Author: Denise Wymore

St. Petersburg, Fla.– (August 1, 2017) – PSCU – the nation’s leading CUSO – has today announced it has finalized a partnership with EPL, Inc., a premier technology and software- solutions provider for credit unions and financial institutions nationwide. Under the partnership, EPL will refer its credit union clients to PSCU for card processing and bill pay services.

After a thorough vetting process, EPL selected PSCU due to its longstanding reputation within the credit union industry and ability to enable growth and provide an unparalleled client experience to EPL’s member credit unions. In addition to referring PSCU products and services to its member credit unions, EPL will integrate its core processor, i-POWER^®, with PSCU’s credit and debit solutions.

“PSCU’s stellar reputation and history of success gave us confidence in moving forward with this partnership, which complements our growth and development strategy and service model,” said Robin Kolvek, CEO at EPL. “Our goal is to offer industry-leading, customized and personalized service to our clients, and we believe PSCU will support these efforts, enable our continued evolution, and further amplify our performance within and impact on the financial services market.”

Founded in 1977, EPL leverages cutting-edge technologies and extensive data analytics to customize innovative, open-architecture software solutions that improve the member experience and drive growth for credit unions of all sizes. EPL’s comprehensive core solution, i-POWER^®, and “Connection Suite” of products and services provide customers with a complete set of solutions, including lending, collections, robust online relationship banking, CRM, debit cards, document imaging, fraud detection, shared branching and much more. EPL empowers credit unions with customizable solutions and innovative ideas that differentiate and drive growth in an increasingly competitive financial services market.  

“PSCU is proud to be selected to partner with an innovative and client-driven company like EPL,” said Chuck Fagan, PSCU President & CEO. “We look forward to the opportunity to provide PSCU products, services and expertise to support EPL credit unions and their members.”

For more information, visit pscu.com or eplinc.com.

About PSCU

Established in 1977, PSCU (St. Petersburg, Fla.) is the nation’s leading credit union service organization (CUSO). The company was recognized as CUSO of the Year in 2016 by the National Association of Credit Union Service Organizations. PSCU’s products, financial services solutions and service model collectively support over 850 Owner credit unions representing more than 20 million credit, debit, prepaid, online bill payment and mobile accounts; protect over 2 billion transactions annually from fraud; and optimize credit union performance and growth. Comprehensive 24/7/365 member support is delivered through call centers located throughout the United States. For more information, visit www.pscu.com.

About EPL, Inc.

EPL, Inc.’s (EPL) custom software solutions maximize success while improving the member experience for credit unions of all sizes. By leveraging technology and specific member data, EPL’s innovative solutions help client institutions address challenges related to growth and relationship-building. We continually invest in our team and products to deliver an evolving and comprehensive open-system suite of solutions. Founded in 1977 by industry leaders, EPL is a credit union service organization (CUSO) headquartered in Birmingham, Ala. Learn more about how EPL’s team Evolves, Performs and Leads at www.eplinc.com.

St. Petersburg, Fla. — (July 25, 2017) — PSCU, the nation’s leading CUSO, announced that Andrew Rosen, President and CEO of Hawaii State Federal Credit Union (Hawaii) has been appointed as a board member. Rosen is replacing Terry West, longtime CEO of VyStar Credit Union (Fla.) and member of the PSCU board, who recently retired.

“Being governed by a board made up of credit union CEOs helps us stay attuned to our Owner credit unions. Terry was instrumental in keeping us aligned with their needs for nearly two decades,” said Jeff March, President and CEO of Citadel (Pa.) and PSCU Board Chair. “The entire board joins me in thanking him for his dedication and service to the PSCU cooperative.”

Prior to his retirement, West served on the PSCU board for 17 years. Rosen, who served as an Associate Director for the past two years, will assume West’s spot as a board member.

“Andrew is already a valuable part of the PSCU board. We look forward to continuing to work with him and the rest of the board to serve the PSCU cooperative,” added March.

