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Credit Union tech-talk News

September 3 - September 7, 2007


General News

* Bisys Enters Into Strategic Alliance With uMonitor 
* GalaxyPlus Rebrands as Galaxy
* Mortgagebot Releases Benchmarks 2007 Study
* USA FCU Deploys Digital Dialogue's Automated Lending System

BISYS Retirement Services has entered into a strategic alliance with Parsam Technologies - uMonitor. The alliance integrates BISYS' IRA Service Center with uMonitor's New Account Opening and Funding Service (uOpen & uFund), allowing credit unions to generate compliant, signature-ready documents while safely funding IRAs online. BISYS' IRA Service Center is an Internet-based tool that helps credit unions expand their market presence by providing clients with access to consumer education, "what-if" calculations, and the ability to generate signature-ready documents for IRAs. 

GalaxyPlus Credit Union Systems, a business unit of Fiserv that provides innovative technology solutions to credit unions nationwide, announced that it is re-branding itself as Galaxy Credit Union Solutions. Efforts involved in the re-branding process include Galaxy changing its logo and Web address (www.fiserv-galaxy.com). Plus, Galaxy is launching a separate product division, called Fiserv Continuum, to promote Galaxy’s member-focused solutions to all credit unions using any core processing system. 

Mortgagebot announced that it has completed and released its Benchmarks 2007 study. The 2007 study is divided into several sections, covering topics such as: loan product and decisioning statistics; online borrower behavior and Web-site usage; lender website configuration and marketing; and lending channels and loan volume. 

USA Federal Credit Union has added Digital Dialogue's automated lending system to help them speed up loan decisions at the San Diego, California-based $700-million-asset credit union. Digital Dialogue's automated lending system streamlines loan approval and also instantly calculates the amount of money members would save by refinancing loans with the credit union. 


Hardware News

Intel just introduced its latest vPro microprocessors and the chip giant says that they can help IT departments more easily protect and support their desktop systems. The vPro Core 2 Duo chips help extend malware behavior-detection further onto the CPU level and wall off virtualized software systems from attack. By adding new capability for desktops to communicate directly with network access control (NAC) systems, Intel contends it can offer full-fledged security management opportunities that circumvent the need for device-OS interaction. Intel is also touting other systems management and power-efficiency features in the chips.

IBM's new System Storage DS3300 is an iSCSI storage array that is designed to store documents, e-mails, and other data for the smaller businesses that are moving from direct-attached storage to shared network storage. The DS3300 has iSCSI interfaces to the network and Serial-attached SCSI (SAS) technology to the disk drives. The DS3300 supports up to 14.4TB of capacity with 48 hard disk-drives and starts at $5,000. It also includes management software that utilizes installation wizards that guide administrators through setup and configuration. 

A Silicon Valley start-up claims to boost computing security and reduce electricity costs with a virtual desktop PC that uses no software or processor. The firms says its approach improves on the thin-client PC model made popular by Wyse, Hewlett-Packard, Neoware and others. Learn more about these devices in the October issue of Credit Union tech-talk - subscribe now. 

 

Hardware Section Sponsored by
MagTek
 

 

MagTek®’s ExpressCard 1000 is the industry’s first “ALL-IN-ONE” instant issuance and complete card personalization platform forCredit, Debit, ATM, and Financial Gift Cards designed to fit securely and comfortably within a branch location.


For the first time, card personalization features such as color card-printing, magstripe encoding, smartcard encoding, card embossing, indent printing, and foil tipping have been combined into a single device which provides both the physical and logical security features required to meet the demands of a branch or retailer’s card issuing environment.


Equipped with MagnePrint® card authentication technology (www.magneprint.com), the ExpressCard 1000 offers the capability to capture the card's reference MagnePrint at the time of card issuance so that reference value may be used in conjunction with complementary risk management analytics with card present transactions. The ExpressCard 1000 can be connected as a peripheral to MagTek’s IntelliCAT and MCAPS 3000 PIN selection and instant issuance software suites creating a complete and secure card issuing platform.

For more information on ExpressCard 1000, go to www.magtek.com or call your MagTek sales representative at 800-788-6835.

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Software Updates

Utimaco has released SafeGuard PrivateDisk 2.02, an encryption tool for files and folders in virtual devices. SafeGuard PrivateDisk acts as an electronic safe that allows users to protect data and access encrypted data in external environments. SafeGuard PrivateDisk can be used as a standalone security solution, or it can use the keys and certificates of an existing public key infrastructure (PKI). 

