MADISON, Wis. — A fintech workshop, new executive recruiting option, a youth banking solution and more are all featured in this new CU Shopper, the third in a series this week.
Firefighters First Leaders Explore Fintech at IgniteFI Workshop
MADISON, Wis. — Firefighters First Credit Union and IgniteFI brought approximately 70 credit union leaders together for a Firecracker Focus workshop on financial technology and organizational innovation, IgniteFI announced.
IgniteFI worked with the credit union to identify strategic priorities and select four fintech companies to present potential solutions. Participants then joined cross-functional breakout sessions to evaluate challenges, possible applications and next steps.
Unlike a conventional technology showcase, the program combines vendor presentations with facilitated planning exercises.
Firefighters First President and CEO Dixie Abramian said the format gave leaders an opportunity to participate in shaping potential solutions rather than simply listening to presentations.
IgniteFI founder and CEO Julie J. Esser said the workshops are designed to connect technology exploration with business outcomes and encourage collaboration across departments.
ALM First Adds Shanley Search to Executive Advisory Services
DALLAS — ALM First has added Shanley Search Partners, an executive recruiting firm specializing in credit unions, banking and finance, to its executive advisory operations, the company announced.
The move expands ALM First’s services in C-suite recruitment, executive compensation, benefits, leadership development and succession planning.
ALM First also acquired executive advisory firm DDJ Myers in 2022. The combined operations are intended to help financial institutions recruit and retain leaders while planning for leadership transitions.
Mike Ensweiler, a principal at ALM First, said the addition will help institutions connect recruitment with compensation and retention strategies.
Charles Shanley said his firm brings more than 25 years of executive recruiting experience and a nationwide network of candidates.
The company said the expansion responds to increased attention by boards to leadership continuity and succession planning.
Service 1st Launches Youth Banking Offering With REGO
BLUE BELL, Pa. — Service 1st Federal Credit Union has introduced a youth banking service called splashup!, powered by REGO Payment Architectures’ Family Wallet platform, REGO announced.
The service is integrated into the credit union’s digital banking platform and lets children practice earning, saving, spending and setting financial goals under parental supervision.
Christopher Court, Service 1st’s chief strategy and innovation officer, said the offering extends the credit union’s financial education efforts into everyday banking.
Service 1st held 18 high school financial reality fairs in 2025, including one involving 1,890 students, according to the announcement.
REGO said its white-label platform emphasizes children’s data privacy and is certified to exceed federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act requirements.
Service 1st has more than $850 million in assets and serves more than 53,000 members.
HAPO Selects Dovenmuehle for Mortgage Subservicing
LAKE ZURICH, Ill. — Dovenmuehle Mortgage will subservice portfolio loans for HAPO Community Credit Union under a new partnership intended to support HAPO’s mortgage growth, Dovenmuehle announced.
HAPO, which has $3 billion in assets and 215,000 members, operates 25 branches across Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
Members will be able to use Dovenmuehle’s Your Mortgage Online portal and mobile app to make payments, retrieve statements, review transactions and contact servicing specialists. HAPO employees will have access to loan information through Dovenmuehle’s TellerView application.
Dovenmuehle also will provide investor accounting and reporting support as HAPO prepares to sell servicing-retained loans to the Federal Home Loan Bank and Fannie Mae beginning in 2027.
HAPO mortgage executive Chris Blotsky said the arrangement will help the credit union expand mortgage funding options while maintaining member relationships.
CU Anytime Installs First Shared Branch Video Teller
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — CU Anytime has installed its first shared branch video teller in Quemado, expanding access to financial services in rural Catron County, the credit union service organization announced.
Members of participating credit unions can connect with a teller to access deposit and loan accounts, make cash loan payments and transfer funds. Traditional ATM services remain available.
Catron County has approximately 3,900 residents spread across 6,929 square miles, according to CU Anytime.
CEO Stephen Anderson said the organization plans to expand the video teller technology across its service area in 2027.
Founded in 1997, CU Anytime operates ATMs across the Southwest and provides participating credit unions with teller services, balancing, reconciliation, deposit proofing and dispute processing.
