Your source for the latest technology information of interest to credit unions across America.
Subscribe to our weekly e-mail newsletter and/or 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 ~
CU*Answers Launches New Initiative for Client Interactions
CU*Answers has kicked off a new initiative designed to expand the opportunities its CU owners and clients have for interacting with CUSO. The program will provide clients with regular opportunities to have open conversations with CU*Answers subject-matter experts and product designers and give them an insider’s view of the project management and design process.
Upstart Wins NAFCU Services Innovation Award for Its AI Lending Platform
Upstart announced that it was awarded a NAFCU Services 2022 Innovation Award for its AI Lending Platform. The company says that Upstart-powered CUs can have higher approval rates and lower loss rates for every race, ethnicity, age, and gender.
~~~
Digital Whiteboards: The Next Must-Have Tool for Hybrid Teams?
One product that has seen an explosion in growth this year has been the digital whiteboard. Also known as visual collaboration platforms or shared canvas apps, these tools let hybrid teams collaborate visually via an online interface. Between March and May 2022, Box, ClickUp, Mural, BlueJeans, and Zoom all made announcements relating to the launch of a new whiteboarding product or significant updates to an existing whiteboarding tool.
Kingston Digital Releases IronKey Keypad 200 to Deliver FIPS 140-3 Level 3 Security
Kingston Digital has released the Kingston IronKey Keypad 200 (KP200), the drive to deliver the latest FIPS 140-3 Level 3 security for your data. The IronKey Keypad 200 offers XTS-AES 256-bit hardware-based encryption, and incorporates a built-in rechargeable battery, so users can unlock the drive using the keypad for easy-to-use PIN access without using software.
~~~
Microsoft Teams Pricing Changes Will Be a Gift for Some, but Not for Others
Microsoft has announced changes to the pricing structure for Teams Rooms, its collaboration service for in-office meeting spaces. In place of the existing Standard and Premium plans, which cost $15 and $50 per device per month, the company will offer two new packages: Teams Rooms Basic and Teams Rooms Pro. The Basic plan is included for free with the purchase of any Teams Room-certified device (scaling up to 25 devices total), and the latter will cost $40/user/month.
Fraud’s Long Shadow Prompts Socure to Enhance Its Identity Verification Solution
In an effort to combat the rise of financial crimes, such as fraud, Socure has enhanced its know your customer (KYC) identity-verification solution. The firm has added reason codes and field-validation intelligence, which tests the results of machine-learning models against live data—to verify the identity of prospective new accountholders during the onboarding process.
|
Software Section Sponsored by
Aurora Advantage (A Product of CSPI) |
~~~
Say Hello to Crazy Thin ‘Deep Insert’ ATM Skimmers
Super-thin “deep insert” skimming devices designed to fit inside the mouth of an ATM’s card acceptance slot are starting to appear. The card skimmers are paired with tiny pinhole cameras that are cleverly disguised as part of the cash machine. These new insert skimmers are approximately .68 millimeters tall. This leaves more than enough space to accommodate most payment cards (~.54 mm) without interrupting the machine’s ability to grab and return the user’s card.
What Can ATMs Learn from Kiosks?
Kiosks have become an essential part of the customer experience journey. Kiosk user adoption has increased dramatically each year as businesses target consumer convenience as an easily identifiable differentiator. This article explores what ATMs can learn from this rise of kiosk usage.
~~~
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:
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!
~~~
Consumers Want More from Mobile Banking Apps
The desire for mobile banking apps is so great that many consumers select their FI based on its mobile and online banking capabilities, with 40% of consumers saying this is the most important factor. While consumers want to use their banking apps to handle standard banking needs, there is a marked interest in using these apps to do much more than just simple banking. A growing share of consumers want to use their banking apps to handle almost all their financial needs, including making peer-to-peer (P2P) payments, finding ATMs and budgeting and tracking their finances. Plus 93% of consumers want personalized financial assessments.
~~~
Vulnerability Exploits, Not Phishing, Are the Top Cyberattack Vector for Initial Compromise
Breaches involving phishing and credential compromise have received a lot of attention in recent years because of how frequently threat actors have employed the tactics in executing both targeted and opportunistic attacks. But that doesn't mean that organizations can afford to lessen their focus on vulnerability patching one bit. Case in point: A recent report from Kaspersky identified more initial intrusions last year resulting from exploitation of vulnerabilities in Internet-facing applications than breaches involving malicious emails and compromised accounts combined.