Most organizations today rely on spreadsheets in some way. Because they are used heavily for finance and accounting, more and more organizations are looking for ways to mitigate the risk of using spreadsheets. One research project found that 80 percent of spreadsheets contain significant errors. We will cover some common spreadsheets errors and ways that you can reduce them in the October issue of Credit Union tech-talk - subscribe today.


Software Section Sponsored by
Raddon Financial Group (RFG)


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ATMs/Kiosks

Diebold has spent the last 18 months developing wireless technology that allows mobile phones or personal digital assistants to interact directly with ATMs, and has received five patents for their efforts. The technologies will allow mobile phone owners to find ATMs, order cash withdrawals remotely, generate electronic checks, transmit wireless payments, and conduct other transactions more securely and conveniently than they do now, Diebold said. 

Springboro, OH-based ATM Components & Technology has released a new diagnostic tool for NCR Corp.’s 5305, 56XX and 58XX ATM series dubbed the ATM Doctor. ATM Doctor comprises software that installs on a laptop, cables and an interface box. Technicians can test NCR ATMs by sending selected instructions to the device from their computers to verify proper performance. ATM Doctor costs about $700. 

Flint, MI-based DORT Federal Credit Union is working with Diebold to roll out the company’s ImageWay Branch and ImageWay ATM systems to implement check imaging at its ATMs. ImageWay Branch uses a secure, browser-based system with image capture software and hardware. ImageWay ATM allows members to forego envelopes when depositing checks.

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Biometric Digest Highlights - WWW.BIODIGEST.COM 

Four major European banks are setting new ATM usage standards with the help of Sagem's biometric fingerprint technology. Readers are being incorporated into the ATMs to make them more secure. In action, consumers using these ATMs are issued six-digit pin numbers that represent their birth date (day, month and year). These PINs are entered when the consumer wants to use the ATM. Once this PIN is entered, it brings up the database of those people with similar birth dates. The ATM then asks the consumer to present his or her finger to the fingerprint reader which searches this smaller database of people to positively identify the user in a shorter amount of time, rather than searching the global database. The consumer can then perform the required transactions on the ATM as per usual.

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Wireless World

NCR is partnering with MShift, a leading provider of customizable wireless solutions. Under the companies’ agreement, NCR will offer the MShift Mobile Banking Solution as part of its suite of Internet banking services. The MShift application works with any cell phone or PDA that has Web and/or text messaging capabilities.

Meanwhile, another mobile banking provider, ClairMail, announced ClairMail System Release 3. Their platform supports the “triple play” of all three user interface types available for mobile banking and payments: messaging (SMS and email), mobile web and native client applications. The firm says that encryption is used throughout the ClairMail System, and confidential data is never transmitted or stored on mobile phones. 

The Nokia 6131i is the world's first business mobile phone integrated with Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. Close-range data transfers can be used for beaming media files or making secure mobile payments. NFC operates at 13.56MHz, beaming data at rates as high as 424kbps.

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Security Section

Fair Isaac announced that it will team up with NYCE Payments Network to deliver device-profiling technology to the debit card industry, providing NYCE Network participants with a comprehensive fraud detection and prevention offering. The system will use fraud analytic technology for account-profiling, custom neural network models for debit transaction data, and comprehensive case and rules management capabilities. The companies say that NYCE participants will be able to detect and stop fraud in real time, during the authorization process and before a loss is incurred, by determining the risk associated with individual devices. 

One company believes that they have developed a better perimeter defense system. It intercepts penetration testing attacks as they occur, conceals network resources from the potential intruder and sends back false information. This defense is known as anti-reconnaissance technology: learn more about it in the October issue of Credit Union tech-talk - subscribe now.

Security Section Sponsored by
MAGENSATM
 

MAGENSA™ is a trusted verification authority (TVA) that provides real-time remote-hosted credential authentication services. These services enable credit unions, financial institutions, businesses, and government agencies to integrate PCI DSS and FFIEC multi-factor authentication and end-to-end data encryption capabilities into their existing processing environments without the need for substantial financial investments or massive changes to the existing infrastructure.