PSCU’s Board of Directors is composed solely of CEOs from credit unions of all asset sizes and varying fields of membership from diverse geographic locations in the U.S. The experience and perspectives of PSCU board members contribute greatly to the overall strength of the CUSO.

PSCU’s board includes: Jeff March, President and CEO of Citadel, Pa., (Chair); Cathie Tierney, President and CEO of Community First Credit Union, Wis. (Vice Chair); Gene Foley, President and CEO of Harvard University Employees Credit Union, Mass. (Treasurer); Sean Rathjen, President and CEO of Consumers Credit Union, Ill. (Secretary); David Doss, President and CEO of OneAZ Credit Union, Ariz. (Past Chair); Craig Esrael, President and CEO of First South Financial Credit Union, Tenn.; Cathy Pace, President and CEO of Allegacy Federal Credit Union, N.C.; Andrew Rosen, President and CEO of Hawaii State Federal Credit Union, Hawaii; Kit Snyder, President and CEO of Consumers Credit Union, Mich.; Rob Stuart, President and CEO, OnPoint Community Credit Union, Ore.; Frank Weidner, President and CEO of Wings Financial Credit Union, Minn.; Amy Sink, President and CEO of Interra Credit Union, Ind. (Associate Director); and Chris Shockley, President and CEO of Virginia Credit Union, Va. (Associate Director).

About PSCU

Established in 1977, PSCU (St. Petersburg, Fla.) is the nation’s leading credit union service organization (CUSO). The company was recognized as CUSO of the Year in 2016 by the National Association of Credit Union Service Organizations. PSCU’s products, financial services solutions and service model collectively support over 850 Owner credit unions representing more than 20 million credit, debit, prepaid, online bill payment and mobile accounts; protect over 2 billion transactions annually from fraud; and optimize credit union performance and growth. Comprehensive 24/7/365 member support is delivered through call centers located throughout the United States. For more information, visit www.pscu.com.

CO-OP Financial Services Program Offers Credit Unions Opportunity to Give Backpacks Stuffed with School Supplies to Local Kids in Need

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. – Now through Sept. 30, 2017, CO-OP Financial Services in partnership with school supply company Yoobi is offering credit unions an opportunity to receive a shipment of backpacks, school supplies and financial literacy resources to help children in their local communities.

Any credit union can participate, regardless of affiliation with CO-OP, and online sign-up is open now.

“Consumers are looking for both social mission and innovation from their financial institutions,” said Todd Clark, President/CEO of CO-OP. “The Credit Union-Yoobi Back-to-School Backpack Drive enables credit unions to not only positively impact their communities, but make an impact nationally as well. It’s been reported often that teachers may spend $500 per year out of their own pockets on school supplies. This program gives credit unions a unique way to address a chronic problem in education.”

For every $1,500 a credit union invests in the program, the cooperative receives 50 backpacks for students in need, along with school supplies for 50 children. Also included in the shipment will be material directing students and parents to financial literacy resources and a financial literacy kit for the recipient organization. CO-OP is partnering with the National Credit Union Foundation and Money Mammals to provide the financial literacy kits.

Credit unions can then engage in staff team-building with a stuffing party for employees to assemble the backpacks, which can be delivered to schools, shelters or other organizations that serve children in their community.

In addition to the local backpack drives, for every backpack and supply set the credit union movement orders as part of the CO-OP program, Yoobi has pledged to donate an equal number of items to high-need elementary schools across the U.S. through the Kids in Need Foundation.

The Credit Union-Yoobi Back to School Backpack Drive is part of CO-OP Purpose, a corporate social responsibility program for credit unions that provides turnkey, impactful community initiatives to help credit unions advance their mission of people helping people. Under the CO-OP Purpose umbrella, CO-OP also offers CO-OP Miracle Match, a $1 million-annually philanthropic matching program that encourages credit unions to hold fundraisers for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.  

