Alogent (www.alogent.com, @alogent-corp), a global software leader in the banking and financial services market, today announced the acquisition of AccuSystems, a leading provider of document imaging and tracking software that enhances compliance, workflow management, and business process automation for financial institutions. Welcoming AccuSystems to the Alogent family pairs two principals in the enterprise content and information management (ECM / EIM) market, strengthening its commitment to the industry and expanding the automation capabilities available to banks and credit unions of all asset sizes. “Having a single, centralized data and document management platform with easy-to-use insights is becoming a prerequisite for financial institutions,” said Dede Wakefield, CEO of Alogent. “The addition of AccuSystems to our process automation suite allows us to extend workflow experiences to new market segments with complementary capabilities proven to drive higher asset growth, improved efficiencies and profitability for banks and credit unions.” Institutions that embrace digital transformation solutions see enhanced account holder relationships because of reduced manual bottlenecks and faster access to business intelligence. The integration of Alogent and AccuSystems brings these best-in-class capabilities together under a unified go-to-market that differentiates organizations from their competition and improves institutional loyalty. “AccuSystems has always focused on streamlining difficult to manage processes and transforming them into intuitive, digital workflows,” said Alan Wooldridge, Founder & CEO of AccuSystems. “After a record year for AccuSystems, joining forces with Alogent means we can be more impactful on our mission by providing our clients with increased access to resources and an expanded banking ecosystem of solutions.” Learn more at alogent.com/accusystems.
0 Comments
equipifi, a fintech company providing banks and credit unions with a white label Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) solution, announced its partnership with Member Access Processing (MAP),the nation's leading provider of the Visa DPS Debit, Credit, ATM, Prepaid, and Mobile Processing platform for credit unions. By partnering with equipifi, MAP’s credit union clients will be able to offer BNPL solutions on their credit and debit transactions. MAP serves more than 100 credit unions across nearly 30 states. In total, MAP’s clients have more than 10 million members and over $100 billion in assets. Partnering with equipifi, MAP’s credit union clients will be able to increase the value of their banking experience and grow member engagement. By leveraging their existing data and digital banking platforms, credit unions will be able to extend BNPL offers that are in alignment with their members’ financial goals. Credit unions will also be able to grow existing lines of revenue and open new ones. “Consumer financial needs are changing and so is the way they engage with their credit unions.” said Cyndie Martini, president and CEO of MAP. “Buy Now Pay Later provides credit unions a strategic capability as well as a huge benefit to members. Members gain from the convenience and security of using their credit unions for BNPL in a safer and more reliable transaction.” “There’s no denying the growing popularity of BNPL as an alternative form of payment for consumers looking for financial flexibility,” said Bryce Deeney, CEO and cofounder of equipifi. “With 60 percent of American consumers having used BNPL at least once, and 70 percent preferring a solution from their primary financial institution, we’re past due for a BNPL solution from credit unions.” Teachers Federal Credit Union, one of the largest credit unions in the United States with more than $9.2 billion in assets and over 420,000 members nationwide, celebrates its 70th anniversary by announcing its first out-of-state branch opening in Tampa, Florida. The new Tampa Westshore branch, scheduled to open later this year, signifies the credit union’s ongoing commitment to building strong financial futures for its members and the communities it serves. “As part of our ongoing strategic investment in our delivery channels, we are excited to continue our journey of bringing smart financial solutions and products to more members across the nation,” said President and CEO Brad Calhoun. “Opening a branch in Tampa is a natural next step as we continue to grow our national footprint. Not only is Tampa one of the fastest growing cities in the country, we already have members who reside in Florida. We are proud of the impact we have had over the last 70 years and look forward to continuing to serve our existing members while introducing new members to the value that Teachers can bring to their financial lives.” What started in 1952 as a credit union to support educators on their financial journeys, has grown to be one of the largest credit unions in the country with an open charter that allows anyone to join. Teachers already serves members in all 50 states who benefit from highly competitive rates, lower fees, financially knowledgeable front-line staff, and a not-for-profit model where members’ needs come first; the opening of its first out-of-state branch is a continuation of the credit union’s promise to bring the value of Teachers to more members. Throughout its 70-year history, Teachers has been recognized for the difference it makes in the community and its members’ financial lives – recently being named a Best-in-State Credit Union by Forbes Magazine. As part of the credit union’s commitment to providing the smartest financial guidance and solutions, Teachers also plans to continue dedicating its time, energy, and resources to charitable causes that support education, human services, economic development, and research. In 2022 alone, Teachers has helped countless communities through its various partnerships, including donating over $250,000 and volunteering more than 1,500 hours. For more information about Teachers or to become a member, please visit: www.teachersfcu.org. “Because of the tireless efforts of NAFCU, our member credit unions and our trade association coalition partners, we were able to keep the harmful Credit Card Competition Act and the interchange issue out of the Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute offered to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in the Senate today. This is a big win for credit unions, but we need to continue the fight to make sure lawmakers fully comprehend the damage this bill would have on the financial services industry and American consumers. NAFCU pledges