~~~
Technology and Marketing
How FI Marketers Should Use Storytelling in Internal Communications
Successful storytelling has become increasingly important as marketing and branding become bigger drivers of growth. The author says that these are the 6 keys to effective internal storytelling: 1) Tell them what you set out to learn; 2) Show them how the campaign functioned within the marketing tech stack; 3) Use visuals to bring results to life; 4) Bring the business results into the campaign; 5) Tell them what the results mean; and 6) Don’t be afraid of communicating failure.
~~~
Benchmarking Your Digital Banking Strategy
 |
|
Access Softek - http://www.accesssoftek.com
Read Chris Doner's comments: https://www.digitalbankingleaders.com/access-softek |
Humanizing Digital: Increasing Account Holder Loyalty and Exceeding CU Goals with Smart, Flexible Solutions
 |
|
Alogent - http://www.alogent.com
Read Jason Schwabline's comments: https://www.digitalbankingleaders.com/alogent |
Digital Transformation: A Credit Union Imperative
 |
|
Bankjoy - https://www.bankjoy.com
Read Michael Duncan's comments: https://www.digitalbankingleaders.com/bankjoy |
The Digital Banking Market Is Heating Up
 |
|
CUBUS - http://www.cubussolutions.com
Read John-Ashley Paul's comments: https://www.digitalbankingleaders.com/cubus |
Three Present-Day Goals to Revolutionize Your FI’s Marketing
 |
|
DeepTarget - http://www.deeptarget.com
Read Preetha Pulusani's comments: https://www.digitalbankingleaders.com/deeptarget |
eSignatures Are Now a Top Priority Across the Nation
 |
|
IMM/eSign - http://www.immonline.com
Read Michael Ball's comments: https://www.digitalbankingleaders.com/imm |
Fight Fraud by Better Understanding Your Financial Data
 |
It’s Always About the People: 5 Rules for Digital Banking and Beyond
 |
|
Tyfone - http://www.tyfone.com
Read Dr. Siva Narendra's comments: https://www.digitalbankingleaders.com/tyfone |
Walmart to Start Testing Checking Account
Walmart is just weeks away from beta testing a digital checking account with employees and customers, according to Bloomberg. The move marks a major escalation in the world's largest retailer's foray into financial services, with lending and investing products expected to follow. The account will be offered through One, the independent FinTech unit Walmart had previously established.
Fewer than 10% of Consumers Use FinTechs as a Primary FI
A PYMNTS survey reveals that although 39% of consumers say digital banks can be true alternatives to traditional FIs, more than half have no plans to switch to a digital bank. They found that 53% of respondents are not even considering making digital banks their primary FIs, and 47% are hesitant about digital banks and want to learn more before making any decisions.
~~
Start with a Logical Cloud Architecture
The author explains that a logical architecture contains a list, configuration, and interrelationships with technology as concepts. Once you have a logical architecture with conceptual solutions to specific problems, then and only then do you move to the physical architecture. He says that if you do logical architecture planning before committing to a specific technology, you’ll make better cloud decisions.
Secure Access Service Edge: Trends and SASE Companies to Watch
The desire for control to achieve safety may also explain why many organizations have chosen to adopt Secure Access Service Edge technology instead of relying on traditional network security models. Here are a few notable SASE vendors leading the way with their security solutions in 2022: 1) Perimeter 81 SASE; 2) CATO Networks SASE; 3) Versa Networks; and 4) Netskope SASE.
Google Unveils Telecom Project Aalyria
Aalyria, a Google spinoff, announced its launch as an independent company with the quest to create and manage robust advanced network technology. The start-up intends to use lasers to revamp the Internet over long distances at faster speeds. Aalyria’s main focus will be to use intelligent network orchestration and atmospheric free-space optics to expand complex communication networks on Earth and other places lacking connectivity infrastructure.
~~~
The Rise of the Hybrid Call Center
Having agents spread all over the place can create challenges. Supervising and training remote employees can be especially difficult, plus there are critical security issues to be addressed. This article explores how FIs are finding ways to deal with these hybrid contact center challenges.
~~~