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FICO Announces Availability of FICO Score Mortgage Simulator for Lender Use
The FICO Score Mortgage Simulator is the only authorized simulation tool available to mortgage professionals that is built by FICO’s analytics scientists using the FICO Score algorithm. Lenders can now access the tool through the Xactus360 platform.
Gold Coast FCU Partners with Tyfone
Digital banking provider Tyfone announced Gold Coast Federal Credit Union selected their nFinia Digital Banking Platform. Tyfone said that their API-driven platform will enable the $260M credit union to plug-and-play its desired third-party providers, providing its members with additional financial literacy capabilities including credit score monitoring.
TransUnion Introduces TruVision Alternative Risk Score
TransUnion has introduced the TruVision Alternative Bank Risk Score which includes checking and banking data applicable to the short-term lending space and can be used to enhance lenders’ existing underwriting scores. The score complements the existing suite of tools that TransUnion already provides to lenders to help them in determining credit risk. It can be used with existing risk scores or as a standalone tool for underwriting.
Duke University FCU Leverages Vertice COMPOSE to Help Transform Marketing Efficiency
Duke University Federal Credit Union ($194 million) has implemented Vertice COMPOSE, a newly launched AI-powered copywriting solution from Vertice AI, to help streamline the creation of personalized, compliant marketing content.
Truework Intelligence Brings New Data Methods and Predictive Modeling to Mortgage Lenders
Truework Intelligence, a new offering from income and employment verification technology company Truework, provides mortgage lenders with an automated and comprehensive verification platform. The solution provides automatic orchestration, data standardization, and insights to provide an end-to-end verification experience that leverages new data methods, predictive modeling, and more.
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Lenovo Renews ThinkSystem Lineup for AI Workloads and More
Lenovo announced that their three next-gen ThinkSystem V4 servers are built on P-core-based Xeon 6 processors which are purpose-built to run a wide range of workloads. Lenovo claims that with the new systems, customers can see up to 6.1x higher compute performance than previous generation of CPUs as well as twice the memory bandwidth when using the new MRDIMM technology. The ThinkSystem V4 solutions use Lenovo’s homegrown Neptune liquid cooling technology. Plus a new feature called Neptune Core Compute Complex Module offers reduced fan speeds, quieter operation and lower power consumption.
HPE Expands ProLiant Server Portfolio, Boosts AI and Security Features
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) added eight new servers to its ProLiant Gen 12 server portfolio, bringing advanced security and AI-optimization features to enterprise customers. The Intel Xeon 6-based servers range from the high-end DL580 to the 1U DL320 – each with its own targeted data center and edge applications. All of the new servers include support for the latest version of HPE’s Integrated Lights Out (iLO) management technology, which lets customers diagnose and resolve server issues, configure and manage access, and perform a variety of other automated tasks aimed at improving efficiency.
HP Rolls out New AI-Powered Laptops and Desktops
AI PCs — devices that directly integrate AI capabilities into hardware and software — are rapidly taking over the PC market; some analysts have gone so far as to designate 2025 the “Year of the AI PC.” HP is the latest vendor to join the fray with these additions: ProBook 4 AI PCs, EliteBook 6 AI PCs, and EliteBook 8 AI PCs. The new devices come with a built-in ‘AI Companion’ that can retrieve, filter and summarize files and create content, among other tasks, all without the need for an Internet connection.
Fortinet Targets Branch Offices with Upgraded Firewalls
Fortinet has refreshed its branch office firewalls, adding power and features to its next-generation FortiGate G-series devices. Three new boxes in the FortiGate G Series portfolio – the 70G, 50G, and 30G – include integrated firewall, intrusion prevention, malware and ransomware protection, SD-WAN, and switching capabilities, all of which can be managed via the vendor’s FortiManager centralized management platform.
Cato Networks Unveils Next-Gen Firewall
The Cato LAN NGFW offers application-aware segmentation from the Cato Edge Socket, providing distributed networks with the same level of protection for LAN traffic as for WAN and internet-bound traffic, the company stated. Operating at Layer 7, it allows for detailed control over LAN applications such as RDP and SSH, among others. The NGFW applies a consistent set of enforcement policies across all locations, according to Cato, helping to eliminate manual patching and emergency fixes.
