Miller administered over all projects while managing accounting, information technology, human resources and internal audit. In addition, he directed the credit union's investment portfolio, chaired the asset liability committee, served on the technology and supervisory committees, and supervised all new facility construction.

Miller knows technology changes very rapidly. “We try to stay right on the cutting edge of technology for our membership. We embrace change and understand the benefit of change.”

Currently, the financial institution – which altered its name from Texaco Community Credit Union to FivePoint Credit Union in 2004, then to 5Point in 2016 – is halfway through a core processing conversion. This changeover required a complete overhaul of the hardware infrastructure and upgrades including content management, new video teller machines and credit card processing.

“The financial industry is rapidly changing and the need to keep up with those changes and to be relevant to our membership resulted in our decision to change our core processing system,” Miller pointed out. “Everything that the credit union did evolved around this one system. But unfortunately, the core processing vendors have found it very difficult to keep pace with technology.”

The credit union is now halfway into a 12-month's core conversion after an extensive one-year due diligence process. The project involved a conversion team of more than 50 people, multiple meetings with vendors and executives, and selection of Corelation's KeyStone system. “It was one of the very few platforms to create a new, completely fresh user interface that was built around third-party integration in over 20-plus years,” Miller stated.

The move will enable the credit union to offer enhanced internet banking functionality, member centric information and 24/7 member service and lending call centers, Miller noted. The renovation also included full encryption of all systems by upgrading to advanced security SANS networking hardware.

Another project, started in 2015, focused on video tellers. After an extended screening process, the credit union ultimately selected the NCR Interactive Teller machines.

The credit union sees video technology, along with microstores, as vital to growth. “We are trying to expand our charter because there are so many credit unions in our market. Banks are not our competition, it's actually credit unions,” Miller maintained. “Although our membership is moving quickly toward mobile interactions with us, they still utilize our physical stores. However, the cost to construct, staff and maintain these facilities is an increasing concern.”

That is why microstores, under 1,500 square feet, are a big emphasis for 5Point. The credit union intends to install them into a new membership market, north of Houston in Montgomery County, by next summer.

“Because it is an urban market where traffic is atrocious, people will not drive seven miles to a branch, so you must have as many touchpoints as possible and convenience is important,” Miller emphasized.

By utilizing video tellers in its lobbies, the credit union can eliminate traditional teller lines. Miller added, “In addition, using this same technology within our drive-thru, we no longer need tellers to be physically located within the same store.”

The credit union plans to deploy the video tellers at several drive-thru lanes. “This solution allows a video teller to manage on average three to four ITMs,” Miller said.

This not only lowers the salary and benefit expense for the credit union but provides continuous coverage. During normal business hours, members have the choice of having a video teller or traditional ATM transaction. After hours, the units operate in ATM mode only with full deposit automation.

5Point ordered six machines, which the credit union plants to unveil during the first half of 2017.

5Point considers itself to be a lending machine. The organization began risk-based pricing of its loans in 2008. “We realized that that we were not being relevant to our members and changed our focus to help as many members as we could,” Miller said. “As a result, we booked just over $226 million in loans during 2016. We have received the NCUA Low Income Designation because we are meeting the needs of our low-income members.”

Among other projects Miller led were: A long-term document storage conversion, a branch redesign, three new locations within a three-year period and the first and only financial institution in southeast Texas to provide a fully functional, standalone, mobile store, which the credit union can roll out to members as needed. The credit union also changed its charter from federal to state in 2013 to expand its field of membership.

Miller is quick to share the stage with staff, senior management and the 5Point board of directors.

“I consider myself successful because of the individuals I have working for me,” he said. “I do not micromanage my staff. I empower those around me to manage their respected areas and back their decisions. Likewise, our senior management team has a great relationship with our board of directors. Our board is very much forward-thinking and they set the direction and goals. They allow our staff the freedom to create and implement to achieve their decisions.”

“Our mission statement is simply, 'To improve to quality of life for our members and the community,'” Miller said. “Every decision, every product choice and every technology offering must first agree with our mission statement, otherwise we will not implement it.”

Miller originally joined the credit union in 1998 to manage Y2K issues.

“After about two weeks of being on my new job, I actually thought of leaving because I was not grasping all of the acronyms that are used within the financial industry,” he said.

He stayed and moved up the ladder to MIS Director, VP of IT, VP of accounting/IT, SVP of accounting/IT and now to executive VP. Miller has been married to his wife Kellie for 34 years and has three children, Kristin (who has a husband, Thomas), Chad and Lauren along with one grandson, Cohen.

He and his wife serve as Elders at their local Christian church and also have a healing ministry that keeps them very busy. He travels to various counties in a missionary capacity and mentors several young men. He lists photography, traveling, reading books and spending time with family and friends as his interests.