Alkami Technology is partnering with credit-union service-organization Open Technology Solutions (OTS) to bring its ORB Digital Banking Platform to member CUs in states from Colorado to Maryland. ORB from Alkami will give credit unions a “unified platform across all devices and functional offerings” including PFM and P2P payments, billpay, retail and business financial services, mobile, and more. The platform also supports the ability of CUs to develop their own apps and product extensions, as well as add new features. Credit unions can take advantage of ORB’s integrated content-management system to conduct “one-to-one” product marketing and cross-selling.
User experience and cross-channel consistency were two aspects of Alkami’s technology that were underscored by Open Technology Solutions CEO Mike Atkins: “With Alkami’s ORB platform, our member institutions can deliver the same capabilities across different platforms while optimizing user experience.” Atkins says he believes the new solution will lead to better member engagement as well as help with prospective member acquisition.
Stephen Bohanan, founder as well as chief strategy and sales officer for Alkami Technology, praised the credit unions working with OTS for recognizing the increased consumer preference for the mobile channel in banking. Citing a Javelin report that said half the U.S. adult population used smartphones and tablets to do their banking—a 29% gain over the previous year—Bohanan said growing pressure will require FIs not only to provide a digital experience for their customers, but also a “superior” experience, as well. “We look forward to supporting this journey as their digital banking partner of choice,” he said.
Headquartered in Plano, Texas, Alkami demoed at FinovateSpring 2009 as iThryv and rebranded as Alkami a year afterward. The company has been busy this fall, forging partnerships with the largest credit union in Arizona, Desert Schools FCU, in September, and teaming up with Idaho Central Credit Union earlier this month. The company earned a spot on Fintech Forward’s “20 Companies to Watch” this fall. Alkami has 196 employees, more than 60 clients, and more than three million users. Mike Hansen is CEO.