
 
WHEREAS, credit unions are not-for-profit financial cooperatives, democratically owned and operated by their members, and founded on the principle of people working together to improve their financial wellbeing; and
 
WHEREAS, Iowa credit unions play a vital role in strengthening families, supporting small businesses, and fostering vibrant communities across our state through access to financial services, education, and trusted guidance; and
 
WHEREAS, Iowa’s credit unions have grown to serve more than 1.5 million members at 67 institutions statewide, providing a $2.7 billion economic impact to Iowa annually through direct and indirect economic output. The industry directly employs 5,050 Iowans, and supports an average of 10,000 jobs per year; and
 
WHEREAS, Iowa credit unions have led initiatives to expand financial access in rural and underserved areas, offer free financial literacy programs, support community development, and champion financial inclusion for Iowans of all backgrounds; and
 
WHEREAS, the Iowa credit union movement joins with more than 400 million members in 104 countries around the world in promoting financial empowerment, cooperative values, and community service through strong local, state, national, and international partnerships;
 
Now, therefore, I, Kim Reynolds, Governor of the State of Iowa, do hereby proclaim August 20, 2026, as: Credit Union Day in Iowa, and encourage all Iowans to recognize and celebrate Iowa’s credit unions and their ongoing commitment to supporting individuals, families, and communities across our state.
 
“The Iowa State Fair brings Iowans together from every corner of the state, making it a fitting place to recognize the impact of credit unions in our local communities,” said Murray Williams, President and CEO of the Iowa Credit Union League. “Every day, credit unions help Iowans navigate important financial decisions while investing in the communities where their members live and work. We’re grateful to Governor Reynolds for recognizing that impact and celebrating Credit Union Day in Iowa.”
 
Credit unions are a key part of Iowa’s financial landscape, providing accessible financial services while reinvesting in the communities they serve. Iowa credit unions also account for nearly two-thirds of the car loans and one-third of the home loans made in the state, helping Iowans purchase vehicles, buy homes and pursue their financial goals.
 
Learn more about Iowa credit unions at  https://www.iowacreditunions.com/.

Eltropy, the agentic AI platform for community financial institutions (CFIs), today announced results from its deployment with KeyPoint Credit Union (KPCU), a member-owned credit union serving more than 55,000 members. Since replacing its previous intent-based chatbot with Eltropy's Agentic AI Platform, KeyPoint has resolved 94% of member inquiries through AI, cut chat volume by 67%, and reached a 58% request containment rate.
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KeyPoint deployed AI Voice, AI Chat and Appointment Management across its contact center, giving members a self-service option that understands context and pulls answers directly from KeyPoint's own knowledge sources instead of relying on a fixed set of scripted responses.

A Six-Year Partnership Reaches Its Next Stage
KeyPoint, which holds $1.6 billion in assets and $2.1 billion in assets under management, has worked with Eltropy for more than six years. As member expectations rose, the credit union's original AI solution, built on predefined intents and scripted answers, increasingly struggled to keep up. KeyPoint saw the moment as more than a routine technology upgrade, and set out to find an AI platform that could understand context, hold intelligent, human-like conversations, and improve every member interaction. The goal went beyond modernizing the contact center, toward investing in an AI foundation that could scale and serve members for years to come.

After evaluating multiple top-tier vendors, KeyPoint expanded its Eltropy deployment to include AI Voice and AI Chat alongside Appointment Management, replacing scripted interactions with AI that retrieves information in real time and handles both authenticated and unauthenticated inquiries.

“This has the ability to change our member experience in a really positive way,” said Josh Herzog, VP of Operations Experience & Payments at KeyPoint Credit Union.

Building a New Authentication Path Together
KeyPoint also pushed the deployment past a standard implementation. Working alongside Eltropy's team, KeyPoint helped design a debit card-based authentication workflow, a capability that had not previously been deployed at any financial institution. The two teams built the verification experience to meet KeyPoint's high standards while keeping the process simple enough for members to adopt from day one.

Measurable Results Within a Month
The impact showed up quickly. Voice service levels climbed from 75% to 87% in KeyPoint's first month with the expanded deployment, while chat service levels improved as well. Eltropy AI resolved 92% of chat inquiries and nearly 93% of voice inquiries, keeping the majority of routine questions from ever reaching a live agent and giving KeyPoint leadership confidence that members were getting accurate answers, not just faster ones.

With fewer repetitive inquiries landing on the frontline, KeyPoint's contact center team has more time for the conversations that call for a human, while members can get answers whenever they need them.

What Comes Next
KeyPoint's next step is rolling out an internal knowledge base so staff can get instant answers to policy and procedure questions instead of tracking down a colleague by phone, email or Teams. Beyond that, the credit union is preparing for agentic AI to take on more of the work itself, such as an AI agent that transcribes a member's call in real time, opens a dispute case automatically, and texts the member a case number before they hang up.

