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~ This Week's News is Sponsored by Better Branches ~
* ESP Converts Tacoma Longshoremen CU
* Gulf Coast Community FCU Selects Better Branches
* Sewerage & Water Board EFCU Chooses IMM’s TotaleChecks
* Cornerstone Community FCU Partners with Share One
Enhanced Software Products (ESP), the Spokane, WA-based Credit Union Core Data Processor, recently converted Tacoma Longshoremen Credit Union to their FORZA3 Windows-based processing platform. The $76M asset credit union has deployed numerous ESP-developed services, such as Member Imaging, Paperless Receipts, Home Banking and Electronic Document Signing, all hosted and maintained at ESP data centers.
Better Branches Technology, a provider of branch visitor queuing and workforce management software for CUs, announced that Gulf Coast Community Federal Credit Union has adopted their industry leading Better Lobby/New Accounts and Branch Appointment Calendar modules. The New Accounts module is a lobby management application that will positively impact visitors' opinions of the Mississippi-based credit union’s New Accounts areas, while Branch Appointment Calendar will provide a branch-specific appointment calendar for each branch employee.
IMM, a provider of eSignature, workflow and document solutions for CUs, announced that Sewerage and Water Board Employees Federal Credit Union has implemented TotaleChecks. With IMM’s TotaleChecks, the Louisiana-based credit union can create and print custom laser checks on-demand.
Share One, a CUSO operating out of Memphis, TN, announced that Cornerstone Community Federal Credit Union has selected their NewSolutions core system. The $346 million, 46,782 member credit union is based in Lockport, NY.
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Acer has come out with their new Aspire Z3-600 all-in-one PC that is easy to move because it includes an integrated a battery. It features 2.5 hours of battery life, a 21.5-inch screen that can display images at 1920 x 1080, and a flexible design that allows the frame to stand 90 degrees, or be laid flat. The system has a quad-core Pentium processor, up to 750GB of storage, 4GB DRAM and a webcam. HDMI and USB 3.0 are the port options. The all-in-one is priced starting at $779.
USB is burdened by a variety of different connectors today, but the new Type-C connector is designed to replace these various designs with a single, all-purpose port that is reversible so it won't matter which way people plug it in. The new design will accommodate faster data-transfer rates of the future. Today's USB 3.0 reaches 5 gigabits per second, but the USB oversight group has finished the USB 3.1 specification that extends to 10Gbps.
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Hardware Section Sponsored by Millennial Vision, Inc. (MVi) |
Mambu is a cloud banking software-as-a-service provider based in Berlin. The firm says that their platform is flexible and open, and eliminates the complexities typically associated with core banking software. The system was recently chosen by the United Kingdom’s first online-only credit union, My Community Bank.
WordPress started as a blogging system but has evolved into a full-blown CMS (content management system) with thousands of plugins, widgets and themes. It is the most popular blogging platform on the Web and powers about 20 percent of the top 10 million sites on the Internet. Second only to WordPress in implementations, Joomla is a powerful CMS that is used by large and small organizations, including Harvard University and Citibank. Thousands of extensions, both free and commercial, are available from the Joomla! Extension Directory.
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Software Updates Sponsored by Raddon Financial Group (RFG) |
Wincor Nixdorf has come out with software that they say will help ATM deployers running Windows XP remain PCI DSS compliant. The company said its new PC/E Terminal Security software enables credit unions that continue to run Windows XP on their self-service systems to operate them securely without Microsoft support. PC/E Terminal Security was designed to harden the operating system with intrusion and access protection software, and can be left in place after a Windows 7 migration.
Video toppers on ATMs have been around for many years, but the high cost of the units has limited their popularity. Now prices are coming down, e.g., a display monitor that used to cost $1500 or more for just the component has fallen into the $300 to $500 price range. Plus, it is now more feasible to change marketing campaigns remotely due to updated software and better wired and wireless TCP/IP connectivity.
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ATMs/Kiosks Sponsored by Heritage Industries |
Here is a chance to learn about real life credit union success stories from various technology vendors through the words of their clients. This week's vendor is:
Shoreline Business Solutions, Inc.
and their client is:
Credit Unions - if you have a vendor that you are happy with then please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.!
Vendors - if you have a credit union that is happy with your solutions then please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will give you a $100 discount on your Case Study!
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According to a Forrester survey, 38% of survey respondents said they would trust PayPal with their digital wallet, compared to 35% who said the same about financial institutions and credit card companies. Amazon was the third most trusted digital wallet provider, cited by 23% of respondents. Apple and Google were not in the top three.
MasterCard announced plans to expand its QkR mobile payments service. Developed by QkR MasterCard Labs, the app is available for both Android and Apple devices. The service uses quick response codes displayed on a smartphone or other mobile device's screen to enable contactless payments at physical retail outlets.
Westpac New Zealand has ported their popular Cash Tank app run on the Sony SmartWatch. The SmartWatch is controlled by the Bluetooth connection to its phone. The core function of Cash Tank is balance monitoring, but it will soon be extended to quick transfers and the ability to receive account alerts to the watch. Other possibilities include displaying geo-sensitive alerts and offers, branch locations, and even serving as a payment instrument.
