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In our recent Blog Post “2021 Technology Trends - What’s in your Strategic Plan?”, listed were several considerations that should be at or near the top of every credit union’s budget for 2021. During the past year, efforts were largely focused on transitioning to a remote workforce while making steps to bolster digital solutions offered to members. As the industry moves forward in continuing with this digital transformation a primary concern that needs to remain up front of every decision is ensuring the security of member data.
According to a recent study by Juniper Research, it is anticipated that there will be a 70% increase in cyber-related crimes by the year 2024. With this in mind, credit unions will need to find a balance between providing their members with the latest and greatest digital solutions and protecting member data. The costs of building an effective IT Security program can certainly be daunting, however they can pale in comparison to the costs associated with a malicious cyberattack. Below are just a few initiatives to get started building a more effective security program:
Establish partnerships with third-party providers that have the experience and scale to help mitigate risk
For most credit unions, hiring their own IT Security professionals and providing ongoing training simply isn’t affordable. There are many third-party providers that understand your concerns and can provide the expertise, tools and industry knowledge to mitigate risk.
Complete an IT Risk Assessment
A comprehensive risk assessment is critical in identifying risk that you may not even realize exists. Ensure that each business function is identified and potential level of risk is evaluated. IT Security Policies and procedures are then established based on the level of risk identified.
Move to the Cloud
Moving Core Processing Systems and other applications to the cloud provides many benefits including cost savings, enhanced disaster recovery, better collaboration among users and significantly improved data security.
Step up your Cyber Security Training
Security awareness training for your staff is the most cost-effective way to mitigate risk of breaches and incidents. It is estimated that 32% of all breaches involve some form of phishing attempt. With more staff working remotely it is more important than ever before to provide staff with ongoing training.
By some estimates, up to 30% of the workforce will be working-from home at-least two days per week by the end of 2021. Hackers are opportunistic and over the past few months, many companies have had to quickly transition from a traditional in-person office to and hackers are now using this shift in remote work to prey on unsuspecting and unsecured devices making IT Security more important than ever. As John Chambers, former CEO of Cisco Systems, once said, “There are only 2 types of companies: those that have been hacked and those who don’t know they’ve been hacked yet.”
Sharetec Systems is a leader in new core system installations over the last ten years and is one of the top selling credit union software packages with over 250 credit unions using our products every day. Sharetec offers a Tier III Data Center, designed to lower your initial investment and provide you with peace of mind.
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Members will have the ability to apply for membership over the internet at anytime from anywhere with Sharetec’s Online Member Services.
Sharetec’s Online Member Services validates identity, providing a secure solution and reducing fraud in the online application process, while evaluating the products and services your member applies for and making suggestions at a time when the member is most likely to respond—during the enrollment process!
- Allow new members to enroll
- Allow existing members to apply for loans and new shares
- Anytime, anywhere
Sharetec’s Online Member Services portrays a professional image, connecting to the members who rarely come into the office. Not only is it easier enrollment, it reduces fraud via its secure application process and validates identification. It’s simple, secure, and convenient - saving you time and money!
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Do you deliver an experience that your members want to be a part of? Do you delight them so much that they go home and brag to their friends and family about their experience with your credit union?
A large part of aligning the experience and delighting your members means to meet your members where they are. Your members are looking to interact via digital channels like websites and mobile apps. In fact, according to McKinsey & Company, 65% of members are interacting with their credit union through multiple digital channels.
That doesn’t mean they’re skipping out on the traditional physical channels. In fact, those who use mobile and computing channels more than once a week are 60% more likely to be active branch users. That means, while interested in new technologies, members still value face-to-face interactions. Sharetec can offer many ways for you to digitally reach your membership.
- Internet Banking
- Mobile Banking
- eNotices
- eAlerts
- eDocuments
- Text Banking
- Online Member Enrollment
- Online Payment Services
- Remote Deposit
- Remote Signatures
- Credit Card Single Sign On
- Online Lending Applications
At the heart of every great member experience is an interaction that’s easy to navigate and execute, for both the customer and your MSR. Let Sharetec help create that for you and your credit union.
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Sharetec is pleased to announce the milestone anniversaries of five of its most esteemed business partners in 2021. Formed over a quarter century ago, these impressive partnerships remain invaluable to us and we are proud to continue to support their success:
• Slippery Rock University Federal Credit Union of Slippery Rock, PA, celebrated its 25th anniversary with Sharetec in January - a great way to begin 2021!
• Genesis Employees Credit Union of Zanesville, OH, is another 25-year partner, joining the Sharetec family in March of 1996.
• Latrobe Federal Credit Union of Latrobe, PA, also chose to implement the Sharetec solution 25 years ago in March.
• Natco Credit Union of Richmond, IN, is yet another client celebrating its 25th anniversary with Sharetec in March.
• Health Care Credit Union of Oshkosh, WI, will be commemorating 25 years as a Sharetec customer in May.
We are proud of how these mutually beneficial business relationships have blossomed, helping each credit union thrive while enabling Sharetec to continually improve its innovative solution year after year.
As one of the top industry leaders in the development of credit union software, Sharetec recognizes each of these long-term customers as also being industry leaders. They have utilized the system to their advantage, greatly improving functionalities and efficiencies along the way. So, while we consider longevity a great accomplishment, we view successful longevity as even better, as proven by these stellar financial institutions.
Congratulations to each of our 25-year customers! Sharetec looks forward to continuing to support the success of its current clients and to further enhancing our solution so we can meet the needs of even more credit unions in the years ahead.
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Without question none of us are sad to see 2020 come to an end. As difficult as the past year may have been, it did however force credit unions to make great strides in transforming their digital offerings to adjust to the “new” normal. It would be safe to say that years-worth of digital improvements were made within the industry in just a few short months following the onset of the pandemic.
As the pandemic first hit, credit union IT departments and service providers were challenged with enabling certain staff to work remotely. With branch lobbies closing, members began to rely more heavily on internet banking, mobile banking and remote deposit capture among other digital offerings. Interestingly enough, after years of the financial services industry working to promote and encourage the use of digital delivery channels it took a pandemic to make a significant increase in the adoption and use of those channels across all demographics.
Yet despite these changes there remain many questions that credit unions need to ask moving forward. How can we better serve these members when they can’t or won’t come into a branch? How can we create the same branch experience they are used to in the digital world? How can we meet or exceed their expectations and remain relevant?
Prior to the pandemic, the American Bankers Association reported that 82% of people preferred digital banking versus in-person branches. While that number may seem a little high, obviously the trend will continue to increase. That being the case, it is important that credit unions make digital transformation their top priority in the immediate future. Those that don’t may very well not be here tomorrow.
Below are 11 considerations, listed in no particular order, that should be near the top of your list for 2021 and beyond:
- Cloud Computing
- Enhanced Online and Mobile Banking
- Online Account Opening
- Digital Loan Applications and Closing (e-sign)
- Marketing Automation
- Browser Based Core Applications
- IT Security
- Financial Dashboards and Analytics
- Back Office Automation
- Electronic vs. paper-based processing and storage
- Re-skilling your workforce
While this checklist is by no means all inclusive, what’s most important is that you have a plan and that you develop the right vendor relationships to help execute that plan.
Over the course of 2021, we will discuss each of the above priorities in future blog posts. Stay tuned!
