Voice Signature Tech Wins Award
MADISON, Wis.-CUNA Mutual Group has been named to IDG's InfoWorld 100 Awards, which celebrate 100 information technology organizations that have implemented and integrated technologies in innovative ways. CUNA Mutual was honored for its voice signature technology, which captures a voice signature and embeds the recorded voice file into a new completed paperless application, "significantly improving the sales process and the overall customer experience." The voice signature technology is currently used with CUNA Mutual's life and health products.
For info: www.cunamutual.com
SSN Verification Reports Enhanced
GARDEN GROVE, Calif.-Informative Research said it is introducing ID Verify Plus, a comprehensive report combining data verification from three sources, in response to the need for more substantial and robust verification tools to thwart identity theft. The report checks Social Security numbers directly against the Social Security Administration's database (requiring consent from the applicant), The Office of Foreign Asset Control's database, and credit repository databases to verify and track the usage and issuance of the SSN.
For info: www.Informativeresearch.com
GrooveCar, 3 CUs Waive 1st Payment
HAUPPAUGE, N.Y.-To help boost car sales, GrooveCar, Inc. announced an alliance with three Long Island credit unions to waive the first monthly payment (up to $500) for new and pre-owned car buying customers. The three participating CUs are Bethpage FCU, Nassau Financial FCU and North Shore LIJHS FCU. The special promotion accommodates conventional and BuyRite Plus auto loans (a balloon loan product) for all current and eligible members.
For info: www.groovecar.com
EasCorp's DeposZip Passes Milestone
BURLINGTON, Mass.-Eastern Corporate FCU (EasCorp) reported its proprietary remote deposit capture service for consumers and businesses, DeposZip, has surpassed $315 million in deposits since its inception in 2008. By early January, some 291,098 deposits had been made. DeposZip enables credit union members, including business accounts, to deposit checks from their homes or offices, relying on a desktop or multi-feed scanner. EasCorp has also added eight more CU clients for the service: Interra CU of Goshen, Ind.; Ledge Light FCU of Groton, Conn.; Merrimack Valley FCU of Lawrence, Mass.; Mutual First FCU of Omaha, Neb.; NARFE Premiere FCU of Alexandria, Va.; Southbridge CU of Southbridge, Mass.; St. Jean's Credit Union CU of Lynn, Mass., and Teachers CU of South Bend, Ind.
For info: www.eascorp.org
3 CUs Expand With TMG
DES MOINES, Iowa-Three of TMG's card-issuing credit union clients have expanded their contracts with the card processing CUSO. Owatonna, Minn.-based Home Town Credit Union, an 11-year client of TMG, has recently added PIN and ATM processing to its current credit and debit processing contract. Two additional TMG credit union clients-Orlando FCU (Florida) and Pioneer Credit Union (Wisconsin)- each have added prepaid products from TMG to its plastics lineup.
For info: www.themembersgroup.com
BancVue, Deluxe Corp. Team Up
AUSTIN, Texas-BancVue, a provider of products, marketing, and data-driven consulting solutions to community financial institutions, said it has signed an agreement with Deluxe Corp. that will make BancVue's REALChecking system available to Deluxe clients. REALChecking is a system of deposit products, including REWARDChecking, REALSaver, REALGiving and REALTunes, which the company said are proven to drive non-interest income, attract new account holders and increase retention. BancVue said it supports each product with research-based marketing, data-driven consulting and automated software.
For info: www.bancvue.com or www.deluxe.com
Member Research, L9 Partner Up
IRVINE, Calif.-Member Research, which offers research services to credit unions, announced an alliance with L9, a web-development and design firm for the development of the next generation of research production and analysis tools. Member Research said the alliance between the two has developed a production system and new web interface to add heightened functionality, greater efficiencies for credit union leaders seeking to better understand, and better serve, their current and potential members.
For info: www.memberresearch.com
Social Responsibility Program Intro'd
DURHAM, N.C.-iContact Corp. has expanded Corporate Social Responsibility Program. Features of the program include allowing employees take up to 2.5 paid work days to volunteer, and the firm donates the equivalent of 1% of its annual payroll to nonprofits.
For info: www.icontact.com
Glatt Consulting Offers 'ReBoot 2010'
WILMINGTON, N.C.-Glatt Consulting, LLC, has launched ReBoot 2010, a package of the company's Enterprise Assessment, which is designed to determine employee perspective regarding performance and priorities, and Net Promoter Score.