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Lynx Launches AI-Powered AML Screen Tech
The new Lynx AML Screening Solution is Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven, configurable and designed to evolve with the changing regulatory landscape. Lynx’s technology utilizes proprietary Natural Language Processing (NLP) models and machine learning to enhance name similarity scoring. It also offers adaptable watchlist management, enabling business users to modify screening logic in real time and utilizes proprietary NLP models and machine learning to enhance name similarity scoring.
5 Top Business Use Cases for AI Agents
The next evolution of AI has arrived, and it’s agentic. AI agents are powered by the same AI systems as chatbots, but can take independent action, collaborate to achieve bigger objectives, and take over entire business workflows. Some organizations are reporting success deploying AI agents for these 5 use cases: 1. Software development and IT; 2. Automation and productivity; 3. Customer Service & Support; 4. Content creation; and 5. HR and employee support.
Explainable AI in Credit Decision-Making: A Transparent Future for Lending
Artificial intelligence and machine learning are changing how credit decisions get made. But the traditional “black box” models can cause worry because it can challenging to know why a loan gets approved or denied. The author contends that explainable AI (xAI) is the answer – it makes the process more understandable. This article discusses how xAI can help FIs be more transparent, reduce bias, and build more trust.
How One CU Spreads AI Across the Whole Organization
Florida-based VyStar Credit Union, with 1 million members and $14 billion in assets, is a big proponent of AI. AI has been a key component in securing member data, and the CU’s use of WitnessAI helps monitor and make sure the credit union’s employee base is using generative AI effectively, in keeping with board-level policy on AI and AI usage. VyStar is also leveraging technology to ensure service reliability (with network uptime of 99.97%) and AI to help its front-line employees have productive interactions with members through chats, telephone and the branch channels.
Three Macro Trends in GenAI for Financial Services
By some accounts, generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) and agentic models are revolutionizing financial services, transforming user experience, fraud detection, payments innovation and compliance processes. This article covers three overarching trends across banking, capital markets, insurance and payments: 1) End-to-end user experience: AI enables seamless onboarding, product recommendations, servicing and back-end processing. It is also powering hyper-personalized experiences, enabling firms to tailor offers, advice and communications in real-time based on user data and behavior. 2) Data modernization: Legacy systems are being upgraded to unlock core data, enabling more personalized services and better analytics. 3) Embedded financial services: Firms are embedding financial tools into broader value chains, meeting users at any channel, whether in eCommerce, social platforms or mobile apps.
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Cash Use Slips as Digital Payments Grow
As credit and debit cards—and their digital doppelgangers—continue to find favor among consumers, the use of cash over the past 10 years has slipped from 44% of in-store spend to 15% in 2024, finds the latest Worldpay Global Payments Report. Cash use in North America—Canada and the United States—stood at 20% in 2024. Within the United States, Worldpay found that 40% of digital wallet users load a credit card as their primary funding source, followed by debit card, 22%, and FI account, 22%. Credit cards, overall, are the most used payment method.
How Has Digital Payments Impacted Cash?
According to McKinsey's Global Payments 2024 Report, global cash usage has dropped to 80% of 2019 levels and continues to decrease at a rate of 4% annually. With $26 trillion in payments still being made in cash worldwide, this annual decline of cash represents a significant opportunity for the financial service industry as digitization continues to chip away at cash year-on-year. In card-dominated markets like the United States, cash transactions account for just 5% of the total value of consumer payments. The gradual decline in cash usage, spurred by the pandemic, shows no signs of slowing.
Combating 3 ATM Security Threats in 2025
ATM deployers are facing a new wave of security challenges that affect ATM networks. This article looks at 3 in particular: Challenge 1: Quantum computing threats; Challenge 2: Compliance with TR-31 regulations; and Challenge 3: Upgrading outdated technology.
Navigating ADA Requirements for Self-Service Kiosks
While the ADA provides foundational requirements, practical application in kiosk design can be complex. This article takes a deep dive into key ADA considerations for kiosk design, based on the Federal Register's ADA guidelines for self-service transaction machines and self-service kiosks.
How AI Will Disrupt, Enhance ATMs
This article states that when we think about AI's use cases in ATMs, we think of three main categories: availability and service, security and hyper personalized experiences. It goes on to look at how AI can help in these three areas.
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The Role of NFC Payments in the Growth of Digital Wallets
NFC (Near Field Communication) technology has cropped up as a driving force for contactless payment solutions. Some of the roles of NFC payments in the growth of digital wallets are: 1. Faster Transactions; 2. Convenience for Consumers; 3. Security; 4. Consumer Demand for Digital Wallets; 5. Increased Consumer Engagement; and 6. Competitive Advantage.
