ECCU Staffer Wins First $10,000 THINK Prize

ANAHEIM, Calif.-Matt Weidler, IT Asset Coordinator with Evangelical Christian Credit Union of Brea, Calif., has been named the winner of the first annual CO-OP THINK Prize, and recipient of the accompanying $10,000 award, for his idea to allow members to access ATMs using their cell phones. Weidler was one of three finalists for the award, which was presented during CO-OP Financial Services, THINK Conference.

"Weidler's idea of cellular ATM access is at its core a customer convenience initiative," said CO-OP in a statement following the selection. "It provides members with the convenience of being able to utilize ATMs through a second mechanism of their choice in the event that their debit card has been forgotten or they prefer not to carry it with them."

During the THINK Conference earlier this week and prior to the award being presented, Weidler told the meeting the idea came to him because he often went to the ATM without his debit card, but he always had his cell phone.

The $10,000 in prize money, which was provided by MasterCard, along with other support from CO-OP, will be used to bring Weidler's idea to fruition.

The two other finalists were Shari Storm, SVP/CMO with Verity Credit Union of Seattle, Wash., who presented a business plan for the "Squirrel" smart phone application that helped people to save money after choosing not to purchase something, and Candace Vogelsong, marketing specialist, for Community Powered FCU of Newark, Del., who proposed an industry cooperative for social media so that individual credit unions would not require dedicated staff.

Entries for the CO-OP THINK Prize for 2012 open May 18 at www.co-opthink.org.

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