WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.-If you could offer a dream iPhone application to members, what would it do?
Credit Union Journal asked that very question to small CUs as part of our 8th Annual Technology Wish List and received an array of ideas beyond the standard menu of balance inquiries, funds transfers and bill payments:
eCalCU: CEO Jessica LaRocca has everything mapped out for a dream iPhone app at $15-million Calcasieu Federal Employees CU in Lake Charles, La. "We would call it eCalCU, and it would comprise four topics — CUNews, LCalc, Lapp and iText," she said. The app would deliver CU news and promotions; a financial calculator; loan applications; and a link to text banking.
iPre-approvals: "Imagine a member walking into a car dealer, sitting in the finance office and getting a loan quote and pre-approval in the time it takes the finance manager to run credit," suggested David Smart, CEO at $34-million Trust FCU in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Balances Your Checkbook: Lakes Area CU's application would automatically balance a member's checkbook. "All they would do is take a photo of their receipt or check, and the amount would automatically deduct from their electronic register," said Melissa Swenson, marketing specialist at the $25-million CU in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Think Android: "I'm not an iPhone fan — Go Android!" exclaimed Mike Liskanich, IT manager at $96-million Ohio Valley Community CU in Hannibal, Ohio, referring to Google's new phone operating system. Liskanich said his Google Android app would provide members with marketing messages and security alerts.
The iPhone isn't an option around Northern Hills FCU, in Sturgis, S.D., or First Education FCU, in Cheyenne, Wyo., so the Google Droid offered by Verizon may be the better option. Beyond the standard mobile banking features, the Northern Hills app would deliver information to members when they most need it, said Cindy Griffin, president at the $48-million CU.
Auto Autos: "If there was some way to know a member was out shopping for a vehicle, we could pre-approve them and send them information with rates, dealer lists, access to NADA car values, connection to our in-house insurance agent and payment calculation options," Griffin suggested. "Maybe we could attach a web chat feature, so they could talk to us at that moment."
Budget-Minder: First Education members would be able to use the CU's Droid application to monitor their budgets through a back-end interface with the CU's homebanking system, said James Yates, president at the $42-million CU.
Coming Soon to any Mobile Device Near You: Texoma Community CU's device-agnostic application rolls out Christmas day, courtesy of CMC, the operations software provider, said Kevin Scott, operations manager at $81-million CU in Wichita Falls, Texas. Members will be able to view account activity, transfers funds, pay bills and get text alerts.
CU*Answers will make mobile application dreams come true for $1.3-million Table Rock FCU in Shell Knob, Mo. and $40-million FOCUS CU in Wauwatosa, Wis., when the CUSO releases its device-agnostic mobile application. "I'd be thrilled if they included a push-notification-enabled account monitor," said Mark Bohdanyk, Table Rock VP-business operations.