to keep fighting this issue on behalf of credit unions and consumers.” -NAFCU President and CEO Dan Berger Zachary Churchill, VP of Finance, USF FCU, Tampa, FL, has been named the 2022 CUES® Emerge winner. As one of five Finalists, Churchill’s route to the podium began when he was selected into the CUES Emerge program early in 2022. From there, participants completed business cases and worked toward their project idea while a team of judges reviewed their proposals. On October 5, it culminated in Churchill and the four other finalists presenting their projects live during an online pitch show, hosted by Tim McAlpine of Currency. Two other finalists, Angela Harden, Facilities Assistant Manager, Bay FCU, Capitola, CA, and Jose Raya, Security Operations Engineer, Magnifi Financial CU, Melrose, MN, were named as runners-up. Churchill and each of the runners-up will receive an educational and coaching package to support continued development and growth within the industry. Churchill’s winning business case was The Case for a Data Analytics Team. The other Finalists taking part in the online pitch show were Marilyn Mims, Learning & Organization Development Manager, Northeast CU, Portsmouth, NH, and Randi Timonere, Risk and Compliance Manager, WeStreet CU, Tulsa, OK. CUES Emerge was created to offer free professional development to the industry’s up-and-coming leaders. Participants who complete the course work and business case earn the Certified Credit Union Manager designation in recognition of their commitment to their career, credit union and the industry. You can learn more about the program at CUESEmerge.com. Learn more about CUES at cues.org. Learn more about Currency at CurrencyMarketing.ca. The theme for International Credit Union Day 2022 is "Empower Your Financial Future with a Credit Union." To celebrate ICU Day on Thursday, October 20, World Council of Credit Unions is hosting this virtual event featuring panelists from credit unions around the world who will discuss different ways they have empowered the financial futures of their members and employees. We’ll hear stories of empowerment from Ireland, Ukraine, and Peru—along with a description of how Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions is joining forces with True Sky Credit Union from the United States to raise US $500,000 as part of its “EMPOWER” campaign to further credit union member empowerment moving forward. This webinar will feature the following panelists:
Register for the webinar today! CUNA Councils named West Community Credit Union (WCCU) the winner of its Excellence in Operations & Member Experience award in the Sales and Service Management category for the credit union’s successful partnership with Plinqit, a savings platform that pays users for learning about personal finances. The award recognizes and honors credit unions that showcase excellence in innovation through a member-focused approach. As a forward-thinking institution dedicated to delivering products and services that offer exceptional value to members, WCCU sought a better way to engage with existing members, rather than relying on traditional marketing channels. To achieve this, WCCU chose to partner with Plinqit. With Plinqit’s intuitive technology, including its Learn to Earn module that pays users for engaging with educational content, WCCU’s members are encouraged to pursue their personal financial goals while increasing their understanding of finance. Since launching, WCCU has not only helped members collectively save more than $261,000, they’re also helping members strengthen their personal finance skills by completing financial courses with Plinqit. WCCU’s members watch a video or read an article from the Plinqit library, then rate the content “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” and answer a few questions to gauge their understanding. After taking the short quiz, members are rewarded for strengthening their knowledge of personal finances, promoting higher member engagement. Additionally, 22 percent of users have linked deposit dollars from a checking account at another institution, providing an initial touch for WCCU with a potential new member account. “Our partnership with Plinqit gives us a unique way to make saving easy for our members while rewarding them for reaching their goals and engaging with financial education,” said Koren Greubel, Vice President of Marketing at West Community Credit Union. “Our mission has always been to provide our members with the most innovative technology. Plinqit’s platform helps our members progress toward greater financial wellness and our partnership has helped drive awareness for WCCU and our ability to deliver a positive experience for members. We have seen our members’ habits change as they learn to save more, and we are honored to be named the winner of CUNA’s Excellence in Operations and Member Experience Award.” “West Community Credit Union is an institution that understands their member base on a deeper level than most,” said Kathleen Craig, founder and CEO of Plinqit. “At Plinqit, we strive to help credit unions innovate not just for the sake of innovation, but to offer exceptional value and long-term financial resources to their community – all of which WCCU achieves. We are proud to see our friends at WCCU honored for their positive impact on members, and Plinqit is honored to be a part of their initiative.” The National Credit Union Foundation (the Foundation) has announced two new grant opportunities to bolster credit unions’ ability to offer financial coaching and combat hunger. Applications for both grants are now open and all credit unions are encouraged to apply. “Recent data shows that the nation’s financial health continues to worsen through record-high inflation, economic uncertainty and widening wealth gap,” said Chad Helminak, the Foundation’s chief impact officer. “These two grants present a timely and important opportunity for credit unions to strengthen their commitment to improving financial well-being in their communities.” The Financial Empowerment Through Coaching grant will pay for up to ten credit unions to receive the Pathways to Financial Empowerment service. The service was launched in 2015 by Inclusiv and Neighborhood Trust Financial Partners to help credit unions integrate financial coaching into their operations through best-in-class financial coach training and licensing of a digital platform to track member outcomes. Successful applicants will also be enrolled in Inclusiv’s new Financial Empowerment Learning Center training to ensure the successful adoption and integration of the Pathways program. “We’re excited