Your source for the latest technology information of interest to credit unions across America.
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and stay on top of the latest technology trends in Hardware, Software, ATMs, Biometrics, Wireless, Online Banking, Marketing, Security, Internet Access and Call Centers.

This Week's News is Sponsored by Better Branches ~
Xpress Data, Inc. (XDI), the only company in the nation specializing exclusively in the production and delivery of CU notices, statements, and other event-driven member correspondence, announced that Advantage Plus Federal Credit Union has replaced its antiquated member communications platform with XDI’s state-of-the-art XpressServices. XDI said that the new outsourced XpressServices platform enables APFCU to deliver enhanced and engaging member experiences via close integration into their online banking system and conduct more member interactions in a paperless environment.
Fiserv, a leading global provider of financial services technology solutions, is helping CUs deliver enhanced digital account opening and loan origination with Originate, a new suite of solutions built to provide the functionality and ease of use that on-the-move members are demanding. The first solution in the suite, Originate Deposits, features a simple, step-by-step user interface with optional ID scanning, autofill, and facial recognition.
~~~
Solid State Storage Advances with Intel's New High-Density, High-Performance SSD
Intel has introduced the densest high-performance solid state storage drive yet. The new drive, which Intel describes as the size of an old-fashioned 12-inch ruler, can store 32 terabytes of data. The 3D NAND SSD DC P4500 stacks memory cells 64 layers deep.
Networked printers increasingly are becoming targets as these devices often aren't secured by many organizations. Security experts say that organizations need to get visibility into their printer security, and build continuous network monitoring into their environments in order to monitor printers the same way they do with network firewalls, switches, routers, and servers. Related Content:
~~~
Windows 10 Enterprise Customers Will Now Get Linux-like Support
Microsoft has extended its Windows 10 support cycle yet again - they have effectively created a Linux-like Long Term Support version for customers that pay for Enterprise upgrades. Effective this month, for enterprise customers willing to pay the Enterprise edition premium, Microsoft is granting an extra year's support. The new changes are designed to encourage slow-moving enterprises to pick up the upgrade tempo for hundreds of millions of Windows 7 PCs, before that older OS reaches its retirement date in less than 500 days.
~~~
Virtual Crypto Launches Software to Make Bitcoins Avialable Through an ATM
Virtual Crypto Technologies will offer ATM operators worldwide software that will enable users to buy and sell Bitcoin at regular ATMs. Virtual Crypto will remotely install its NetoBit Trader software in ATMs which until now only handled regular money. Virtual Crypto says that the new software will make it possible to sell Bitcoin and convert it into standard cash (cash out) at any regular ATM.
GivePay Offers Digital Gift Card, Mobile Top-up Functionality for ATMs
The GivePay platform offers ATM users the opportunity to shop for gift cards by selecting GivePay from the main menu. Users can choose from a wide selection of digital gift cards for any occasion. An additional wireless option allows users to purchase airtime for their prepaid mobile phone.
~~~
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:
and their client is:
Community Choice Credit Union
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!
~~~
Mobile Payment Fingerprint Scanning to Be Replaced by Facial/Voice ID
With mobile-payments volume increasing while confidence in passwords slumps, researchers are predicting big growth for mobile authentication via biometric technology such as facial or voice recognition. In one forecast, from Juniper Research, the number of mobile users authenticating themselves by such technology will grow over the next five years from an estimated 429 million to more than 1.5 billion. With the iPhone X and other smart phones offering facial and eye-based identification, Juniper believes that fingerprint sensors will decline as a proportion of smart-phone biometric hardware.
~~~
The MAP App™ is the first network-branded prepaid card exclusively serving credit unions to offer mobile banking -
contact us now to learn more about this market-leading innovation for credit unions:
(866) 598 - 0698
IDERA Updates Toolset for SQL Server Security and Compliance
IDERA, a provider of database productivity tools, announced the latest release of its SQL Security Suite, including SQL Secure and SQL Compliance Manager, with expanded support for industry regulations. SQL Secure is a security analysis solution that identifies SQL Server security violations and helps ensure security policies are enforced, enabling DBAs to identify who has access to what and each user’s effective rights across all SQL Server objects. SQL Compliance Manager is an auditing solution that uses policy-based algorithms to track changes to SQL Server objects and data.
Information Security Forum Releases Data Leakage Prevention Digest
The Information Security Forum (ISF) announced the release of Data Leakage Prevention (DLP), the organization's latest digest written for individuals looking to implement a successful Data Leakage Prevention program. ISF members have identified ten key attributes of a successful DLP program, and these attributes can be grouped into three phases of deploying a DLP program: governance, preparation and implementation.
~~~
Most Are Comfortable Not Banking with You
Trust and security is a staple of the industry and can be found at any FI, but the author encourages you to think of your FI as a lifestyle brand. Then he asks: Could your organization be a symbol for empowerment, inspiration, being rebellious, or getting the job done?
~~~
Digital Banking Creates 'Amazon Prime' Opportunity
The good news is that, similar to Amazon Prime, meeting higher digital banking expectations could provide a way for FIs to monetize financial solutions. The key will be to provide an enhanced level of value that digital consumers crave. The author asks: Can FIs monetize a great consumer experience like Amazon?
Consumers Look to FIs for Fintech Data Protection, Survey Finds
Many consumers are using fintech apps to manage and invest their money, but new research from New York-based payment-systems provider The Clearing House has found that most consumers are worried about who’s seeing their data, want more control over it and expect their FIs to take the lead in protecting that data. More than half (56%) of the respondents who used fintech apps said they held their primary FIs responsible for the security of their data. Only about a third (34%) of the respondents said they look to non-bank financial applications to exercise leadership in this area.
Why CUs Can’t Afford to ‘Set and Forget’ Their Digital Strategy
Often times a “digital strategy” is defined by member-facing technologies, such as websites and mobile apps, but experts say there is much more to it. One CU marketing executive noted that thier members "compare the experience they have with us to the experience they have with Apple, Amazon and every app they rely upon. That means we have to strive to make the experience simple, fast and easy.”
~~
DDoS Explained: How Distributed Denial of Service Attacks Are Evolving
DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks can look like many of the non-malicious things that can cause availability issues – such as a downed server or system, too many legitimate requests from legitimate users, or even a cut cable. It often requires traffic analysis to determine what is precisely occurring.
~~~
The Sorry State of Contact Center Technology
Most contact center platforms are not tailored specifically to financial services. The author contends that contact centers are too often frustrated by shaky implementations and over-promised, under-delivered functionality. He concludes that the old guard of contact center platform vendors are missing on the fundamentals for many of their FI clients, and the market is in desperate need of disruption.
The Contact Center Must Evolve: 5 Trends to Watch
A few short years ago, we only talked about 'call centers' but very quickly that transformed into discussions about 'contact centers.' A contact center, by definition, includes an omnichannel approach to customer service. While omnichannel may not be considered the next best thing anymore, this article covers some notable trends to watch.
~~~