April 28, 2022 – Madison, Indiana-based Jefferson Community Federal Credit Union will become a CU*BASE® core data processing user in early 2023 based on its recent signing with CU*Answers, the cooperative CUSO headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The credit union is slated to go live February 15th.
Scott Collins, Executive Vice President of National Sales and Marketplace Development for the CUSO, said, “We are very excited that Stephanie (JCFCU CEO Stephanie Marion) and her team will be joining our cooperative early next year. Their due diligence process was completed over the past summer and fall, and we were very pleased they have selected CU*BASE as the foundation for their future. Both teams are expected to kick off the project this summer in preparation for the mid-February go-live date.”
Collins noted that Jefferson Community would become the CUSO’s 12th Indiana-based CU*BASE client when they launch.
About CU*Answers, Inc.
CU*Answers offers expertise in implementing technical solutions to operational needs and is a leader in helping credit unions form strategic alliances and partnerships. CU*Answers provides a wide variety of services for credit unions including its flagship CU*BASE® processing system (online and in-house) and Internet development services featuring It’s Me 247online and mobile banking. Additional services include web development, network design and security, and image check processing. Founded in 1970, CU*Answers is a 100% credit union-owned cooperative CUSO providing services to credit unions representing over 2 million members and $26 billion in credit union assets. For more information, visit www.cuanswers.com.
April 27, 2022 — PSCU, the nation’s premier payments credit union service organization (CUSO), today announced the launch of a new cryptocurrency microsite. Targeted and specifically curated for credit unions, the site will serve as a continuously updated hub for information and educational resources on all things related to digital assets. The announcement was made in conjunction with PSCU’s Member Forum 2022, taking place this week in Las Vegas.
While credit unions cannot currently hold the value of cryptocurrency within their federally-insured deposits, the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) has announced credit unions can partner with third-party cryptocurrency service providers to allow their members to buy, sell and hold digital assets under certain terms. The goal of PSCU’s new educational microsite is to help credit unions learn more and be prepared as member interest in cryptocurrency and other digital assets grows and the landscape evolves.
“There is no doubt cryptocurrency is a hot topic in today’s financial landscape, with many credit union members already active and others curious to learn more about it,” said Scott Young, vice president of Innovation & Design at PSCU. “Due to a lack of regulatory guidance until now, credit unions have held back from any involvement with cryptocurrency, the landscape is rapidly changing – making it the optimal time for credit unions to educate themselves. We are hopeful that credit unions can use this new resource to educate their staff and their members, evaluate associated risks and make informed decisions surrounding participation in this rapidly evolving payments technology.”
PSCU’s microsite will feature videos – including a downloadable educational video to share with credit union boards and staff – along with blogs, white papers and more from PSCU and other industry thought leaders. The site will also link to relevant updates and industry resources from groups like the NCUA, among others.
Credit unions can access PSCU’s cryptocurrency resources at pscu.com/crypto.
Last week we wrapped up our 2022 NACUSO Network Conference in Orlando, Florida. I’ve had the pleasure of attending this event many times before, but this is the first time I’ve seen it from behind the scenes. I wrote a day one reflection about how special that first day felt to me after all the conversations and work that had gone into making this event possible and I must be honest with you, it never lost that sense of magic. There was a constant energy in the air that never dissipated.
Over 500 attendees (people even showing up the second day of the event to register in person after hearing about how good day 1 was) is an absolute accomplishment and I am so proud of our team for putting together a program that so many people felt they could benefit from.
We kicked off the event with Bo Jackson, a well-known athlete who is the only athlete to be an MVP in both the NFL and MLB. One of the most touching moments in his story was when he spoke about how so many people tell him how sorry they are that his career was cut short due to injuries, but he viewed that as such a blessing. Maybe it’s because we are all just coming out of this pandemic phase, but I really connected to the idea of the importance of being able to spend time with friends and family. Surrounding myself and putting my energy into the people and paces I care about most, and for Bo that was home. Did he love sports, competing, his teams, (the paycheck haha), sure, but at the end of the day he landed exactly where he needed to be and it was nice hearing him say he wasn’t sorry about how things ended at all. I hope that as we have all been recently reminded about the fragility of life that we can take a similar approach to Bo and not let work overshadow the truly important things in our lives.