Enbright CU Turns to Dolphin Debit After ATM Provider Closes
HOUSTON — Enbright Credit Union selected Dolphin Debit to manage its six ATMs after its previous service provider abruptly went out of business, Dolphin Debit announced.
The Nashville-based credit union operates two drive-up ATMs at its financial centers and four cash-dispensing machines at Nashville Electric Service facilities.
Enbright President and CEO Ron Smith said the former provider closed without advance notice, forcing the credit union to direct members to alternative ATMs and communicate service updates.
Smith said Enbright evaluated several vendors before selecting Dolphin Debit because it could restore management services quickly and at a competitive cost. He said the new arrangement has delivered strong uptime and reduced employees’ responsibilities for maintenance and cash replenishment.
Dolphin Debit executive Joe Woods said the company works to accommodate both urgent transitions and planned ATM management changes.
Q2 Assistant Earns independent AI Certification
AUSTIN, Texas —Q2 Holdings, Inc. said its artificial intelligence assistant earned AIUC-1 certification, an independent standard for the security, safety and reliability of AI agents. Q2 said the certifying organization identified it as the first digital banking provider to earn the designation.
The review included an independent audit of controls for separating data, enforcing permissions and logging interactions. Testers also attempted to trick the assistant into disclosing data or taking unauthorized actions, Q2 said.
Q2 Assistant lets bank and credit union employees ask questions and complete tasks within Q2 software, subject to permissions set by their institutions. Q2 said the assistant will undergo quarterly testing to maintain the certification.
FMSI Adds Branch Analytics and Customer Surveys
SALT LAKE CITY — FMSI said it added two paid features to its RelationshipOS platform to help banks and credit unions track branch performance and collect feedback after visits.
Pulse uses artificial intelligence to answer questions about staffing, wait times and other branch measures. It draws on an institution’s existing FMSI data and permissions, produces charts and lets users save and share results. FMSI said the release follows a pilot with VyStar Credit Union.
Surveys asks members and customers to rate their service shortly after a visit. FMSI said each response is linked to the visit, branch and employee, allowing managers to compare service across locations and follow up on complaints.
Small Credit Union Group Partners with Loan Analytics Provider
WASHINGTON — The National Small Credit Union Association said it partnered with Credit Union Services Inc. to make the company’s TraiLedge loan analytics service available to small credit unions nationwide.
Eligible association members can receive a free demonstration, use the platform for 90 days at no charge and get discounted pricing on available modules, the association said. The agreement also calls for an annual demonstration webinar and outreach through the association’s member network.
Joshua C. Urbick, the association’s president and CEO, said smaller institutions can benefit from loan participations but may lack the resources to evaluate opportunities. The association said the platform is intended to help small credit unions better understand their loan portfolios.
LexisNexis Risk Solutions Adds Tools to Detect AI Agents
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — LexisNexis Risk Solutions said it added tools to its digital identity and fraud prevention platform to help businesses detect and assess artificial intelligence agents acting on behalf of people or companies.
The company said the tools, called Know Your Agent, combine detection with information about identities, devices, networks and behavior. Businesses can use that information to decide whether to allow, authenticate, review or reject an interaction under their existing risk policies.
LexisNexis Risk Solutions said traffic from AI agents grew more than 750% in the first half of 2026 in its analysis of global digital transactions. Chief Commercial Officer Grayson Clarke said one financial institution used the detection tools to identify activity by AI agents and block them from completing sensitive transactions.
IncumbentFI wins Best of Show at IgniteFI showcase
MADISON, Wis. — Credit union attendees voted IncumbentFI Best of Show at IgniteFI’s Oct. 27 Firecracker Virtual Fintech Showcase, IgniteFI said.
IncumbentFI demonstrated a platform that lets credit union members use their existing debit cards to draw on available lines of credit in real time. The platform includes tools that connect debit cards to home equity and business lines of credit.
IgniteFI said IncumbentFI plans to present the platform at VentureTech and give an encore demonstration at the next Firecracker showcase on Feb. 23, 2027.
