New members have high expectations from your credit union. In addition to the long-standing persona of excellent service, members are conditioned for faster, more frictionless experiences. And your ability to deliver begins with onboarding. Let's take a closer look at a few best-in-class ways credit unions can exceed the expectations of new members when it comes to onboarding.

As the financial world fully embraces the digital-first approach, credit unions are unique in that physical branches still act as an important component of the growth strategy. Whether it's seasoned credit union members valuing face-to-face interactions with tellers or younger members looking for personalized guidance in purchasing a first home, there will almost always be a place for credit union branch transactions—as long as there is a space. Let's take a closer look at a few ways credit unions can incorporate the branch into your 2022's growth strategy and optimize every square inch for maximum ROI.

We are in uncharted territory as a result of the COVID-19 spread in the US. Depending on the state, your credit union is likely modifying normal daily operations to allow for safe social distancing, or in states like New York and California, closing branches completely for the foreseeable future. But, in this time of financial uncertainty, many Americans will be looking to their financial institutions for guidance and options. We know that a key piece of a long-term member/CU relationship lies in the first few months, so it's important that we adapt and show new members we are there for them now and in the future. How can we do this without those in-person interactions we rely on? We rely on our technology and our people.

In a previous blog, we discussed the importance of reducing friction in the onboarding process. One good way to do so is through integration to a robust onboarding solution that manages the process for members as well as credit union staff. Leveraging your core system's Application Program Interfaces (APIs) can provide a myriad of benefits that lead to increased efficiency and convenience, and ultimately reduce costs and boost revenue for your credit union. Here’s how APIs have become a popular tool in improving the member onboarding processes.