to partner with the Foundation on this grant to help more credit unions launch and operationalize successful, holistic financial coaching programs,” said Ann Solomon, Inclusiv’s senior vice president. “The need for member-centric financial coaching is clear, but the idea of launching an in-house program can be daunting for any credit union. Pathways simplifies the process by delivering interactive, cohort-based training as well as our digital platform to streamline coaching engagements and impact tracking.” The second grant opportunity will provide credit unions with up to $10,000 to enhance or establish a sustainable financial well-being program focused on addressing the issue of hunger. Food insecurity affects almost 34 million people nationwide and is one of the key Development Issues the Foundation identifies as a fundamental barrier to achieving financial freedom. Both grant initiatives are now open for applications. Deadline for submissions is 5 pm Eastern, Friday, Nov. 11, 2022. Successful applicants will formally begin their grant projects in January 2023. Further information on the individual grant programs and how to apply is available on the Foundation’s website. Engage fi announced today it has appointed Trisa Wetzel as Senior Vice President, Operations and Conversion Services, and Amy Martel as Vice President, Project Management Office, Conversion Services. The appointments mark a pivotal time of growth for Engage fi as it continues to lead the industry in helping banks and credit unions make strategic vendor decisions that help their institutions thrive, remain relevant, and capture market share. Wetzel brings more than two decades of executive leadership experience in financial technology services to Engage fi. She will call on her vast industry knowledge and experience in banking strategies and operational best practices in her new role. Additionally, Wetzel will focus on building new conversion services that take a customer-centric approach and help her team drive innovation through Engage fi’s existing solutions. In her previous roles with Cornerstone Advisors and Next Step Inc., Wetzel led collaborative teams overseeing financial institution system evaluations - inclusive of technology strategies, vendor assessments, contract negotiations, and full lifecycle conversion project management. She has personally overseen more than 1,500 successful system conversions. Her leadership, expertise, and insight have proven invaluable to clients facing major technology initiatives across core banking, digital transformation, and payments initiatives, or seeking guidance for successful vendor partnerships through mutually rewarding contract negotiations. “I am excited to join Engage fi’s highly innovative and passionate team to help lead them through this next stage of growth,” said Wetzel. “Their reputation is unmatched, with a diverse and inclusive culture and a deep commitment to their clients’ success. I am excited to have the opportunity to serve our bank and credit union customers alongside our dynamic team of passionate professionals.” Martel joins Engage fi with over 25 years of financial services experience with an emphasis on retail banking, technology and operations, enterprise risk management, and process improvement. As Managing Director at Cornerstone Advisors and Next Step Inc., she led countless initiatives to help financial institutions transform their businesses through vendor evaluations, system selections, and conversion management. Martel has an extensive banking background, having served in a variety of executive and operational roles at various community banks and credit unions. “I am thrilled to be joining such a forward-thinking and rapidly growing company,” said Martel. “Where and how people choose to work, live, and play has dramatically changed over the years, and the way Engage fi empowers their people to lead and drive change makes it an easy decision for me. I am honored to join such a great group and to help drive the company’s growth as we continue to expand our service offerings.” “The continued growth of Engage fi has allowed us to expand and attract top talent as we work to consistently provide the highest level of service and guidance to our customers,” said Andres Pasantes, chief operations officer, Engage fi. “Trisa and Amy have a flawless track record completing complex technology conversions and operational transformations and have done so with a client-first approach. They are without question the most experienced, proven, and successful leaders in core banking, digital and payments assessments, and conversions. I am looking forward to them leading a team that will utilize the proprietary technology and best practices established by Engage fi along with innovative and modernized conversion methodologies to support our customers. Beyond that and equally critical to our business, they bring a shared passion for our mission and core values.” Achieva Credit Union, a not-for-profit financial institution, is starting a program to help those most impacted by the storm. To help these communities, the Achieva Foundation started a dollar-for-dollar match to double the impact of those who give. Every dollar donated through this program will provide twice the support for victims of the storm, meaning twice the amount of water, gasoline, generators and other essential supplies to those who need it most. Achieva Credit Union has multiple branches with more than 70 employees in Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee Counties. Some of these people, their homes, and their families have been devastated by this natural disaster. The day following the storm, dozens of employees, directors, and the CEO began the first of multiple trips from Tampa and Pinellas County to the affected areas to help fellow employees, coworkers, and the general public in need. “Hurricane Ian had a major impact on communities we serve and many are need,” says Gary Regoli, President and CEO of Achieva Credit Union. “We’re calling on you to join us and help increase our positive impact on these communities.” The scale of Ian’s devastation is ranking among the worst in the nation’s history. “The culture that has been created in our organization is amazing. Community is what we do here,” said Tasha Cohen-Glynn, Marketing and Public Relations Manager at Achieva Credit Union. She continued, “To do good is at the root of who we are.” For more information about hurricane relief program, including the Match program, go to https://www.achievacu.com/Home/EmergencyAlerts#Relief. |
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
May 2024
Categories |