November 1, 2019 (Olympia, Wash.) – As digital banking transactions continue to rise, WSECU has responded with new initiatives that are garnering national attention. The credit union was recently honored with two technology Excellence Awards. The awards, including “Best of Show”, were presented by the CUNA Technology Council, a national network comprised of more than 850 credit union technology experts across the United States which recognize outstanding approaches to technology and operational challenges in the credit union industry.

WSECU took home the trophies for two projects. The first, was for WSECU’s digital banking platform. The credit union conducted a multi-year project for transformation for this widely used banking channel. The goal was to create a consistent, easy, and secure experience for members when using any of the credit union’s digital banking properties. Now, the look and utility of multiple technology systems are integrated into one seamless experience, making it easier for members to manage their money. The critical partner in this effort was Backbase, creators of the state-of-the-art banking platform WSECU is using. Backbase is headquartered in Amsterdam and WSECU is their first U.S. client.

The second project earned the “Best of Show” nod. The work was a revamp of WSECU’s digital lending platform with major improvements in the presentation of information, usability, and flow, with an emphasis on making applying for a loan as low effort as possible. MeridianLink provides the lending system software that is the engine behind the new platform. So member borrowing options are clear up front, the digital lending platform presents members their credit score during the loan application process and clearly shows how much they are pre-qualified for as prospective borrowers. Experian was also a critical partner in the project.

“When we get things right for our members, there’s nothing better,” said Ann Flannigan, Vice President of Public Relations. “We’ve been listening to their feedback and in response, we are reimagining our digital services to make them easier, more intuitive and more secure. That these two projects have also won awards is icing on the cake.”

WSECU processed more than 5.6 million digital transactions in 2018, which is expected to climb this year as more members choose to do their banking with the aid of mobile and online technology. The credit union has invested heavily over the past three years to deliver on evolving consumer expectations for easy, anytime banking across all its digital properties. Flannigan added that one outcome from these projects is that they helped to foster a change in how the credit union approaches member enhancements that leverage technology.

“We now have collaborative teams with employees from IT, operations, user experience, and other areas who deliver regular enhancements in our digital services. Members will start to see small, iterative improvements more quickly, as opposed to waiting for a huge project to launch, develop, and be completed.”

Award winners were recognized at the CUNA Technology Council’s annual conference held in September in Chicago. WSECU employees David Luchtel, Ryan Brooks and Aaron Bortoletto attended to receive the awards. The new banking platform and lending platforms can be used by members at wsecu.org.

About WSECU
WSECU is an Olympia-based, not-for-profit credit union open to all Washington residents with a special emphasis on serving those who embrace the values of giving, sharing and supporting their communities. WSECU has 260,000 members, 21 branches, and $3 billion in assets. It commits 4 percent of its annual net income to invest back into the communities it serves through partnerships with education and other nonprofit institutions.