Digital Wallets: From Preferred to Mainstream
According to Velera’s 2024 Eye on Payments consumer research study, the number of members using digital wallets at least a few times per week has grown by 11 percentage points since 2023. In fact, half of credit union members (50%) report using a digital wallet at least a few times per month. Visa projects that digital wallet transaction volume will increase from 752 billion in 2023 to 1.4 trillion by 2028. This article contends that CUs that have not yet added digital wallets to their toolbox must act quickly to stay competitive and give members the flexibility to transact how and when they want.
For Many, It’s Device First to Make a Contactless Payment
NFC Forum research, which was conducted by ABI Research, found that most consumers—82%—have used a smart phone or watch to make a contactless payment, and 55% would prefer to use these devices instead of a credit or debit card. Contactless credit and debit cards are the preferred contactless payment method for 45%, followed by smart phones, 39%, and smart watches, 16%. Notably, that is a shift from the 2022 study, when 53% preferred a card, 33% smart phones, and 14% smart watches.
US Faster Payments Council Publishes Report on Impediments to QR Code Adoption
The U.S. Faster Payments Council has released a new report, Overcoming Instant Payment QR Code Impediments to Adoption: Usability, which examines key challenges in implementing QR code-based instant payments at the point-of-sale (POS) and offers insights into addressing these barriers. One of the primary issues explored in the report is the lack of interoperability among various QR code presentation formats in the US. Unlike in other regions where standardized QR code solutions have facilitated widespread adoption, the domestic market remains fragmented. The report underscores the importance of ongoing efforts to establish industry standards that can streamline implementation and improve the user experience.
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The Essential Role of AI in Fraud Prevention
Tha author is convinced that by embedding AI into their fraud prevention workflow, smaller FIs can redefine their approach to financial crime prevention, enhance user experiences and position their organization as agile competitors. AI-driven solutions allow smaller Fis to monitor transactions in real time and instantly interdict responses to potential threats. As an example, AI can detect techniques like synthetic identity fraud. Through advanced pattern recognition, AI systems can identify anomalies and inconsistencies that would likely be missed by traditional systems or human analysts. He concludes that AI-driven fraud prevention isn’t just about defense — it’s about growth, trust and competitiveness.
Microsoft Launches AI Agents to Automate Cybersecurity amid Rising Threats
Microsoft has introduced a new set of AI agents for its Security Copilot platform, designed to automate key cybersecurity functions as organizations face increasingly complex and fast-moving digital threats. The new tools focus on tasks such as phishing detection, data protection, and identity management — areas where attackers continue to exploit vulnerabilities at scale. Microsoft is introducing six proprietary AI agents, along with five additional agents developed in collaboration with its partners.
Mitigating Instant Payments Fraud in Today's Rising Threat Landscape
While instant payments offer many benefits for community FIs, this banking advancement also presents some specific challenges. One of the biggest is that instant payments are non-returnable. Once the transfer is approved, the funds are gone. This article looks at some of the best practices for securing instant payment transactions.
How to Prevent AI-Based Data Incidents
Some security experts predict that the rapidly increasing use of generative AI tools will inevitably lead to more data breaches. This article lays out these challenges for cybersecurity posed by AI: 1) Employees have access to too much data; 2) Sensitive data is often not marked or is marked incorrectly; 3) Insiders can quickly find and exfiltrate data using natural language; 4) Attackers can find secrets for privilege escalation and lateral movement; 5) It’s impossible to manually set the right level of access; and 6) GenAI quickly generates new sensitive data.
Defending Against Gen AI-Driven Fraud
Criminals are leveraging gen AI to create deepfakes, voice cloning and document forgeries, leading to financial losses and consumer mistrust. To combat this evolving threat, FIs must adopt multi-layered defense strategies, using gen AI as a fraud prevention and detection tool. This article covers some possible solutions to Gen AI-driven fraud.
5 Things to Know About Ransomware Threats in 2025
Ransomware attacks continue to be one of the most significant cybersecurity threats organizations and cybersecurity leaders face. The author offers five key insights for battling ransomware: 1. Too much focus on generative AI risks underestimating known threats; 2. Mid-size organizations are highly vulnerable; 3. Data exfiltration attacks require a critical shift in security priorities; 4. Heightened risks for critical infrastructure; and 5. Breakdown of perimeter defences.
