The process of opening a new account digitally is a critical part of any credit union's success. It serves as the gateway to an array of features and benefits, and a successful experience can increase member satisfaction, boost loyalty, and set the foundation for positive long-term relationships. As such, it is vital for credit unions to optimize their digital new account opening processes to ensure they remain up to date with changing technology and member preferences, continually offering the best possible experience.

Although it may sound unbelievable, a recent study revealed a frightening prediction: up to 80% of financial institutions could disappear by the end of the decade. That is unless they can find a way to use technology to innovate their operations, bringing them more in line with the expectations of modern audiences. Note that this number includes not only big banks but credit unions as well. Nobody is immune to the ever-evolving digital world that we are now a part of.

As is true with any type of digital transformation, converting from an older core platform to a new one can often seem like an uphill battle for your credit union. But not only is it necessary, but in some situations, it is explicitly so--like if you're currently working with two or more disparate platforms that make the lives of your employees and members needlessly difficult on a daily basis.

When it comes to operating a modern-day credit union, one critical idea to understand is that any investment in technology that reduces costs needs to simplify efficiency at the exact same time. Not only is this crucial for keeping up with an ever-changing marketplace, but it also assists with long-term stability as well.

As a credit union, one of your goals should be to increase the number of auto loans you acquire each year. And if you've been monitoring the market, you've probably noticed the significant increase in car payments, which has doubled since 2021. As of 2022, auto-related loans account for nearly 10% of all consumer debt in the U.S., which means a wealth of opportunities to boost your credit union's ROI and help people save!

Digital and mobile banking have become an in-demand reality for virtually every demographic. According to the Digital Banking Survey in March 2021, survey respondents report they will continue to prefer the convenience of digital channels for transactional, simple activities, such as depositing checks, transferring funds, and paying bills. And this sentiment has huge implications for credit unions because it underscores that digital payment solutions are here to stay. Even so, there are several common myths that may hinder credit unions from fully embracing digitization. Let's take a closer look at some of the more popular myths to uncover the truth.

The term "digital wallet" has been floating around for the past few years. This technology doesn't require a physical credit or debit card and lets consumers pay for products and services using card information stored in a device such as a smartphone or a computer. In fact, according to a 2021 survey, around 150 million Americans have used a digital wallet at least once. Will this intangible payment method put credit cards out of commission? And what does this mean for your credit union?

Traditionally, credit unions haven't been considered digital innovators. Instead, credit unions are notorious for delivering a personable, in-person, in-branch experience to sustain member loyalty and build trust.

Today, however, everything is different. As digital-only fintech firms and major banks pour money into technology to apply external pressure, it's imperative for credit unions to develop value propositions around innovation. While credit unions may not be first adopters or innovators (in the traditional sense), they are fast followers. Let's take a closer look at three top emerging payment trends credit unions should be following and paying close attention to.

Digital payments took center stage during the pandemic, and their popularity became so strong, it's clear contactless payments aren't going anywhere. Commerce was already hopping on the digital bandwagon pre-coronavirus, but the shutdowns and online-only sales increased digital payments exponentially. Now, consumers are even more in favor of quick, convenient touchless transactions, which means that credit unions must be prepared to continue offering these valuable services and innovate further.

Whether it's a credit union, community bank, or national bank, open banking has transformed how people perform financial transactions. Highlighted by innovative and integrated apps, open banking is made possible through application programming interfaces (APIs). In the most simple sense, an API is a software intermediary that allows two different applications—such as your credit union core processing system and a third-party app—to seamlessly communicate.