Brian J. Longe, president/CEO of Sontiq, told CU Times via email that the new solution resulting from the partnership provides a tremendous opportunity for credit unions to increase revenue, while also enhancing the products they deliver and protecting their members.

"Credit unions are looking to add value to members' lives beyond deposit and savings accounts and the occasional loan," Longe said. "Credit unions want to have strong capabilities to address cyber threats. They know they are more likely to attract and retain members if those members trust their systems. With Sontiq + Breach Clarity, credit unions warn members of personalized risk outside the members' credit union relationship, and help them take highly-personalized, effective next steps to mitigate fraud."

Sontiq currently works with thousands of financial institutions across the U.S. and Canada, including credit unions, and has its products embedded into their offerings, Longe said. He noted that Sontiq + Breach Clarity are currently working with several large credit unions that are looking to reduce the impact on their call centers when breaches occur. The new technology, set to be digitally integrated into the credit unions' digital banking platforms in the coming months, will alert members when their data is found on the dark web and provide personalized action steps, many of which can be completed within the banking platform.

"Following national data breaches, credit union contact centers are typically inundated," Longe said. "Given self-service access to Sontiq + Breach Clarity, members can rapidly find out for themselves if they've been personally impacted and what their individual risk looks like, thereby reducing calls to the credit union."

Jim Van Dyke

In the news release, Breach Clarity Co-founder and CEO Jim Van Dyke said, "With three to four security incidents happening daily, most individuals will at least be part of two each year, and one-third will become victims of identity fraud. By marrying our exclusive in-depth ability to personalize identity crime risks and actionable recommendations with Sontiq's best-in-class identity theft protection platform, including personalized restoration services, we're jointly providing unprecedented power to overcome the ubiquity of fraud and data breach events."

Longe added, "I've known Jim Van Dyke for years. We worked together advising the federal government on consumer protection issues. Teaming up with Breach Clarity is a strong natural fit for Sontiq and the work we are doing to combat fraud every day."