“It's reimagining how work gets done,” Herzog said. “What if I could give you hours back every week? That's not replacing you, but just reimagining what your role is.”

"KeyPoint asked for a way to authenticate members that didn't exist yet, and we built it with them," said Ashish Garg, CEO and Co-Founder of Eltropy. "Now every credit union on our Agentic AI Platform has access to it."

For more information about KeyPoint’s success with Eltropy, see the case study here. ​

​CUES and partner Currency Marketing are pleased to announce the Final Five selected to compete for the title of 2026 CUES Emerging Leader. 

CUES Emerge is designed to equip rising credit union professionals with the skills, confidence, and visibility to accelerate their careers. Through live and online learning, peer collaboration, and mentorship, participants sharpen their ability to develop and present business cases that advance innovative ideas within their credit unions and communities.

After completing the education phase, participants self-selected into the competition phase by submitting their business case for review by a judging panel of industry leaders. The panel then narrowed the field to the following five finalists invited to present their ideas during a live online Pitch Show:

• Nicole Baker, Member Center Manager, Community Choice CU, Michigan
• Christina Mullins, Senior Lending Resources Specialist, State Employees' CU, North Carolina
• Elizabeth Seelbach, Director of Strategy, Resource One CU, Texas
• Justin Thompson, Marketing Automation Analyst, Royal CU, Wisconsin
• Brandon White, Manager Financial Crimes Analytics, Wings CU, Colorado

“The 2026 CUES Emerge finalists represent the next generation of credit union leadership,” said Maegan Monson, CUES Event Manager. “Their business cases reflect the creativity, strategic thinking, and commitment needed to address real challenges facing credit unions today, and we look forward to seeing them bring those ideas to life during the Pitch Show.”

“CUES Emerge continues to build on a strong foundation of leadership development, peer connection, and practical innovation,” said Tim McAlpine, CEO, Currency Marketing. “The Final Five have already demonstrated the discipline and vision this program is designed to encourage, and the live pitch experience gives them a powerful platform to share solutions with the industry.”

Business cases will be presented during the CUES Emerge Live Pitch Show on October 7 at 2 p.m. EDT; 1 p.m. CDT; 12 p.m. MDT; and 11 a.m. PDT, with the Final Five participating remotely. Watch the livestream and follow the competition at CUESEmerge.com.

Following the Pitch Show, judges will identify the Top Three before naming the ultimate 2026 CUES Emerging Leader. Each of the Top Three will receive a tiered educational package and scholarships toward CUES Advanced Management Program from Cornell University, to support continued development and growth within the industry.

CUES Emerge was launched in 2020 and built on the success of CUES Next Top Credit Union Exec, a program created through CUES and Currency Marketing’s long-standing partnership. Participants who successfully complete the online courses, Mastermind sessions, and a business case earn the Certified Credit Union Manager designation in recognition of their commitment to their careers, credit unions, and the movement.

Keep up with the final stages of the competition and learn more about the 2026 cohort at CUESEmerge.com or search #CUESEmerge.

To learn more about CUES, visit cues.org. To learn more about Currency Marketing, visit currencymarketing.ca.

​Velera, the nation’s premier payments credit union service organization (CUSO) and an integrated financial technology solutions provider, today announced the release of its Consumer-Engaged Fraud Case Management Playbook. Designed to help credit unions navigate complex consumer-engaged fraud cases, this resource provides a practical framework for investigating claims, making informed filing decisions and reducing chargeback risk.
 
Consumer-engaged fraud (CEF) has become a growing source of losses for financial institutions and merchants, with more than two-thirds of financial institutions reporting an increase in CEF and 35% experiencing more than 1,000 fraud attempts annually, according to Alloy. Unlike traditional third-party fraud, CEF can involve legitimate cardholders who are either manipulated into fraudulent activity or intentionally misuse their accounts, requiring a more nuanced approach to investigating claims.
 
Velera previously developed its Consumer-Engaged Fraud Classification Guide to help credit unions identify and categorize key types of CEF, including misuse, persuaded and the newly identified collusive merchant fraud sub-classification. The new playbook builds on that work by moving from classification to case management, giving credit unions a consistent approach to investigating claims, evaluating evidence and determining when and how to file.
 
Key components of the playbook include:

• Case management guidance: A step-by-step case flow and core investigation elements to support consistent decision-making.
• Filing best practices: Guidance on when to file a case, when not to file and how to reduce chargeback risk while maintaining network compliance.
• Real-world examples: Case studies covering different types of CEF to help teams apply the framework to common scenarios.
• Tools and resources: A case management checklist and other resources designed to support fraud, risk and dispute teams in their day-to-day work.

