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Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming a valuable tool for credit unions looking to improve efficiency, enhance member experiences, and make more informed business decisions. While AI may sound complex, many of today's solutions are designed to solve practical challenges credit unions face every day, from member communication and lending decisions to account opening and digital engagement. Through strategic partnerships with industry-leading providers, LEVERAGE helps credit unions access AI-powered solutions that deliver measurable results while keeping the member experience at the center of every interaction. Three partners helping credit unions leverage the power of AI are Eltropy, Scienaptic, and Valiify. Strengthening Member Communication with Eltropy At the core of the platform is AI designed to help staff communicate more effectively and efficiently. Eltropy's AI-powered capabilities can assist employees by suggesting responses, summarizing conversations, identifying member sentiment, and helping ensure consistency across interactions. AI can also automate routine communications such as payment reminders, appointment confirmations, and follow-up messages, allowing staff to focus on more complex member needs. The platform's analytics and reporting tools provide insights into member engagement, response times, and communication effectiveness, helping credit unions continuously improve service levels while maintaining meaningful member relationships. Enhancing Lending Decisions with Scienaptic Rather than relying solely on credit scores and conventional data points, Scienaptic evaluates a broader range of information to identify creditworthy borrowers who may otherwise be overlooked. The platform continuously learns from lending outcomes, helping credit unions refine decision-making over time while maintaining strong risk controls. This approach can help increase loan approvals, improve portfolio performance, reduce manual reviews, and provide members with faster lending decisions. The result is a more efficient lending operation that supports responsible growth and expanded financial inclusion. Streamlining Account Opening and Lending with Valiify Valiify leverages AI-driven automation to simplify onboarding, accelerate lending decisions, and improve operational efficiency. Intelligent workflows automate identity verification, compliance documentation, underwriting processes, and decisioning, helping credit unions reduce manual tasks while delivering faster responses to members. The platform's built-in risk scoring and automated credit evaluations enable quicker, more consistent lending decisions while maintaining strong risk controls. AI also helps credit unions deepen member relationships by delivering intelligent product recommendations and cross-sell opportunities throughout the account opening and lending process. Credit unions can present relevant solutions such as overdraft protection, GAP insurance, warranties, and instant funding options at the right moment, creating a more personalized experience while increasing revenue opportunities. With real-time core integrations, digital closings, and immediate funding capabilities, Valiify creates a seamless digital experience for members while reducing operational friction for staff. The result is a faster, more efficient onboarding and lending process that helps credit unions compete in an increasingly digital marketplace without sacrificing the personalized service members expect. Bringing AI and Human Service Together Through partnerships with innovative providers like Eltropy, Scienaptic, and Valiify, LEVERAGE is helping credit unions adopt practical AI solutions that support growth, improve member service, and position their organizations for long-term success. By combining advanced technology with the trusted guidance credit unions have always provided, these solutions are helping create stronger institutions and better experiences for the members they serve. LEARN MORE ABOUT ELTROPY | LEARN MORE ABOUT SCIENAPTIC AI | LEARN MORE ABOUT CLUTCH |
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Members ATM Alliance helps credit unions simplify ATM operations and better support their members through dependable service and industry expertise. Their team works closely with credit unions to help keep ATM networks running smoothly while reducing the burden on internal staff. A few benefits of working with Members ATM Alliance include:
“We monitor those systems and reach out to our credit unions to let them know, ‘Hey, we see an issue,’ or ‘We see that you have a low balance in your ATM,’ and we get that done for them. The credit unions do not have to pick up the phone or chase down any of their vendors. We do it for them.” -Tarek Thomas, ATM Operations Manager |
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Credit unions need strategic partners that help them stay competitive, grow responsibly, and create long-term value for their members. Through partnership with LEVERAGE, Credit Union Loan Source (CULS) delivers solutions that support key areas of credit union performance, from portfolio growth to operational efficiency. CULS provides credit unions with access to prime auto lending opportunities through its loan participation program, helping institutions deploy capital, diversify risk, and strengthen lending performance. With more than $16 billion in funded assets and relationships spanning 175 credit unions across ten states, CULS brings decades of experience and a proven approach to helping credit unions grow while continuing to serve their members effectively. To support these goals, CULS offers a range of Lending Solutions designed specifically for the evolving needs of credit unions, including loan participations, prime auto loan pools, DMV Navigator, portfolio diversification opportunities, and indirect auto recovery services. Together, these solutions help credit unions enhance operational efficiency, generate income, mitigate risk, and better serve their members in an increasingly competitive marketplace. |
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ENGAGE 2026 once again proved why it remains one of the premier credit union conferences in the U.S., bringing together more than 1,200 attendees and nearly 200 exhibitors for four days of learning, collaboration, networking, and innovation. Hosted by The League of Credit Unions & Affiliates and LEVERAGE, the conference welcomed credit union professionals, volunteers, industry experts, and business partners from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, and beyond. For LEVERAGE, ENGAGE serves as more than an annual conference, it is an opportunity to connect credit unions with the trusted partners, solutions, and resources that help them thrive in an evolving financial services landscape. "ENGAGE is where relationships are strengthened, ideas are exchanged, and innovation comes to life," said Steve Willis, President of LEVERAGE. "Each year, we're inspired by the collaboration between credit unions and our business partners who share a common goal of helping credit unions better serve their members. We are grateful to every sponsor, exhibitor, speaker, and attendee who contributed to the success of ENGAGE 2026." Throughout the week, attendees explored emerging trends and practical strategies through more than 30 educational sessions covering topics such as artificial intelligence, digital transformation, cybersecurity, member experience, operational efficiency, and leadership development. One of the conference's most talked-about keynote presentations came from FC, internationally recognized ethical hacker and social engineer, who challenged attendees to rethink security, risk management, and the human element of fraud prevention in today's digital environment. The exhibit hall remained a centerpiece of the conference experience, featuring nearly 200 industry partners showcasing solutions designed to help credit unions grow, operate more efficiently, strengthen member relationships, and navigate an increasingly complex marketplace. From lending and payments to cybersecurity, compliance, marketing, technology, and member engagement solutions, exhibitors provided attendees with hands-on opportunities to explore the tools shaping the future of the credit union movement. LEVERAGE extends its sincere appreciation to the sponsors and exhibitors whose participation helped make ENGAGE 2026 possible. Their investment in the credit union industry and commitment to supporting credit union success continue to create value for institutions and members alike. Networking remained a key highlight throughout the conference. Attendees gathered at the popular LEVERAGE Networking After Dark welcome event, providing a relaxed environment for meaningful conversations and relationship building. Additional networking opportunities, including executive roundtables, professional development sessions, innovation showcases, and informal meetups throughout the conference, fostered collaboration among credit union leaders and business partners. As ENGAGE 2026 falls into the rearview, LEVERAGE celebrates the partnerships, conversations, and innovations that made this year's event a success. The conference continues to serve as a powerful platform for connecting credit unions with the resources and expertise needed to navigate change and seize new opportunities for growth. Looking ahead, we’re eager to begin planning for ENGAGE 2027, scheduled for June 8-11, as the industry will come together once again to learn, collaborate, and shape the future of credit unions. |
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Registration is now open for Discovery 2026 — the free, one-day virtual conference presented by TruStage® to help credit union leaders prepare for what's next. On Thursday, August 27, join credit union professionals from across the country for a full day of strategic perspectives and actionable insights designed to inspire breakthroughs for your 2027 planning and beyond. |