The CU Shopper Part I: New Product Offerings & What CUs are Buying

DALLAS–Here is the first of a two-part series this week in the CU Daily offering an update on the lastest products and services being introduced in the market, as well as a look at some of the buying decisions credit unions are making.

SmartBots Expanding into the U.S. Credit Union Market

DALLAS — SmartBots AI, an enterprise provider of agentic artificial intelligence systems, said it is expanding into the U.S. credit union market as cooperatives look for new ways to manage service demands and staffing pressures.

The company, which has deployed automation tools across pharmaceuticals, telecom, logistics and other regulated industries, said it will offer AI agents designed to streamline back-office operations, strengthen digital engagement and support compliance requirements.

“Credit unions are at a critical moment,” Sandilya Vadapalli, senior vice president for go-to-market strategy, said in a statement. “They face rising service expectations and talent shortages. SmartBots helps them scale that human touch with AI that’s fast, reliable and secure.”

SmartBots said its AI agents automate functions such as data reconciliation, onboarding, underwriting and loan servicing, while also supporting personalized digital interactions for members. The company emphasized its experience operating in regulated sectors and its “human-in-the-loop” approach meant to augment rather than replace staff.

Reducing Burnout

Co-founder Jaya Prakash Kommu said SmartBots’ work with financial institutions shows AI can reduce burnout and improve accuracy while maintaining oversight.

As part of the expansion, SmartBots said it has launched its Credit Union AI Accelerator Program, a four-to-six-week initiative that helps credit unions identify high-value automation efforts, map systems and data, and deploy a pilot AI agent with defined KPIs and a reporting dashboard.

Cotribute Launches AI Growth Agents for Corelation Users

ANAHEIM, Calif. —Cotribute said it has launched AI Growth Agents for credit unions using Corelation’s Keystone core system, a move the company says allows institutions to accelerate acquisition and deepen relationships without overhauling existing technology.

The rollout is enabled through integration with Keystone’s API and gives credit unions AI-based tools for member acquisition, cross-selling and re-engagement.

Cotribute said its AI Acquisition Agent helps credit unions identify target personas and messaging. Its Cross-Selling Agent recommends the next best product during onboarding or through follow-up outreach, and its Relationship Growth Agent re-engages indirect or single-product members using personalized insights from credit and income data.

The tools are now available to all Corelation clients and work alongside existing digital originations systems, avoiding the need for major conversions, according to the company.

In a statement, two CUs that use both platforms — Credit Union 1 and Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union — praised the combined technologies for helping them scale performance.

Palmetto Citizens FCU Selects Tyfone’s nFinia Platform

PORTLAND, Ore. — Tyfone said Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union has chosen its nFinia Digital Banking platform to support both retail and commercial users, part of a broader technology modernization effort at the South Carolina cooperative.

Palmetto Citizens, based in Columbia with $1.3 billion in assets and 86,000 members, operates 14 branches across the state’s midlands region. The credit union said nFinia will allow it to deliver more personalized tools to members and to offer local businesses a unified platform for digital banking.

“Tyfone’s nFinia platform will transform how we connect with our members,” said Chris Terlinden, chief marketing officer. He said the system will help support future growth while enabling more advanced services for personal and business accounts.

The nFinia platform gives members a single login for personal and business accounts and uses an open, API-driven structure for integrating third-party applications. Palmetto Citizens will also implement Tyfone’s Skip-A-Pay and Quick Pay loan-servicing tools, which the credit union said will offer members flexibility while generating non-interest revenue.

Tyfone CEO Siva Narendra said the decision reflects the credit union’s commitment to meeting rising expectations for seamless, intuitive digital services.

ASA Unveils AI Tools to Boost Member Engagement, Financial Wellness

PROVO, Utah — Fintech platform ASA has introduced three artificial-intelligence-powered products designed to help credit unions and banks deepen engagement and support financial wellness: ASA Net Worth, ASA One View and ASA Forecast.

The company said the tools respond to rising expectations for real-time visibility, personalized insights and low-friction digital experiences. ASA’s platform integrates open-finance connections with AI automation inside digital banking.

Three Solutions

According to the company:

• ASA Net Worth aggregates and updates a user’s financial profile by connecting accounts, loans, investments, crypto assets and real estate through secure APIs. CEO Landon Glenn said the system helps institutions streamline lending, counseling and cash-flow validation.
• ASA One View, embedded within the ASA Vault interface, provides a consolidated dashboard that automatically categorizes and cleanses transaction data, displaying spending habits and budgeting trends.
• ASA Forecast uses AI to anticipate bills, deposits and balances 60 days ahead to help users avoid overdrafts and manage cash flow.

FreeStar Financial CU Completes Mahalo Digital Banking Launch

TROY, Mich. — FreeStar Financial Credit Union said it has deployed Mahalo Banking’s Thoughtful Banking platform alongside a core conversion to Corelation’s KeyStone system.

According to the company, the simultaneous rollout gives the credit union an upgraded digital banking platform and a refreshed operational backbone. Executives said Mahalo’s integration with KeyStone will improve efficiency while giving members a more intuitive digital experience.

“Our team has experienced multiple conversions, and this was by far the smoothest and easiest,” FreeStar President and CEO Drema Isaac said in a statement. “Mahalo’s team worked closely with us to ensure everything came together on time and on budget.”

‘Unified Access’

The platform delivers unified access across desktop and mobile, including transfers, bill pay, and loan and card management. Security features include Credential Assurance Technology, advanced authentication and fraud-monitoring tools.

Mahalo COO Denny Howell said the company prioritizes seamless conversions supported by native Keystone integration.

Cloudvirga Launches Loan Hub Workspace for Mortgage Teams

IRVINE, Calif. — Cloudvirga has launched Loan Hub, a centralized workspace designed to streamline how loan officers, assistants and processors manage mortgage pipelines. 

The company said the tool eliminates the need to switch between multiple systems by bringing key tasks and collaboration features into a single interface.

According to Cloudvirga, Loan Hub allows teams to monitor pipelines with customizable dashboards, initiate borrower records and send secure application invitations. Users can also assign and prioritize tasks through lender-configured templates and collaborate through shared notes, real-time updates and document exchanges, it said. 

The company added the platform supports data management by enabling uploads of lead lists, exporting pipeline details and syncing loan information directly with the loan origination system. It also includes tools for targeted borrower campaigns and personalized outreach.

Cloudvirga said Loan Hub complements its Tropos borrower platform and its lender administration portal.

TEG FCU Adopts Wilqo’s AI Platform for Mortgage Lending

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. — TEG Federal Credit Union said it will adopt Charlie, the AI-driven Production Optimization Platform from Wilqo, to support its mortgage lending operations beginning in 2026.

Charlie combines loan origination, point-of-sale and business intelligence tools into a single cloud-based system, the company said, with TEGFCU adding that the platform will reduce manual steps, accelerate cycle times and strengthen accuracy and compliance.

Wilqo co-founder Larry Huff said Charlie was developed to eliminate outdated workflows and provide lenders a faster, more flexible approach to mortgage origination.

Key benefits cited by TEG include a unified environment for staff and members, simplified compliance through automated alerts, improved efficiency by breaking tasks into smaller steps and actionable data insights to address bottlenecks and improve resource planning.