MURRIETA, Calif. — CUTEK is now offering credit unions running on the Symitar Episys core processing system a fee management solution that presents all fees charged and chargeable to a particular member's account on a single computer screen.

The Fee Management Console consolidates the data in a summary screen so tellers don't have to look through a large of amount of fee types to find the necessary information. Notices whether fees can be reversed and customizable general ledger handling features also are included as are reporting functions.

Technology Credit Union in San Jose has begun testing the solution. “Our goal for this product was to enhance the consistency and accountability in our fee reporting and reversal capabilities,” said Debra Carey, assistant vice president of IT project management at $1.2 billion Technology CU.

Ron Murray, president of CUTEK, a Murrieta-based financial technology consulting firm, said, “Managing and tracking fees at credit unions is sometimes a meticulous task for any staff member. We saw a definite need for our Fee Management Console solution.”

Northrop Grumman FCU In Pact With CRI Solutions

GARDENA, Calif. — Northrop Grumman Federal Credit Union has signed a three-year agreement with CRI Solutions for business continuity services from across the country.

CRI Solutions will provide the $674 million California CU (www.norgrmfcu.org) redundant systems from its operations in Elkridge, Md.
The company said its contingency planning and recovery services provide a mission-critical production environment with dedicated data center space and IT infrastructure.

“We believe a sound contingency strategy and tactical plan, appropriate to the magnitude and exposure to loss, are essential to any credit union,” said Brooke Strohman, president of CRI Solutions.

CRI Solutions (www.crisolutions.net) now provides insurance and financial products, lending and workflow solutions and business continuity services to more than 250 credit unions, the company said.

Consumers CU Wins Top Honors For Tech Training

WAUKEGAN, Ill. — Consumers Credit Union has earned top honors for its training efforts at this year's Experience Learning Live Training Awards.
The competition, hosted by CUNA, was created to recognize credit unions' internal training efforts. CCU tied for first place for the national eLearning Award, recognizing the credit union that has most effectively incorporated technology into staff training.

CCU was singled out for its recent expansion of Consumers Employee University, a comprehensive employee training program established in 2006.

The expansion included a new series of Internet-based training modules designed to enhance employees' knowledge of different aspects of the credit union. According to CCU executives, the program has improved the general knowledge of the staff, which in turn helps each employee better serve the credit union's members.

Approximately 100 credit unions submitted applications in six categories in the ELLy awards competition.

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Southwest Corporate Grows ACH by 31% This Year

PLANO, Texas — Southwest Corporate FCU has experienced 31% increase in ACH origination contracts year-to-date (through October) over the same period last year, bringing the total number of credit unions using its ACH origination services to 368. The corporate is finding that its credit union clients market ACH services creatively, using the electronic account access channel to meet unique credit union or field or membership needs.

For the $6 million TEC/TWC Credit Union in San Antonio, ACH origination compensates for an inconvenient branch, located on the fifth floor of a 10-story building, at the back of the sponsor company's office.

“Our members…have to get in the car, drive to our building, park the car, walk across the parking lot, into the building and through the atrium, ride the elevator up and sign in at the TWC office. And, they have to take personal time off work to do it,” said President/CEO Mary Dunagan.

ACH services have allowed Dunagan to compete by taking the branch location out of the equation, allowing members to make transfers and loan payments, and build savings electronically.

“I couldn't ask for a better solution,” she said. “We're a small credit union and ACH is the way we make our credit union convenient.”

Another Southwest Corporate client, the $66 million Texas Tech Federal Credit Union, uses ACH to facilitate international transactions for members, which includes faculty members who maintain business relationships overseas.

“Many of our faculty members consult outside the country, and it can take a long time for them to receive their compensation via international wire transfers,” said President/CEO Ellen Hein. “We had one instance in which it took nine months for a member to receive a wire transfer. That's a long time to wait for reimbursement of fees.”

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