LEVERAGE - Monthly Newsletter April

The world wide web was born in 1989. Can you believe it? And just two years later, the first website went live on August 6, 1991. Do you know what the topic was for the first-ever-website? We’ll come back to that.

Today, there are millions of websites in just about every language known to man. And from websites and the world wide web a lot more was developed including social media platforms.

Credit unions got in on the website action very early on, recognizing this wave of the very near future. Today, most of your members do their business almost exclusively online, rarely coming to a branch. Websites are so common now it is weird if we can’t find a website for a new product we want to research or perhaps a new business someone mentioned to you.

So, how is your credit union’s website looking? Is it functional? User-friendly? Have you seen another website you like better and you’re considering a change? A re-design? Is your website meet compliance regulations? So much to consider!

And that’s where the Growth By Design Web Team can help you. If you want a whole new site or just need someone to make sure the site is in compliance, the GBD Web Team can help.

Meet the Growth by Design Web Team

Getting to Know Cameron Carswell

Cameron Carswell

Cameron Carswell is the Website Development Manager for the Growth by Design Web Team. Fourteen of his 18 years of experience with web development have been with the GBD Team.

Which office do you work out of? Duluth, GA

What’s your favorite hobby? Being a giant kid by reading comics, playing video games and amassing a huge collection of toys. 😊

Where is your favorite place you’ve traveled? Maine, loved the fresh lobster and the peace and quiet.

Favorite quote? “If the others heard me talking out loud they would think I am crazy. But since I am not, I do not care.” – Ernest Hemingway

Pet-peeve? Not picking up on social ques.

Which celebrity to you look like? No one, the mold broke when I was made.

Greatest accomplishment? Father to one awesome baby Yeti.

Best advice to creative types for 2021? Be yourself and change for no one.

Getting to Know Warren Moore

Warren Moore

Warren Moore is the Web Developer for the Growth By Design Web Team and has been with GBD Web Team for two years. Warren is a proud self-taught developer with more than four years of experience with Front-end Web development.

Which office do you work out of? Duluth, GA

What’s your favorite hobby? Showing the younger people at the gym that my generation will always be better than them in basketball. Because they can’t guard me.

Where is your favorite place you’ve traveled? I have yet to leave the country so I would have to say…New Orleans

Favorite quote? I been outchea I be outchea you come outchea see me outchea.

Pet-peeve? Fancy restaurants that cost a lot but give small portions of subpar tasting food dressed up with elite level garnishing to justify the tiny plate in front of me.

Which celebrity to you look like? A mix between Maui from Moana and corbin bleu. I don’t really look like them...but people will swear I do because my hair is curly.

Greatest accomplishment? As of 2020 I am considered a top 5 lyricist of any era by a large population of people across the globe. I had a freestyle of mine go viral and am now well respected in the hip hop community. If that’s not a real accomplishment, then I’d say raising my 2 beautiful sons 😭

Best advice to creative types for 2021? True creativity is whatever you think is creative. No one can create exactly like you do because no one is you exactly. So whatever you truly create…is a unique creation. Remember this, and act accordingly.

Getting to Know Nadine Ferere

Nadine Ferere

Nadine Ferere is the Internet Product Project Coordinator for the Growth By Design Web Team. She’s been with GBD for 15 years. Nadine is a proud a graduate of York College with more than 15 years of experience in Marketing.

Which office do you work out of? Duluth

What’s your favorite hobby? Traveling

Where is your favorite place you’ve traveled? Ile-a-Vache, Haiti

Favorite quote? Be kind because you never know what someone is going through.

Pet-peeve? Inconsiderate people

Which celebrity to you look like? N/A

Greatest accomplishment? My children Isabelle and Sebastien

Best marketing advice to credit unions for 2021? Or best advice to creative types for 2021? Keep up with the trends.

Contact them today if you need help with your website. No job is too small or too big.

Oh – one more thing. The first web page went live on August 6, 1991. It was dedicated to information on the World Wide Web project and was made by Tim Berners-Lee. It ran on a NeXT computer at the European Organization for Nuclear Research, CERN.

Credit unions today are seeking new and inventive ways to assist their business members.

