Jeff Kaufman

We've been helping #communitybanks and #creditunions of all sizes create the kind of checking accounts that deliver the kind of experience that customers/members want from modern community FIs. In GNO Federal Credit Union's case, they were looking to differentiate their brand in a very competitive market. We helped deliver that with BaZing and have helped boost their primacy as well as deliver organic growth and drive noninterest income. Here's the story in their words. #banks #banking #communitybanking https://lnkd.in/dXfNnzUq

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For the first time, RDFIs will have a defined role in monitoring ACH payments they receive. This significant development, approved by Nacha members, aims to combat fraud, including business email compromise (BEC), associated with credit-push payments. As Jane Larimer, Nacha President and CEO, points out, "All participants in the ACH Network have a part to play in reducing the incidence of fraud and recovering when fraud has occurred." Learn more in our April 2024 Innovating Payments Executive Summary— Nacha Rules Take Aim at Credit-Push Fraud: https://lnkd.in/ezsgudgX. Plan to join Sean Carter, AAP, APRP, Mark J. Dixon, CTP, AAP, APRP, NCP, Mary Morrison, AAP, APRP, NCP, CAMS, and Patty Presta for a comprehensive two-part series, "Diving Into the Operation Impact of the New ACH Rules," on May 31 and June 07, 2024, where they will delve into the implications of these new rules, offering insights on implementation, procedures, policy updates, audits, risk assessments, and organizational engagement. 🔍 Curious about engaging with third-party providers? 📝 Wondering about new procedures and policy updates? 🤔 Unsure about ACH audits or risk assessments? Get the answers by registering for Diving Into the Operation Impact of the New ACH Rules: https://lnkd.in/e7y73DN2 #ACH #FinancialServices #FraudPrevention #RegulatoryCompliance #ProfessionalDevelopment

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The #CFPB issued an interpretive rule describing how lenders issuing digital user accounts to access credit are also “creditors” subject to subpart B of Regulation Z. The rule makes clear that lenders issuing BNPL products and other digital user accounts to access credit will be regulated like credit card providers. Read more in this #clientalert: https://ow.ly/8IYm50RTU3w #legalnews

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New BAI Guide on Check Fraud Prevention BAI has released a must-read guide titled "Identifying and Preventing Check Fraud," packed with essential strategies for combating both traditional and electronic check fraud. Key highlights include: 1) Understanding check structure and negotiation 2) Identifying common check fraud tactics and fake check scams 3) Descriptions of check fraud types: paperhanging, check washing, check kiting, forgery, counterfeit checks, and electronic check fraud Advanced prevention methods recommended by BAI: 1) Transactional/Behavioral Analytics 2) Image Forensic AI 3) Payee Positive Pay 4) Consortium Data 5)Dark Web Monitoring Employee training is emphasized as critical, particularly for tellers, who serve as the front-line defense against fraudulent checks. The guide is an invaluable resource for financial institutions aiming to enhance fraud prevention measures. Review the guide and learn more about integrating these strategies and technologies in today's blog post!

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For CDFI credit unions that had concerns whether their 2023 loans might not meet the new certification standards, the extension from the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) is great news! Now there’s time to make adjustments as needed. So where do you start? Learn more during our July 10 webinar for currently certified CDFI credit unions: https://loom.ly/qKXwPRc #creditunions #CDFIs

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Attending #Payments2024 next week? Don't miss this #FinTech demo on payment fraud prevention and reporting with Jaime Berg, Director, Sales. Take this opportunity to enhance your institution's capabilities as Jaime dives into ACH and Check Positive Pay, EDI Translation, and ACH Returns and NOCs Reporting. Take a minute to catch up with our recent blog post "Exploring Commercial Banking Solutions: A Comprehensive Look at #ACHCreditPayments" 👉 https://bit.ly/3JMI9sx

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New blog post: CECL implementation is creating new norms for banks and credit unions. Learn which model inputs your financial institution should be evaluating to ensure you're maintaining a proactive approach to CECL. Read today: https://lnkd.in/eSHWeF-t Thanks to Zach Englert for sharing! Empyrean Solutions

