Instant payments have been on the radar for some time – The Clearing House’s RTP Network has been operational since late 2017. But the Federal Reserve’s launch of FedNow, the second instant payments network in the US, has reshaped the landscape – shifting the dialogue from “if instant payments will take hold” to “when and how will they take hold.” This was evidenced when over 1,750 people joined the Fed’s recent town hall on the topic – a potent indicator of market interest.
FedNow Assures Wholesale Adoption of Instant Payments
Topics: Bank Vendor Management, Credit Union Vendor Management, FedNow, Real-time payments, RTP Network, instant payments
Innovation and Financial Inclusion Opportunities for Credit Unions
At SRM, we consider ourselves not only advisors but information gatherers and trend trackers. When not working directly with our clients on strategic endeavors or identifying bottom-line savings, we seek out the latest industry insights across our professional networks and from our state, regional, and national partners.
Topics: Innovation, Fintech, Credit Unions, NCUA, Affordable Housing, DEI, Rodney Hood
How Request for Payment Could Revolutionize Point of Sale
The advent of instant payments is transforming the global payments landscape.
People are drawn to around-the-clock access to funds, immediacy, irrevocability, and transparency in instant payments. It can also become a rich source of data for many interested parties.
Topics: Vendor management, Point-of-Sale, FedNow, Real-time payments, instant payments
Setting the Course for a Fintech Blueprint
SRM’s recent report makes the case that banks and credit unions of all sizes need to develop a fintech blueprint – an actionable, comprehensive strategy to address industry evolution. In a previous blog, we outlined some recent innovations – open banking, real-time payments, and embedded finance – that should serve as a call to action.
Topics: Fintech, Vendor Negotiation, Strategy, Customer Journey, Customer Service
The official launch of the Federal Reserve’s FedNow platform on July 20 culminated a four-year undertaking by the central bank.
While the payments world didn’t change overnight, the launch has raised the potential for new use cases. I previously shared my thoughts on what financial institutions should consider in terms of real-time payments.
Topics: Payments, Contract Negotiation, Bank Vendor Management, Credit Union Vendor Management, FedNow, Real-time payments, RTP Network
The Importance of a Fintech Blueprint
Most banks and credit unions will claim to have a “fintech strategy,” but their plans are often rudimentary at best. Those who went the extra mile to build plans with greater specificity were rewarded when the pandemic spurred a need to transition operations and customer engagement to digital channels. Much like disaster recovery planning, the payback only becomes apparent in hindsight.
Topics: Open Banking, Fintech, Vendor Contract, Strategy, Early Warning, Paze
This year is proving to be pivotal for tech-focused banks and credit unions.
Real-time payments will get a shot in the arm from FedNow’s debut, while Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) is plugging more fintechs into mainstream financial services. Still, the failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank created challenges for some early-stage companies.
Topics: Fintech, Vendor Contract Negotiation, Bank Vendor Management, Credit Union Vendor Management, Banking-as-a-Service, Real-time payments, Venture Capital
The concept of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) dates back centuries – even if the “database” resided in a shopkeeper’s memory or, at best, a handwritten ledger. It wasn’t until the 1980s that modern marketing techniques sought to harness growing computing power, turning CRM into a multi-billion-dollar industry.
Topics: Vendor Contract Negotiation, Benchmarking, Bank Vendor Management, Credit Union Vendor Management, Data Analysis, CRM, Customer Relationship Management
Why Credit Unions Need a Security-First Mindset
It is a scenario every credit union dreads – a security breach that either compromises member data or locks employees out of network servers.
Topics: Vendor management, Credit Unions, Cyberattacks, Encryption, Cybersecurity, Zero Trust Architecture
Five Takeaways from the Fintech + Insurtech Generations Conference
I recently attended the Fintech + Insurtech Generations conference in Charlotte, N.C., which brings together visionaries across the broad spectrum of finance and technology.
Topics: Payments, Open Banking, Digital Assets, Blockchain, Regulation