Following Bo Jackson attendees had the chance to be inspired by Kevin Brown, The Hero speaker. If you have never had an opportunity to hear him speak or read his book, I highly recommend finding the time to do one or the other (or both). Kevin really gets to the heart of what it means to be an extraordinary person and how none of us are here simply to just be ordinary. I don’t want to give too much of his story away, but he will make you laugh, reflect on your actions, cry, think about how you can grow and so many other emotions in the span of 45 minutes. It’s a great reminder of the bottom-line mission of the industry, to help people. To see a need and find a solution not because we HAVE to, but because we want to.
We were honored to have not one, but two, NCUA Board Members speak on stage to attendees and answer questions from them. There is so much regulatory change and discussions happening and it was great to offer our attendees the opportunity to hear directly from them and to allow the NCUA to see our passion for credit unions and CUSOs and hear directly from us as well. Having two NCUA speakers at one event is no small feat, and I am immensely proud that we were able to make this happen for everyone at NACUSO Network this year.
I can’t highlight the event without mentioning “cryptocurrency”. The buzzword as of late and we were fortunate to have some great panelists in small group breakout sessions as well as Lamont Black, Ph.D. speak to us about crypto in a meaningful way. What it is, why it should matter to us, how we can use it, and how it can help our members and industry. Personally, crypto has always been this “thing” that existed, and I should understand it but when I would try and research it, I just didn’t even know where to start. There are a million different rabbit holes you can go down with the topic and I couldn’t find my bearings, but I really appreciated the simplicity of Dr. Black’s discussion and his approach of providing specific, relevant examples for credit unions that allowed me to start to see how I might use this. Am I expert now, no, but I certainly don’t feel lost in wonderland anymore. And if you’re like me and feel like you’re just getting started on the educational path around crypto, have no fear, discussions are already in place about ways to offer some mini-series throughout the year so that we can become the experts’ members need us to be.
Something I think a lot about at Disney is “movie magic” and I started this reflection off by telling you that my awe never left. A huge part of that is all the hard work that goes into things ahead of time but some of that is the moments that just happen that you can’t plan for. I have been attending NACUSO Network since 2015, it was then that the excitement and passion from Next Big Idea contestants and speeches from CUSO of the Year Award winners really solidified my love for this event. No matter how many times I’ve seen the story play out now, even though it’s always a little different, it’s just as touching. I find myself full of pride watching presenters or hearing acceptance speeches knowing that our industry is in such capable hands. There isn’t a moment that goes by that I don’t consider myself lucky to work surrounded by all of you.
So, what’s next? We’re coming off the high of an amazing event, what do we do with that energy? We start putting into practice some of the things we learned. We take a small step this week, and another one the next. We reach out to our newly expanded network when we need support. We encourage each other to move outside the “norm” even though it’s hard, because it’s what is right. We actively look for opportunities to learn more and to engage others. We remind ourselves in our best Hamilton song voice that the magic we experienced at Disney was “not a moment, it’s a movement” and we push forward together.
Thank you all for a magical event. I can’t wait to see the progress we all make before the 2023 NACUSO Network.
April 27, 2022 — PSCU, the nation’s premier payments credit union service organization (CUSO), today announced it has launched its Digital Consulting Practice. With a goal of improving credit unions’ digital offerings, enhancing digital return on investment (ROI) and elevating product utilization, the digital consulting advisory services are now available to all Owner credit unions through PSCU’s Advisors Plus. This news comes on the heels of PSCU’s recently announced partnership with Curinos, which is aimed at helping credit unions strategically manage their digital investments.
“In today’s digital-first world, it is critical for credit unions to keep a pulse on digital trends and preferences in order to meet – and ideally exceed – member expectations,” said Yvonne Stelpflug, senior vice president, Advisors Plus at PSCU. “Through our Digital Consulting Practice, we can help credit unions make informed decisions about their digital roadmaps and member journeys, while also positioning them for growth and success now and into the future.”
