Within the last few years, we've seen many financial institutions rely heavily on traditional data as they've been making various credit decisions. Recent tumultuous times have also caused businesses and consumers to lose valuable revenue. Meanwhile, existing data models that were originally intended for periodic declines (instead of a complete economic standstill) have proven not to be as relevant or foretelling. These dramatic changes in both credit and consumer behavior have caused lenders to seek new data and earlier warning signs. This is where analytics come in.

In a not-so-distant past, digital payments revolutionized commerce. Today, however, commerce is poised to revolutionize the way money is moved. From manual and paper-based, payments are speeding toward automation, paperless, cloud-based solutions to simplify the buying and selling process.

When it comes to banking and financial products, the average consumer has no shortage of options. From large national and community banks to credit unions (CUs) and emerging fintech firms, everyone is vying for the attention and dollars of your current members.

The financial world has already seen and will continue to see more competition in 2022, especially in regard to payments. Between the influx in buy now, pay later (BNPL) payments, and consumers' desire for faster, easier transactions, it's safe to say that rivalry is at an all-time high.

The current success of your credit union is directly related to your credit union's core technology. Few scenarios have made that clearer than the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, credit unions with the right core technology were able to quickly adjust, go digital, and deliver the solutions required to meet member needs.

Open banking will support credit unions that possess a certain digital capacity. The most successful credit unions (CUs) are ones that utilize member data and provide real-time information, organized workflows, notifications, and alerts. Members seek convenience above all, and so these features should offer just that. Here are a few ways CU staff can increase the value of your services with open banking APIs.