DataMail to help credit unions e-deliver member statements

MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. - DataMail, a statement processing, fulfillment company serving credit unions, is set to unveil an electronic statement solution. The solution will give DataMail's CU clients the ability to deliver member statements electronically. DataMail CEO William Hayden said DataMail's objective when developing the system was to make the printed and electronic statements identical-even down to the envelope. Members receive an e-mail that their statement is ready, and within the e-mail is an electronic version of the printed envelope members get for printed statements. Members click on the window of the envelope and they are linked to their CU's home banking site, where they can then view the statement. "A lot of companies are setting up separate sites where credit unions can tie into. We want the members to go through their home banking site. Our thinking is that by drawing people to the Web site, we can do more one-on-one marketing," said Hayden. Hayden said many of DataMail's clients also send a monthly newsletter along with their statement, so DataMail will also replicate each CU's newsletter electronically. Members will be able to view the newsletter as well as their statement when they are linked to the Net banking system. Hayden said there are upfront costs for the product, but credit unions will recoup that cost in savings on postage and printing. Any custom statement that the CU would include on the printed envelope or statement will also be on the electronic version. DataMail currently has 106 credit union clients.