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Trusteer just announced the results of a recent study on the State of Targeted Attacks. 80% of the respondents said that Java is their most serious vulnerability and the most difficult application when it comes to ensuring all security patches have been fully implemented in a timely manner. Meanwhile, Adobe Reader was a close second. Some other key findings include:
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Security Section Sponsored by THE FINANCIAL & SECURITY PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION (FSPA) |
Our members, located in every state, will be more than happy to consult with your credit union regarding: Upgrading branch security equipment, remodeling branches, servicing all types of physical & electronic security equipment (to include keeping older equipment operational), and providing quotes on ATMS, cash-recyclers, safes, vaults, safe-deposit boxes, after-hour-depositories, drive-up banking systems, tellers’ undercounter steel & storage units, insulated products and all types of electronic security & digital video systems. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by telephone or e-mail for an immediate referral to a member-company in your local area.
CREDIT UNIONS:
For more information or for a member referral in your specific geographic area, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for a prompt & detailed response. Our members carry a very broad line of products and are able to provide credit unions with many powerful and affordable alternatives for their security equipment & servicing needs.
SECURITY VENDORS:
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Call Today: 800.843.6082
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Core Systems:
Driving More Efficiency From Core Systems
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Corelation - http://www.corelationinc.com Read Theresa Benavidez's comments: https://www.cunews.com/Corelation.pdf |
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CU*Answers - http://www.cuanswers.com Read Randy Karnes' comments: https://www.cunews.com/CUanswers.pdf |
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Credit Union Data Processing (CUDP) - https://www.cuprodigy.com Read Charlie Fulks' comments: https://www.cunews.com/CUprodigy.pdf |
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CUtopia - http://www.cutopiasolutions.com Read John Pantaleon's comments: https://www.cunews.com/CUtopia.pdf |
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Enhanced Software Products - https://www.espsolution.net Read Matt Lefler's comments: https://www.cunews.com/ESP.pdf |
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Fiserv - http://www.creditunions.fiserv.com Read Mark Sievewright's comments: https://www.cunews.com/Fiserv.pdf |
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Harland Financial Solutions - https://www.harlandfinancialsolutions.com Read Tom Berdan's comments: https://www.cunews.com/HFS.pdf |
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Innovative Technology (INTECH) - http://www.intech-inc.com Read Tim Erwin's comments: https://www.cunews.com/INTECH.pdf |
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Mercator Advisory Group - https://www.mercatoradvisorygroup.com Read Edward O'Brien's comments: http://www.cunews.com/Mercator.pdf |
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Synergent - http://www.synergentcorp.com Read Nick Chasse's comments: https://www.cunews.com/Synergent.pdf |
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Debt card interchange and overdraft fees are two products that produce a great deal of non-interest income for financial institutions. With these two products under pressure, some FIs are getting creative in their quest to boost non-interest income. Many offer insurance products coupled with auto loans, but some are turning to stand-alone products such as pet insurance. Proponents argue that it is a good strategy considering the fact that Americans spend tens of billions of dollars annually on their pets, with a good chunk of those expenses — about $14 billion — coming in the form of vet bills.
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According to a new report by Celent, interchange relief and other strong merchant incentives are likely needed to encourage U.S. adoption of EMV chip cards. The research firm states that a U.S. EMV deployment of some kind is inevitable, but contends that the October 2015 liability shift dates realistically are not going to be met, and that they will be pushed out. Credit card issuers will adopt a cautious, segmented, and gradual approach to EMV migration, the report predicts.
GTE Financial is rolling out their GTE VIP (Virtual Innovation Panel) team of 15 members who will provide feedback on the credit union's online and mobile financial service offerings. The team will meet with high level management and IT developers at the credit union's Tampa headquarters once each quarter next year. The team received complimentary iPad minis and will use the Yammer enterprise social networking service to stay in touch.
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Online Banking Section Sponsored by Cachet Financial Solutions |
Conventional IP security products (such as firewalls and intrusion detection and prevention systems) were not designed with real-time communications in mind. Protecting UC (unified communications) systems requires specialized solutions, including deploying enterprise session border controllers (E-SBCs). Oracle has developed a white paper on Making Unified Communication Secure and it is available here:
http://www.oracle.com/us/industries/communications/making-unified-secure-wp-1985070.pdf
Unify, formerly known as Siemens Enterprise Communications, has introduced the latest version of its enterprise communications platform: Version 7 of OpenScape 4000 (known formerly as HiPath 4000). New features include One Number service, increased security, and improved UC integration. It also includes virtualization capabilities using VMware vSphere ESXi 5.
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According to a report by Pindrop Security, one in every 2,500 phone calls to a financial institution call center is a fraud, and phone fraud racked up an average of $42,546 in losses per financial account in the first half of 2013. They found that the fraudsters use a blend of social engineering and account manipulation via these channels:
- about half place from mobile devices
- one third from voice-over-IP lines
- nearly 15 percent from landline phones
Pindrop Security noted that "we're seeing fraudsters stepping up their games, calling these call centers so well-prepared, and going after accounts with a lot of money in them."
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