If you had to make a list of all the qualities that are essential to the success of a modern credit union, its technology stack would undoubtedly be right at the top.

A successful credit union is one that steadily grows based on good member acquisition and retention practices. Not only will achieving this help your credit union expand it will also help weather economic downturns by having a strongly-developed membership base that supports your services.

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.

The modern banking landscape continues to move ever deeper towards mobile banking apps, purely digital financial services, and frictionless services that require less physical presence by customers. The pandemic put even more focus than before on delivering access to financial services of all kinds without obligating an in-person visit.

By now, the future direction of financial services has been charted and well documented — it's all about digital transformation. While the direction of the industry is no surprise, the speed at which this runaway freight train is traveling has left many industry insiders concerned, to say the least. According to a 2019 survey, 81% of banking CEOs reported they were concerned about the speed of technological change. And this was before the COVID-19 pandemic exposed universal shortcomings.

A lot has changed for credit unions within the past two years. Many have evolved their delivery models to support more digital, remote communications while still aspiring to offer a special, personal member experience. However, achieving this level of digital prowess takes a strategy that can quickly and easily adjust to uphold specific undertakings, like paycheck protection, skip-a-pay programs, and contactless transactions. Members still require personal connection even while online and those who aren't already acclimated to digital channels need more education, connection, and security understanding to get comfortable. So, what else has changed in the credit union world, and what does the future hold?