The Digital Consulting Practice offers two models, which credit unions can choose to utilize separately or concurrently at any time. Credit unions can select a one-time digital consulting engagement, which begins with an analysis of a credit union’s digital experiences and user journeys based on current goals and objectives. Once user journeys are identified, PSCU will research and benchmark the existing design against market leaders. The CUSO will then present the optimized user journeys, ultimately resulting in a focused plan for enhancing and elevating digital experiences that can be measured against previously established goals.
Additionally, PSCU is offering a digital subscription model – which provides industry consulting access through quarterly digital marketing overview reports and webinars, as well as a digital year-in-review report and presentation – from PSCU’s team of Advisors Plus consulting experts. The subscription service also includes direct access to the Digital Banking Hub. Powered by Curinos, the Digital Banking Hub is a centralized platform of digital banking journeys that allows financial institutions to review digital banking capabilities in the market. Access to these resources not only provides credit unions with the opportunity to hear from and interact with industry-leading market experts, but also ensures credit unions are educated on current digital trends and continuously innovating to deliver the best digital experiences to their members.
About PSCU
PSCU, the nation’s premier payments CUSO, supports the success of 1,900 credit unions representing nearly 7 billion transactions annually. Committed to service excellence and focused on innovation, PSCU’s payment processing, risk management, data and analytics, loyalty programs, digital banking, marketing, strategic consulting and mobile platforms help deliver possibilities and seamless member experiences. Comprehensive, 24/7/365 member support is provided by contact centers located throughout the United States. The origin of PSCU’s model is collaboration and scale, and the company has leveraged its influence on behalf of credit unions and their members for more than 40 years. Today, PSCU provides an end-to-end, competitive advantage that enables credit unions to securely grow and meet evolving consumer demands. For more information, visit pscu.com.
About Advisors Plus
Founded in 2004, PSCU’s Advisors Plus offers consulting services for credit unions to help fuel growth and achieve financial and business goals. From project analysis to implementation and management, Advisors Plus offers an end-to-end portfolio of consulting services including business strategy, business and affinity cards, credit and debit cards, contact center optimization, risk and collections analysis, branch sales training, marketing services, and B2C campaign execution. Whether your credit union is looking to expand its offerings, build a legacy of community involvement, create the strongest possible capital footing—or all of the above—Advisors Plus consultants bring the strategic vision, deep industry expertise, and proprietary data analytics needed to help credit unions better serve their members and their communities. For more information, visit advisorsplus.com.
April 27, 2022 — PSCU, the nation’s premier payments credit union service organization (CUSO), today announced the launch of a new cryptocurrency microsite. Targeted and specifically curated for credit unions, the site will serve as a continuously updated hub for information and educational resources on all things related to digital assets. The announcement was made in conjunction with PSCU’s Member Forum 2022, taking place this week in Las Vegas.
While credit unions cannot currently hold the value of cryptocurrency within their federally-insured deposits, the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) has announced credit unions can partner with third-party cryptocurrency service providers to allow their members to buy, sell and hold digital assets under certain terms. The goal of PSCU’s new educational microsite is to help credit unions learn more and be prepared as member interest in cryptocurrency and other digital assets grows and the landscape evolves.
“There is no doubt cryptocurrency is a hot topic in today’s financial landscape, with many credit union members already active and others curious to learn more about it,” said Scott Young, vice president of Innovation & Design at PSCU. “Due to a lack of regulatory guidance until now, credit unions have held back from any involvement with cryptocurrency, the landscape is rapidly changing – making it the optimal time for credit unions to educate themselves. We are hopeful that credit unions can use this new resource to educate their staff and their members, evaluate associated risks and make informed decisions surrounding participation in this rapidly evolving payments technology.”
PSCU’s microsite will feature videos – including a downloadable educational video to share with credit union boards and staff – along with blogs, white papers and more from PSCU and other industry thought leaders. The site will also link to relevant updates and industry resources from groups like the NCUA, among others.
Credit unions can access PSCU’s cryptocurrency resources at pscu.com/crypto.