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#Checkfraud is skyrocketing, leaving community banks to pick up the pieces. Chris Doyle, President and CEO of Texas First Bank, declares, "It's an all-out war." David G. Schroeder of the Community Bankers Association of Illinois warns, "Check fraud is spreading like wildfire." This escalating threat is causing significant financial losses and eroding trust in the entire banking system. Why should you care? The rise in check fraud isn't just a minor inconvenience—it's a growing crisis that affects everyone. Despite initiatives like Project Safe Delivery from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, mail theft and check fraud continue to rise. Criminals are exploiting gaps in the system, using advanced techniques to alter and deposit fraudulent checks, often bypassing automated #fraud detection. Read the full article from American Banker and get a better understanding of why the stakes are high, and why the need for better compliance has never been more urgent. https://lnkd.in/gD7WdK_v

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"Growing deposits and increasing operational efficiency are top priorities for community and regional financial institutions, according to Jack Henry’s sixth-annual survey of bank and credit union CEOs." #ownersrepresentative #financialinstitution #creditunion #credituniondesign #bank #bankdesign #structurefirst

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To all #CDFI #CreditUnions Worried About Losing Certification: On December 7, 2023, the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) published a revised CDFI Certification Application. Since then, CUCollaborate has heard from many credit unions that they worry about retaining Certification under the revised application. So, over the last few months, we have been working hard to develop strategies -- and the necessary software to support them -- to provide credit unions the best chance of retaining Certification. Below are some of the strategies, including software we have developed: 1. Custom Investment Areas (IA): While the revised certification application has significantly diminished the potential impact of custom IAs, they are still a critical tool for credit unions within reach of Certification but not quite there. Our software draws mathematically optimized, custom IAs based on a credit union’s lending activity and financial services. 2. Financial Services Option Analysis: Under the revised application, credit unions that either have 60% by number and 50% of the dollar, or 50% by number and 60% by dollar, can retain Certification if at least 60% of the credit union's depository account holders are members of one or more eligible Target Markets. We have found that the combination of a mathematically optimized Custom IA and the Financial Services Option is particularly effective in retaining Certification, specifically in desperate cases. 3. Target Market API: We have developed a CDFI Target Market API which supports a number of strategies to ensure that you meet your target market lending requirements moving forward. We have established, and continue to add more partnerships, with Fintechs (like National Auto Loan Network, LoanStar Technologies, GreenLyne, etc.) and loan participation platforms (like Aluvy, etc.) to help source qualified lending to ensure credit unions retain certification in the future. 4. CDFI Certification Dashboard: We have also developed a data analytics platform, allowing credit unions to monitor the necessary statistics to retain certification on a rolling basis to ensure that if they start to fall behind, proactive action may be taken before it is too late. 5. CUSO Strategies: If all else fails, credit unions can leverage CUSOs to either help the credit union attain or retain Certification directly OR indirectly gain the many benefits conferred by CDFI Certification through a CDFI Loan Fund CUSO. We know the value of your CDFI Certification, which is why we have invested significantly in developing strategies and proprietary technology that help credit unions retain Certification. Moreover, the software we have developed allows us to help credit unions retain Certification in instances when it would simply be impossible without it. If you believe you are in jeopardy of losing your certification, please contact us: https://lnkd.in/gsysDMTp

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Kitchen table issues remain front and center for many customers and members at #communitybanks and #creditunions. Offering a checking product that delivers real value to them is the kind of brand reinforcement community FIs can't buy. Delivering not just value in a product but value across customers/members' lives is why BaZing has been boosting primacy, organic growth, and noninterest income to hundreds of community FIs that have joined us. What's more, as banking continues to become more competitive, BaZing helps community FIs differentiate from the competition. #banks #banking #communitybanks #creditunions #checkingproducts #primacy

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With record inflation, #ATMDeployers benefit as more consumers turn to #ATMs and #Cash to stay on budget. But with a difficult economy, #ATMCrime rises too. Here are tips to protect your #ATMs from #Jackpotting and other threats. #ATMSecurity #ATMJackpotting #ATMUsage #CashPayments #Payments #CashIsKing #CashMatters #Triton #USAMade #FinancialInstitutions #Bank #CreditUnion #ATMIndustry #ATMNation

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To the likely surprise of providers of buy now, pay later (BNPL) financing, the #CFPB recently issued an interpretative rule stating that BNPL products are actually "credit cards" under the Truth in Lending Act and BNPL providers are "card issuers" and therefore "creditors" under, and subject to, Regulation Z. Scott Pearson, Bryan Schneider and Eric Knight explain the significance here:

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