This represents a fundamental shift in the perspectives of management as well as the business members requiring services tailored to their needs. During a survey conducted by a Michigan credit union, data was gathered on what is keeping business members from expanding their relationship with credit unions. The overwhelming reason was a lack of products and services.

These results present a two-fold opportunity for credit unions. First, the ability to better serve their communities by expanding business membership services. Second, the creation of an additional revenue stream for the credit union. This second opportunity can be an unfamiliar concept to many credit unions.

As providers and proponents of business services, we are often asked: Why would you want to charge more than the cost of the service?

We know it is typical for a credit union to take a product cost and either absorb it or pass it through without any markup. This philosophy should be examined and refocused. A credit union’s strength, continuity, and ability to continue to provide value to its membership depends on a strong and perpetual revenue stream. Enhanced business services can be provided to the business member at a fair and competitive price. This not only provides value to the business member but also a return to the credit union allowing it to re-invest and further expand its member offerings.

Conclusion
Expanding business services offers a significant opportunity for Credit Unions to both add value to its members and support its strength and continuity. Credit unions must be willing to reassess their perspective on business member services as they seek to continue to create value in the credit union space.

According to Industry Tracker Coalition, “banks globally generated $209 billion in revenue from transaction banking, (In one year alone) which encompasses both cash management and trade finance, compared with the $172 billion brought in by their trading units”

It’s credit unions’ turn...

In October 2020, LEVERAGE announced the acquisition of Alabama-based Common Bond Title, which offers credit unions a streamlined experience with obtaining real estate title and closings for their member loans. This addition was a huge win for LEVERAGE since Common Bond Title is well respected in the industry for being able to meet or exceed the compliance guidelines that are required of lenders. If it is a win for LEVERAGE, it is a win for credit unions too.

Today, Common Bond Title (CBT) is based in Alabama and can serve credit unions in Alabama and Florida. The CBT team is led by industry expert of Lynn Hightower-Moore.

“The expansion into Florida is a natural first step for CBT and we’re looking forward to making great strides there - establishing the same solid reputation in the Sunshine State that CBT has in Alabama. We know that’s just a matter of ‘when’ not ‘if,’” explains Steve Willis, LEVERAGE President. “The whole CBT team focuses on making sure credit unions receive unparalleled client services. That’s what sets LEVERAGE and CBT apart from the competition.”

Title insurance is necessary for the protection of property rights for real estate owners and lenders against loss or damage that might happen due to liens, encumbrances, or defects in the title of a property. Sounds tricky? Complicated? It can be. But not for Common Bond Title.

“When credit unions work with us, they’ll have peace of mind knowing we are TRID compliant. It’s just another layer of expertise and protection,” explains Lynn. “On the CBT team, we have more than 100 years of experience in this process. We have earned our reputation by being careful, purposeful while reviewing all documents – making sure they’ll be executed properly.”

How does it work? CBT takes charge of the back-office details which will free up credit union staff who need to assist members, manage credit union branches in the front and the back. This in turn saves money and resources for the credit union.

This reliability includes a single point of contact for services; full service on every transaction for all titles, closings and document preparation; timely and accurate title commitments; title clearing work done automatically with members; decreased credit union employee time in processing applications; superior communication; and knowledgeable and professional staff.

National underwriters for the organization are Fidelity National Title Group, First American Title Insurance Company, Old Republic National Title Insurance Company and Stewart Title Guaranty Company.

LEVERAGE partners and owns preferred, best-in-class solutions providers to equip credit unions with the products and services to grow their financial institutions.

Contact LEVERAGE today to learn more at Consulting@myleverage.com.

LendKey is a LEVERAGE product that connects borrowers with private student loans and refinanced student loans from credit unions. LendKey’s loans are best for credit union members because LendKey understands why credit union members are unique. Learn more by listening here.

Listen here.

Members ATM Alliance is a credit union service organization, created to assist in the management of ATMs.

At LEVERAGE, we know how important a great network of ATMs can be for your credit union members.

We also know ATMs require a lot of time, resources, and expertise to manage and can be expensive. That’s where the Members ATM Alliance can help.

Watch to learn more here.

LEVERAGE Monthly Newsletter