Specifically tailored to enhance the security of internet banking and ATM applications, MAGENSA delivers unprecedented security and authentication using the familiar magstripe card credentials (secure tokens) that a credit union has already issued to its members. MAGENSA is powered by the trusted and proven card authentication technology known as MagnePrint® (www.magneprint.com). MagnePrint differentiates a members’ authentic magstripe card from an altered or counterfeit version, transforming the traditional magstripe card into a powerful security token.


MAGENSA’s Secure Data Center (SDC), a reliable 24x7 operations center that is maintained 365 days a year, simplifies the integration of data decryption and MagnePrint scoring into existing websites, and allows for data federation across institutional domains.

For more information on MAGENSA, please visit www.magensa.net or call 877.MAGENSA.

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Leaders Roundtable

Core Systems: 

Using Core Systems to Increase Loans and Deposits

 
AFTECH - http://www.aftech.com  
Read Joseph Antellocy's comments: http://www.cunews.com/roundtable/AFTECH.pdf

 
COCC - http://www.cocc.com  
Read Mark Shaw's comments:

CU*Answers - http://www.cuanswers.com  
Read Randy Karnes' comments:    
http://www.cunews.com/roundtable/CUAnswers.pdf  

 
Enhanced Software Products - http://www.espsolution.net  
Read Matt Lefler's comments:    http://www.cunews.com/roundtable/ESP.pdf  

 
Galaxy - http://www.fiserv-galaxy.com  
Read Jay Slavin's comments:    
http://www.cunews.com/roundtable/Galaxy.pdf

 
Harland Financial Solutions - http://www.harlandfinancialsolutions.com  
Read David McConney's comments: http://www.cunews.com/roundtable/HFS.pdf

 

 
Open Solutions - http://www.opensolutions.com  
Read Michael Nicastro's comments: http://www.cunews.com/roundtable/OSI.pdf
 
 
ShareOne - http://www.shareone.com  
Read Daryl Tanner's comments:  
http://www.cunews.com/roundtable/ShareOne.pdf

 
Summit Information Systems - http://www.summitsite.com  
Read Kevin Sparks' comments:  
http://www.cunews.com/roundtable/Summit.pdf

 
Symitar - http://www.symitar.com  
Read Kathy Hooker Burress' comments:  
http://www.cunews.com/roundtable/Symitar.pdf

 
USERS - http://www.users.com  
Read Eric Panepinto's comments:  
http://www.cunews.com/roundtable/USERS.pdf
 

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Technology and Marketing

According to new data released by Visa USA, an overwhelming majority of both Baby Boomers (79%) and Echo Boomers (74%) believe that our society will one day operate without cash and checks and will conduct all payment transactions electronically. Visa says that evidence of the migration away from cash and checks includes: 

• Debit: More than three-quarters of adults in the U.S. have a debit card, and the Federal Reserve Bank reports that debit cards are the fastest-growing payments type at retailers nationwide. 
• Government Migration: More than 30 states, including California and Texas, are saving millions of taxpayer dollars by switching from cash to reloadable prepaid cards to disburse child care, unemployment, and other social benefits. 
• Contactless and Mobile Payments: Visa implemented a contactless platform that has the flexibility to accommodate a wide range of products, including credit, debit and prepaid, as well as a nontraditional forms of payment such as mobile phones and handheld devices. 

PSCU Financial Services is developing and launching Project New Age to help its member-owner credit unions attract and serve the unique needs of young adults 12 to 30 years old. The CUSO has created a series of webinars in which attendees will learn how to communicate with this media-savvy but ad-weary generation. Topics will include: blogs, viral marketing, social networking outlets and the power of myspace.com.

Technology and Marketing Section Sponsored by
PAYjr

 

Grow your membership and your revenue with a unique youth program, plus get $1 for each card sign-up!

Unique tools for member growth, a way to differentiate yourself in the market and a great revenue generator. PAYjr is the youth program that will help you grow your CU with younger members. It is not just marketing material to send out to members, but the tools to help them learn money management.

We offer a turn-key branding solution that allows you to offer financial education, an online chore and allowance program and a teen prepaid card that teens can design themselves! These programs show your involvement in your community and will help parents show their kids how to earn and save money the smart way. The online chore and allowance program schedules chores and tracks their completion, making chores interactive and fun for the whole family. The prepaid Visa Buxx card is a great tool for teens to learn how to budget and it is a great revenue generator for you. Get $1 for each card sign-up!

