Posts By: Denise Wymore

For those credit unions looking to take their business continuity program to the next level, including key vendors and service providers in recovery testing and exercises is a win-win scenario. That was the experience for the team at Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union (located in Alpena, MI) when they partnered with CUSO and core processor, CU*Answers, to conduct a disaster recovery tabletop exercise.

With the participation of business unit leaders and branch managers, the simulated scenario involved a severe winter storm resulting in power and data communications outages at select branch locations with conditional injects at 15-minute intervals. “Understanding the capacity of the credit union to continue serving our members as conditions change is instrumental in enabling us to ask the right questions, anticipate the needs, and identify solutions in advance,” said Angie Szatkowski, Chief Operations Officer for Alpena Alcona Area. “By engaging our core processor, the team was exposed to a fresh perspective for preparing and responding to the situation, as well as leveraging online channels for reaching the members where they are, even during northern Michigan winter storms.”… Read more

Constellation Digital Partners has reached a new milestone with the announcement of its 100^thdevelopment partner. With credit unions preparing to go live with Constellation, the 100^th development partner milestone is remarkable due to the vast array of services that will be made available to credit unions. Meaning, the more registered development partners there are on the platform, the more activity there is surrounding active projects and services being built.

The Constellation Digital Platform allows development partners to create new services, test them and ultimately submit them for certification upon completion. Multiple developers can be working simultaneously on the platform to deliver solutions to credit unions. Constellation has formed very solid, collaborative partnerships among fintech partners and credit unions. Today there are more than 250 individual developers working on projects within the developer portal to provide a wide array of additional services to credit unions, and eventually, credit union members.… Read more

Five County Credit Union is a Leading Participant in CO-OP Shared Branch Network

Five County Credit Union, one of the largest participants in CO-OP Shared Branch network in Maine, is expanding its partnership with CO-OP Financial Services to include a wide variety of solutions within the CO-OP ecosystem.

Based in Bath, Maine, Five County CU (www.fivecounty.com) is now working with CO-OP (www.co-opfs.org) to enhance the member experience and create back-office efficiencies by using CO-OP’s debit and credit transaction processing services combined with loyalty and rewards program solutions; offering the CardNav by CO-OP card controls and alerts mobile application; and participating in the CO-OP ATM network.

“We are moving our debit and credit card processing to CO-OP to remove friction points for our members and staff,” said Julie Marquis, President and CEO of Five County CU. “The efficiencies created by having all card programs under one umbrella is the ultimate goal – only one set of fraud rules, one set of parameters and only one mobile application for members and staff, along with rewards provided for debit and credit transactions.… Read more