Visa Unveils Its Scam Disruption Practice
Visa has unveiled its scam disruption practice focused on identifying and stopping complex scams as they emerge. The new department, which sits under Visa Payment Ecosystem Risk and Control (PERC), saved victims $350 million across dozens of scams last year. This is in addition to the $40 billion PERC blocked in attempted fraud on the Visa network last year.
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Technology and Marketing
How FIs Can Create Credit Card Programs That Attract and Retain Millennials and Gen Z
This article states that key considerations for boosting Millennials card usage include: 1) Competitive interest rates and minimal fees; 2) Rewards programs that align with spending; and 3) Debt management tools. As for Gen Z, they include: 1) Mobile-centric solutions; 2) Flexible payment options; and 3) Instant gratification.
Branch Digital Signage: 4 Ways to Use
With digital signage in the branch, FIs can perform many tasks simultaneously from reinforcing messaging to crafting brand images. There are a variety of places FIs can place digital signage, such as waiting rooms, on walls next to the teller lines or near a refreshment table. While some might argue visitors will just ignore these signs, the data points in the opposite direction. This article mentions numerous ways to get the most out of branch digital merchandising.
How to Overcome 3 Common CRM Pitfalls in Financial Services
Tha author asserts that customer relationship management (CRM) is one of the most important investments any FI can make. However, he admits that many organizations encounter serious hurdles when it comes to CRM implementation and usage. He goes on to explain three common CRM implementation and usage challenges and solutions.
A Way for CUs to Attract, Retain Young Members: Wills & Estate Planning
There may be a counterintuitive way for credit unions to attract and retain young consumers - serving their needs for last wills and estate planning. Recently, CU Solutions Group (CUSG) marked the first anniversary of its Trust & Will program offered through the CUSO’s nationwide affinity program, Love My Credit Union Rewards. In a news release, CUSG stated it has enrolled more than 220 CUs in the Trust & Will program, which delivers affordable and accessible estate planning solutions to members.
Data-Driven Marketing: Is Your FI Leading or Playing from Behind?
Tha author says that the integration of big data and AI is paving the way for innovative financial products, more efficient compliance processes, and enhanced cybersecurity measures. She strongly recommends that FIs do not cling to outdated methods that often rely on intuition-based decision making, classic marketing channels and one-size-fits-all marketing campaigns. She concludes that such strategies frequently result in generic messaging that fails to resonate with increasingly sophisticated consumers who expect personalized digital experiences, and she goes on to extoll the benefits of data-driven marketing.
6 Ways to Build Your CU’s Social Media
Consumers are getting more and more of their financial information from social media. This article says that 76% of Gen Z look for their financial education on platforms like TikTok. It recommends these 6 tips for CUs to amp up their brand in social media: 1. A high functioning brand; 2. Engage your team; 3. Target growth audiences; 4. Balance your content categories; 5. Make financial knowledge accessible; and 6. Appropriately engaging with followers.
To Build Lasting Relationships, FIs Should Expand Onboarding
Onboarding has traditionally been viewed as the process of engaging and retaining new accountholders during the first 60 to 90 days after they sign up for services. However, as technology—and competition—has reshaped the banking industry, it has become imperative for FIs to widen the scope of their onboarding approach. In his latest report, Ongoing Onboarding: The Key to Deeper Customer Relationships, Gregory Magana, Digital Banking Analyst at Javelin Strategy & Research, detailed the four stages of the ongoing onboarding process and how FIs can leverage each of these steps to develop relationships that last. Those 4 stages are summarized in this article.
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Fico to Add BNPL Data to Credit Scores
Following a year-long study with Affirm, Fico is planning to add buy now, pay later data to its credit scores. Fico says that “our findings show that the inclusion of BNPL data via our innovative treatment can drive score increases for some consumers, while improving model risk performance for lenders.”
The Business Case for Network Tokenization in Payment Ecosystems
The author states that tokenization can boost authorization rates and drive sales, ultimately improving merchants' bottom lines - if card issuers can overcome the hurdles to implement it. Network tokenization replaces sensitive Primary Account Numbers with tokens, rendering stolen data useless to fraudsters and addressing a major area of fraud: online payments. He concludes that the benefits of network tokenization extend beyond security and convenience: It also simplifies the complex world of payment processing.
