To help credit unions best prepare themselves and their membership for a core system conversion, Synergent has recently released a whitepaper which examines the conversion process through two key lenses: employees and members. The paper features advice from credit unions who have recently undergone a successful conversion.   Speaking from Experience:  For example, when it… Read more »

This past Friday, I had the opportunity to hear from acclaimed credit union marketers, Kelley Parks and Lisa Moore, both of gira{ph} .  In an interactive workshop, we heard some big ideas and innovative examples of how organizations both in and outside the financial services industry are making an impact, strengthening their brand, and gaining… Read more »

Consumers interact with financial services firms based purely on cost, right? Wrong, according to Forrester Research study in Target Marketing. The study finds financial services firms mistakenly promote price as a brand differentiator when other factors are far more important to consumers. Instead, research suggests financial services marketers should first: • Build consumer trust. Less… Read more »

When great service starts from the top, credit union members will reap the benefits! The same goes for how a service bureau, like Synergent, provides service to member credit unions. Here, Rebekah Higgins, Assistant Vice President for Synergent Card Services, explains how by empowering her staff, the result is the best possible service experience for… Read more »

Here at Synergent, we’re looking forward to the spring season not only for the increased daylight hours and warmer weather, but for the busy season of Financial Fitness Fairs that will begin in March! Founded in 2004, Maine credit unions introduced a new concept in youth financial education through Financial Fitness – A Money Management… Read more »

With all of the chaos that a conversion of any kind can create – from a core processing changeover to introducing a new home banking platform – it can be tempting to take a “Wizard of Oz” approach, and not let your members see what’s going on behind the proverbial curtain. From this example, it’s… Read more »

While members may not be asking their favorite teller about your mobile wallet offerings yet, this may not be too far in the future for many financial institutions. In a recent whitepaper by Carlisle & Gallagher Consulting Group, Mobile Wallet: Reality Check: How Will You Stay Top of Wallet, the following recommendations for financial institutions… Read more »

Today, I had the opportunity to attend a service seminar led by the service guru Rick Olson. The topic of the day was Communicate! Communicate! Communicate! While Synergent staff participated in the training to learn how to enhance our communications internally, as well as to enhance our support with our credit union partners, there were many… Read more »

In acknowledgement of the recent Groundhog Day, on February 1, Synergent was host to a group of 6th grade middle school students who participated in a Job Shadow Day at the Credit Union Service Center. Staff presented their jobs in a variety of ways; from having the students take on projects, to answering a variety… Read more »

The news is everywhere, being communicated in both mainstream media and trade publications alike: the MasterCard and Visa networks have advised that effective January 27, 2013, U.S. merchants will have the option of adding a surcharge to certain credit card point-of-sale (POS) transactions. Reflecting on the effect this news will have on credit unions, Rebekah Higgins, Assistant Vice President,… Read more »