 
“As consumer-engaged fraud continues to evolve, credit unions can't rely on the same signals and assumptions they use to evaluate traditional fraud,” said Velera Managing Vice President of Risk Operations Nicole Reyes. “An authorized transaction doesn't necessarily mean the member acted knowingly, and a disputed transaction doesn't necessarily mean the member was a victim. This is where context becomes critical. Credit unions need to understand what happened around the transaction, not just what happened during it, so they can protect members, manage losses and make decisions they can stand behind.”
 
To learn more and download the playbook, visit velera.com/insights/consumer-engaged-fraud-case-management-playbook.

Appli, the creator of the industry's first AI-powered smart financial calculator, announced today that Baton Rouge Telco Federal Credit Union has launched Appli's calculator solution on its website, driving more than $4 million in loan conversion value within its first month live. 
​
Baton Rouge Telco was founded in 1936 to serve local telephone company employees and is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. While the credit union has since grown into a community-based institution serving anyone who lives, works or attends school across its 10-parish footprint in the Baton Rouge area, it still counts longtime members from its original field of membership among its most loyal.

"It just seemed like a really technology-forward tool," said Kristin Romero, Chief Experience Officer, Baton Rouge Telco Federal Credit Union, speaking about Appli. "It had a great user interface and user experience, and once I saw some of the other credit unions using it, I went to their websites and tried the tools myself. It was easy to navigate and it was on brand."
Romero said the decision also came down to something the credit union's previous calculator couldn't offer: usable data. In the past, she could only tell whether members were reaching the calculator page, not whether they were actually using the tools or moving further into the lending process.

Appli built and configured the calculators for Baton Rouge Telco based on the credit union's rates, loan policies and branding, requiring only a couple of implementation calls before the finished tools were ready to add to the website's backend.

"The Appli team really took care ofit for us," Romero said. "It was a super easy lift."

The calculators are now live on Baton Rouge Telco's website, and Romero has already begun reviewing early usage reports and engagement data.

In just over a month live, the calculators have generated more than $4 million in loan conversion value, according to Appli's usage data, with a 17.7% conversion rate and 150 loan applications started so far. That conversion rate already exceeds the 15% to 20% range Appli targets for its credit union partners.

"Appli makes it easy for you. I can get all of my metrics, I can see how they're helping us convert and drive our funnel," Romero said. "I mean, why wouldn't you?"

Looking ahead, Baton Rouge Telco plans to feature the calculators more prominently across its website and in campaigns such as mobile app push notifications that point members directly to relevant tools. Romero said she's also interested to see how members use the calculators' lead capture feature alongside the credit union's existing lead forms, which members already rely on regularly.

"This is what we want implementation to look like," said Tim Pranger, CEO of Appli. "Baton Rouge Telco gave us their rates and their branding, we built it, and it was on their site. No long back and forth, no heavy lift on their end. That's the whole point."

For more information about Appli and how its smart financial calculator can help credit unions, visit www.hiappli.com/use-cases. ​

Clutch has achieved a significant milestone in the credit union sector, with 30 million members—roughly one in five in the United States—now served by institutions utilizing its AI platform. For fintech professionals, this represents the largest deployment of member-facing AI in the industry, signaling a shift from fragmented software add-ons to unified, agentic AI ecosystems.

What was announcedClutch announced that its AI and software platform is now utilized by six of the ten largest credit unions in the United States. The platform’s partners collectively hold more than $450 billion in assets. This scale marks a transition away from the "single-purpose" AI model, where institutions manage disparate vendors for specific tasks like payment reminders or onboarding.

The Clutch platform operates seven specialized AI agents that cover the entire member lifecycle: intake and remarketing of abandoned applications, loan origination, new account activation, protection product enrollment, hardship detection during servicing, member assistance and recovery, and re-engagement of dormant relationships. Unlike siloed products, these agents share a single view of the member, ensuring that data from an auto loan application in one month informs a hardship conversation in another.

Performance metrics released by Clutch indicate high efficiency and member acceptance. In loan origination, the AI agent successfully collects 80% of required member documents without human staff involvement. In member assistance, partners have reported a 34% reduction in forward roll rates. Furthermore, member friction remains low, with fewer than 1% of conversations escalating due to a member objecting to the AI interface. The company’s AI business is currently growing at 450% year-over-year, significantly outpacing its core software business.

"Two years ago, every credit union executive I met wanted to know whether AI actually worked. Almost nobody asks that anymore. The question now is how many AI vendors they are going to end up managing, and most of the industry is answering it wrong. A member does not experience eleven AI products. A member experiences one credit union," says Nicholas Hinrichsen, co-founder and CEO of Clutch.

The companies involvedClutch is an AI and software platform designed exclusively for the credit union industry. The company positions itself as a modernization partner, helping traditional member-owned financial institutions compete with digital-native fintechs by streamlining the lending and account opening process. Based in the United States, Clutch focuses on integrating deeply with existing systems of record, such as Loan Origination Systems (LOS) and core banking platforms, to allow its AI agents to execute transactions rather than just providing information.