Check out our site where you can design your own prepaid card: www.PAYjrVisaBuxx.com

Contact Information & For Partnership Opportunities:


Jessica Stroud
Jessica@payjr.com
(214) 618-7037

www.PAYjrCorp.com 

The PAYjr Visa Buxx® Card is issued by BankFirst, Sioux Falls, SD, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. BankFirst; Member FDIC.

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Online Banking/E-Commerce/Website Design

Some security analysts like to point out that the real threat for online transactions these days comes from intrasession attacks, where a secure session is hijacked without the user's knowledge. These usually occur in two ways - during a piggyback attack or a spoof server attack. We will cover these scenarios in-depth in the October issue of Credit Union tech-talk - subscribe now.

CUNA Mutual Group has introduced “The Greenhouse,” a Web-based tool that allows customers to submit ideas for new product development. Credit unions are invited to go online at www.cunamutual.com/thegreenhouse and offer suggestions for new products or improving existing ones. 

Online Banking Section Sponsored by
MAGENSATM
 

Revolutionary Convergence of Security Technology for Secure Internet Banking!

MagneSafeTM P55 is a portable card reader/authenticator with four key technologies for secure online banking: Cardholder Data Encryption, MagnePrint® card authentication technology, Website Authentication and Track 1, 2 and 3 card reading capabilities. In conjunction with MagneSafeTM, the MagneSafe P55 is designed to offer secure, multifactor authentication for Internet banking, empowering consumers with the freedom and confidence of knowing that their transactions are protected anytime, anywhere.

MAGENSA, a Trusted Verification Authority that provides real-time, remote-hosted credential authentication services, allows credit unions to integrate PCI DSS and FFIEC compliant multifactor authentication, data encryption, website authentication, and data federation capabilities without the need for substantial financial investments or massive changes to the existing infrastructure.

For more information about the MagneSafe P55 or MAGENSA, visit www.magensa.net, or call 877.MAGENSA.  

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Internet Access

Verizon Business has rolled out its Integrated Communications Package to provide unified communications to the company’s Hosted IP Centrex customers (part of Verizon Business’ VoIP portfolio) so subscribers can access voice mail, control incoming and outgoing calls, manage their online presence, send text messages, and synchronize contacts and calendars.

C3IP is a provider of hosted voice, video and data IP solutions for businesses. C3IP touts itself as a one-stop shop that provides small organizations with the insight necessary to identify whether their current network infrastructure will support a move to VoIP, and monitor their network and telephony infrastructure to guarantee that the VoIP solution is operating optimally. They accomplish this via their VoIP Pro Field Services Kit and the VoIP Pro Monitoring Service. Using these two micro-appliances, as well as a hosted Internet call target, integrators are able to perform a variety of LAN, WAN and multi-site network assessments, while also troubleshooting complex VoIP problems. 

Internet Access Section Sponsored by
Ewart Technologies

 

T1s, VoIP, DSL, VPNs… We Have You Covered!

The credit union world changes fast and technology must keep up. Ewart Technologies has solutions that can help your credit union stay on top. Covad’s voice and data services, along with our robust VPN solutions, integrate seamlessly to provide your organization with flexible, affordable communications.

Since 1997, Ewart Technologies, Inc. has been a trusted solutions provider for credit unions, offering a full range of technology services designed to maximize the value of IT investments.

Whether your organization simply needs a T1, DSL, Hosted VoIP, or PRI replacement, or you don’t have a clue what any of that means and need help wading through the techno-jargon to find a solution that makes sense, Ewart Technologies can help.

Call us today, toll-free at 877.241.1490, or visit us at: www.EwartTechnologies.com

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Call Centers

The amount of noise a member hears on the other end of the phone can have a negative impact on their experience and their impression of the credit union. A noisy call center can be perceived as disorganized perhaps even too busy to care for the member's needs, or just be a discomfort for the caller who is fighting be heard over others. A major contributor to noise reduction in the call center is headsets that are equipped with noise cancelling microphones and digital signal processing technology for reducing noise. For example, Sennheiser’s line of call center headsets reject background noise while focusing on the frequency range of speech for telecom equipment. 

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Conferences

Catch Tom and Bill Rogers, Associate Editor of Credit Union tech-talk at the following conferences in 2007:

September 20, Las Vegas - Security Conference California/Nevada Credit Union Leagues

October 10-13, Albuquerque - Firefighters' National Credit Union Summit

November 8-10, San Diego - CU InfoTECH

June 5-6, Las Vegas - Credit Union InfoSecurity Confernce

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