About CO-OP Financial Services
CO-OP Financial Services is a payments and financial technology company whose mission is ensuring the success of the credit union movement by serving 3,500 credit unions and 60 million members. CO-OP payments solutions, engagement services and strategic counsel help credit unions optimize member experiences to consistently provide seamless, personalized multi-channel offerings, while delivering secure, sophisticated fraud mitigation service. For more information, visit www.co-opfs.org.

Annual workshop raises more than $25,000 for Pinellas County non-profit

St. Petersburg, Fla. (July 27, 2017) ­ PSCU, the nation’s leading CUSO, was a proud sponsor of the National Credit Union Foundation’s Development Education (DE) Workshop in Tampa on July 11-13. The focus for this year’s workshop was diversity and inclusion, and why inclusion is so important to credit unions. The workshop builds upon the foundational DE training, such as critical lessons in cooperative principles, credit union philosophy and international development issues, while incorporating other challenges that credit unions face today.

The mission of the DE program is to promote credit unions’ social responsibility and domestic and international development through interactive adult education and professional networking. By linking credit unions¹ past and present, the program brings renewed relevance to credit unions¹ seven cooperative principles and the philosophy of “People Helping People.”

The workshop was hosted at the Suncoast Credit Union headquarters in Tampa while PSCU proudly sponsored the Opening Reception dinner on the first day of the workshop. In addition to networking opportunities, the workshop allows credit union professionals from across the country to sharpen their skills in credit union outreach initiatives, technical assistance, public presentations and become passionate advocates of the credit union philosophy. Graduates of the workshop also earn certification as Credit Union Development Educators (CUDEs).

“PSCU was proud to be a sponsor of this year’s Credit Union DE Workshop, as the valuable lessons and skills learned by attendees of the event are the same that our CUSO promotes every day,” said Tom Olney, PSCU VP, Learning Process & Architecture. “At PSCU, we encourage all of our associates to continue sharpening their skills in order to advance themselves individually, as well as the industry as a whole. Events like the Credit Union DE Workshop provide an opportunity for credit union professionals from around the world to come together over a shared passion which unites us all.”

Each year during the DE Workshop, a day is dedicated to giving back to the local community. This year¹s charity of choice was Pinellas Hope, a non-profit organization that supports the homeless population in St. Petersburg. The organization provides shelter and job placement support and sets goals with residents that encourage self-sufficiency. At this year’s workshop, attendees banded together and raised over $25,000 in just 75 minutes to support Pinellas Hope’s newest housing project for veterans. The funds went toward furnishing and decorating 14 of the organization¹s homes that await veterans.

“Each year, we are honored with the opportunity to come together as a credit union movement to advance the profession and give back to local communities in need. We are very proud of the funds raised during this year’s DE Workshop for Pinellas Hope,” said Lois Kitsch, the National Credit Union Foundation¹s National Program Director.

For more information about the workshop or the National Credit Union Foundation, visit ncuf.coop.

About PSCU

Established in 1977, PSCU (St. Petersburg, Fla.) is the nation’s leading credit union service organization (CUSO). The company was recognized as CUSO of the Year in 2016 by the National Association of Credit Union Service Organizations. PSCU¹s products, financial services solutions and service model collectively support over 850 Owner credit unions representing more than 20 million credit, debit, prepaid, online bill payment and mobile accounts; protect over 2 billion transactions annually from fraud; and optimize credit union performance and growth. Comprehensive 24/7/365 member support is delivered through call centers located throughout the United States. For more information, visit www.pscu.com.

About the National Credit Union Foundation

The National Credit Union Foundation (the Foundation) is the charitable arm of the U.S. credit union movement and works as a catalyst to improve people¹s financial lives through credit unions. Through grants and programs, the Foundation is strengthening financial well-being, igniting passion and instilling knowledge about the credit union difference, and uniting resources to help credit union people during disaster. Donations to the Foundation ultimately enable credit unions to help their members reach life-changing goals and achieve financial freedom. The National Credit Union Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization. The Foundation continues to earn the Better Business Bureau seal of approval as an ³Accredited Charity² for meeting all 20 BBB Wise Giving Alliance Standards for national charities.