The leadership team includes co-founder and CEO Nicholas Hinrichsen and co-founder and Chief Product Officer Chris Coleman. The company’s growth strategy centers on solving the "fragmentation" problem that has plagued credit union technology for decades. By providing a unified governance framework—which includes bot disclosure, human escalation paths, and complete interaction logging—Clutch aims to satisfy the regulatory and board-level requirements that often stall AI adoption in the highly regulated credit union space.

What FF News has reported beforeFF News has previously tracked the rapid scaling and financial backing of the platform. In early 2025, we covered the company's significant capital injection in the report Clutch Secures $65M Series B Funding to Propel Credit Unions into the FinTech Era. This funding round was positioned as a catalyst for helping credit unions bridge the technological gap between legacy systems and the modern fintech landscape, a goal that is now manifesting in the platform's reach across 20% of the American credit union membership base.
​
What this meansThis move puts immense pressure on legacy "point solution" vendors. The credit union industry has historically been a patchwork of different vendors for every department, but Clutch is proving that a unified AI layer is more effective for both the member experience and the bottom line. The 34% reduction in forward roll rates is a hard metric that will be difficult for traditional servicing software to ignore. The real story here is governance; by focusing on the board-level concerns of accountability and examiner review, Clutch is removing the final barriers to mass AI adoption. Watch for a consolidation in the credit union vendor market as institutions realize they cannot manage a dozen different "brains" for one member.

​New research from TransUnion (NYSE: TRU) found that trust, reputation and transparency are the most important factors shaping how consumers choose and maintain relationships with wealth management providers. The findings highlight a significant opportunity for firms to differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive and digital marketplace.
 
In a survey of 1,000 U.S. consumers with at least $20,000 in investable assets, TransUnion found that trust and reputation outweigh every other factor in choosing a wealth management provider. Nearly two in three (65%) current investors ranked trust and reputation among their top factors, compared with 49% who cited fees and pricing. Trust and reputation also topped the list for prospective investors, with 58% identifying them as a key consideration.
 
The research also revealed that trust is built through specific, tangible experiences. Investors identified transparency in fees and advice (56%), along with reputation and brand credibility (56%), as the leading drivers of trustworthiness.
 
Notably, concerns about fraud are shaping how investors define trust. More than half (56%) of investors said they are moderately to extremely concerned about the impact fraud could have on their investments, highlighting the growing importance of fraud prevention and identity protection capabilities within the wealth management experience. The findings suggest investors are evaluating firms on more than investment performance alone, placing increased value on providers that demonstrate their ability to safeguard investor data throughout the client relationship.
 
“Wealth managers have traditionally competed on performance, products and price. Our research shows that the competitive landscape is changing,” said Joshua Turnbull, senior vice president of financial services at TransUnion. “Investors are telling us that confidence and credibility matter as much as – and sometimes more than – traditional decision factors. As digital engagement becomes the norm, trust is no longer an intangible brand attribute; it is a measurable business asset that can influence acquisition, retention and long-term growth.”
 
The findings show that investors increasingly expect firms to reinforce trust through strong protection and security practices. As wealth management interactions increasingly move online, firms that visibly safeguard client identities, accounts and communications may be better positioned to strengthen investor confidence, deepen loyalty and differentiate themselves in a competitive market.
 
Trust as a Growth Strategy
 
The findings suggest that trust is no longer simply a brand attribute. It has become a fundamental imperative that can drive client acquisition and retention. While digital capabilities remain important, investors place greater value on firms that consistently demonstrate transparency, accessibility and protection throughout the client journey.
 
For wealth management firms, this indicates that trust must be demonstrated throughout the investor lifecycle, not simply earned at the point of account opening. Organizations that understand changing investor expectations and create personalized experiences can build confidence across every interaction. In turn, they may be better positioned to attract new clients, strengthen existing relationships and stand apart in a competitive market.
 
The research also highlights the importance of connecting engagement, communications and protection strategies. Firms that strengthen client communications, enhance interactions and help protect investors from fraud and identity-based threats can reinforce trust while supporting long-term loyalty. Together, these capabilities can strengthen investor relationships and support sustainable growth.
 
Turnbull continued, “Trust has become a defining factor in how investors choose and evaluate wealth management providers. For firms navigating a rapidly evolving marketplace, understanding what builds confidence is critical. These findings provide a roadmap for wealth managers to strengthen client relationships and drive growth, while highlighting the need for solutions that deliver the transparency, protection and personalized engagement investors increasingly expect.”
 
To learn more about how TransUnion wealth management solutions can help strengthen investor relationships, build trust and support long-term growth, click here.