For info: www.glattconsulting.com.
Newsletter Makeover Contest Offered
COLUMBUS, Ohio-Profound Communications is inviting CUs to enter its Credit Union Newsletter Makeover Contest. Winners receive a "fresh new design" for their newsletter and production services for two quarters. For those who do not wish to enter the contest and simply want their newsletter critiqued, Profound has a "complimentary newsletter review."
For info: www.profoundcommunications.com
Tool Increases Overdraft Revenue
WILMINGTON, N.C.-Velocity Solutions unveiled its new Intelligent Limit System (ILS), which it said is designed to help financial institutions reduce risk and profitably manage overdraft services. The company said this technology enables institutions to continuously update overdraft limits based on behavioral trends and other key characteristics, minimizing risk and driving incremental revenue. The solution also is fully compliant with new Reg E opt-in requirements and provides messaging capabilities to maximize those opting in to overdraft services.
For info: www.myvelocity.com
Solution Streamlines Cash Ops
BROOKFIELD, Wis.-Fiserv, Inc. has launched Deposit Manager, an integrated cash deposit solution designed to allow financial institutions to offer retail clients an improved way to handle end-to-end cash operations. By using networked hardware deposit devices installed in each retail location, encrypted electronic deposit information is sent to the Deposit Manager solution, which in turn sends the encrypted electronic deposit posting information to the financial institution's core banking system. The FI then has the option to provide provisional credit on cash deposits, giving the retailer faster access to funds.
For info: www.fiserv.com
Risk Assessment Tool Unveiled
MADISON, Wis.-CUNA Mutual Group has introduced a new online risk assessment program for its more than 4,600 CU Plastic Card insurance policyholders.
CMG said the tool is designed to assess plastic card program risks and indicate whether a CU's program is in a good, fair, or cautionary state of security. The assessment includes 24 multiple-choice questions that can be completed in less than 20 minutes, and the CU gets recommendations based on its responses. This is the second online risk assessment module offered by the firm's CU protection division, joining the disaster preparedness assessment tool launched in 2009.
For info: www.cunamutual.com
CUNA Releases BSA Job Trainings
MADISON, Wis.-In response to high demand, CUNA announced the launch of five new job specific Training on Demand programs for training in Bank Secrecy Act. These programs are designed to address the compliance requirements of credit unions by specific staff positions.
For info: www.training.cuna.org
CO-OP, STAR Extend Agreement
ATLANTA-CO-OP Financial Services has extended its electronic funds transfer (EFT) network access agreement with First Data Corp.'s STAR Network. CO-OP-FS provides STAR Network access to more than 600 credit unions.
Separately, CO-OP has added Zappos.com CEO Tony Hsieh to its Think '10 Conference. Hsieh helped found the online shoe retailer in 1999, which has since grown to be a billion-dollar-a-year company.
For info: www.firstdata.com, www.co-opfs.org or www.co-opthink.org
McGladrey Speakers Bureau Available
MINNEAPOLIS-RSM McGladrey is now offering a speakers bureau, in addition to experts who can write articles or provide other insight, the firm said.
For info: www.rsmmcgladrey.com
CUDL Represents CUs At NADA
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif.-Credit Union Direct Lending (CUDL), which administers the nation's largest auto lending network for CUs, represented its more than 750 partnering CUs at the National Automobile Dealers Association Convention for the seventh consecutive year. The event averages more than 20,000 attendees each year, drawing attendance from approximately one third of all U.S. dealerships.
For info: www.cudl.com
Vendor Involvement Program Draws 26
ST. PAUL, Minn.-The Minnesota Credit Union Network (MnCUN) has added or renewed 26 participants into its 2010 Vendor Involvement Program (V.I.P.). Created in 2005, VIP provides committed service organizations with an opportunity to work with MnCUN and increase visibility among Minnesota credit unions.
For info: www.mncun.org.
State Nat'l Acquires Calif. Agency
BEDFORD, Texas-State National Companies, a provider of Collateral Protection Insurance, has acquired the assets of the Finegold Insurance Agency of San Francisco. Because Finegold Insurance had represented State National exclusively for collateral protection insurance, the acquisition process will be completely transparent to mutual customers, the two companies said. Finegold Insurance serviced more 100 Calif. CUs.
For info: www.statenational.com