More Consumers Using Buy Now Pay Later, J.D. Power Finds
Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services saw continued growth in the number of consumers using them, with the highest usage among consumers from Generations Y1 and Z, according to the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Buy Now Pay Later Satisfaction Study. Consumers that belong to Gens Y and Z are utilizing BNPL services the most. Nearly half (42%) of them used BNPL vs. 21% of consumers from other generations.
Business Use of Wires Grew Sharply from 2018 to 2021
Business payments are concentrated in wires, ACH credit transactions, and (still) checks, according to 2021 data released by the Federal Reserve Payments Study (FRPS) last month. Of these payment types, wires grew most by both number and value from 2018. In 2021, most wire payments were made by businesses, 89 percent of all wires by number and almost 100 percent by value.
Experian Taps Open Banking for New Cashflow Score
Experian says Cashflow Score can provide lenders with a clearer view of an applicant’s financial behavior, including income, expenses, cash reserves and more. It can be used alongside traditional credit scores or on its own for people with limited or non-existent credit histories. Experian takes consumer-permissioned transaction data provided by its clients. From there, Experian, acting as a technical service provider, it categorizes the data and calculates attributes that are used to derive a score from 300 to 850 that can be used to make decisions across credit cards, personal loans, and auto loans.
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Versa Unveils VersaONE Converged Security, Networking Platform
Versa Networks is offering a platform that brings together its SASE, SSE, SD-WAN and SD-LAN components under one umbrella. Called VersaONE, the converged platform is aimed at reducing risk and lowering infrastructure complexity and costs. VersaONE includes typical secure access service edge (SASE) elements such as SD-WAN, secure web gateway, cloud access security broker (CASB), zero trust network access (ZTNA), and firewall-as-a-service (FWaaS). The modules leverage common platform capabilities, including shared AI engines and a zero-trust foundation, according to Versa. The company recently added VersaAI capabilities across its portfolio, using Versa’s security and network telemetry, funneled into a data lake, to deliver enhanced network visibility and advanced analytics.
The Best Secure Browsers for Privacy in 2025
ZDNET has chosen Brave as their top pick for the best browser for privacy, based on its ad tracking prevention, security settings, usability, and speed. Meanwhile they picked DuckDuckGo Best as the best browser for private searches and Mozilla Firefox as the best mainstream privacy browser. Finally, they rated the Tor browser as the best for anonymous browsing and the Mullvad Browser as the best for use with a VPN.
What It Takes to Become Cloud-First
A cloud-first approach is becoming more popular in an increasingly digital world where more data, analytics, and AI are becoming commonplace. Experts say that a cloud transition must be iterative because what works in phase one won't work in phase two and beyond. Organizations should anticipate this. In addition, the transition from plan, to build, to run, to operate must be accounted for when resourcing the cloud transition.
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3 Steps to Implement an Impactful Contact Center Analytics Program
A simple, straightforward and inexpensive approach to establishing an impactful contact center analytics program is to ‘define’ some foundational elements.The author delineates three main steps: Step One: Define Data Source then Step Two: Consistent Data Analysis and finally Step Three: “One Source of Truth.”
Financial Services Companies Are Embracing AI for Consumer Interactions
In its latest “State of AI in Financial Services” report, Nvidia found that 60% of more than 600 global financial-services professionals say their organizations employed generative AI or were considering it for use in the customer experience, such as for chatbots, virtual assistants, and to assist agents. That number was 25% in 2023. Some 53% are using generative AI —which can create something new rather than solve for just a specific issue—to help with report generation and analysis and investment research, compared with 27% in 2023.
5 Tips for Using Gen AI as a Customer Service Reading Tool
The author states that she is not the least bit skeptical about agents using gen AI as a reading tool. The AI can digest detailed information quickly and prepare the human writer to respond accurately and with less effort. Agents can use gen AI to read and interpret the requester’s writing, their organization’s policies or KB articles, the competition’s documentation and more. To back up these views, she summarizes five ways that Gen AI can help make heavy reading and researching easier.
What Contact Centers Are Measuring, According to the Data
Contact center managers are continually discussing which metrics are the most important, which make the biggest impact, and what needs to happen to use them effectively. According to ICMI’s latest survey on the state of the industry, contact centers are most likely to measure abandonment rate (85%), average handle time (84%), quality (77%), average speed of answer (76%), and agent productivity (74%). The article concludes that while contact centers are right to champion efficiency, speed, and productivity, they should also be hyper-vigilant in making sure these metrics align with their organization's service mission.
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