CU*Answers, a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based CUSO, announced the availability of a free mobile app, It's Me 247. The app is intended to serve as a credit union member's mobile banking home base.
The app also offers customization options for credit unions, which can insert ads, links, and logo and branding options. It's Me 247, which is free to CU*Answers clients, is available for Apple and Android operating systems and can be purchased in the Apple and Google app stores.
"CU*Answers is more than happy to work with credit unions and their mobile app developers to get them the app they want," Randy Karnes, president/CEO for CU*Answers, said. "For those unable to invest, or even those who just want multiple options, we developed this free app to get more credit unions in the game as online retailers – that's the power of a cooperative CUSO."
Recommended For You
CU*Answers represents more than 1.8 million members and $18 billion in credit union assets.
The mobile app is included in the CUSO's credit union clients' e-commerce fee, which includes It's Me 247 online banking, e-statements, e-notices and mobile web banking, Esteban Camargo, content marketing manager for CU*Answers, said.
"So the app itself is available to our credit unions at no additional charge for any existing client, online or self-processor, who has completed all of the steps in the eligibility rules," he said.
Camargo explained that for a time, CU*Answers opted to work with third-party vendors to obtain mobile apps for clients.
"Over time though, we changed our strategy to offer our credit unions a means of getting into the app business without having to pay a third-party vendor," Camargo said.
Last August, CU*Answers launched its first mobile app at the $88 million, Livonia, Mich.-based Parkside Credit Union. Since then the CUSO added a few more financial institutions as it ironed out the app process, it said. They include the $42 million, Wauwatosa, Wis.-based Focus Credit Union; the $39 million, Ypsilanti, Mich.-based Washtenaw Federal Credit Union and the $202 million, Middleton, Ohio-based MidUSA Credit Union.
"And now that we're officially open to all our client credit unions, we'll be launching four more in the next two weeks, and more credit unions are signing up," Camargo added. "It is our hope to get all our credit unions set up with a mobile app."
When asked whether a free mobile app is common, Camargo replied, "I would say it is at CU*Answers. As a 100% credit union-owned cooperative CUSO, we take on the perspective of a manufacturer of value whose ultimate goal is the financial success of our owners and clients."
He added the CUSO sets prices to fit the income statements of its clients first.
"That means not charging credit unions extra for regular CU*BASE releases, and it means offering new products and services to our credit unions at little to no cost," he said. "In other words, our credit unions invest in us, and so we invest in them. The work we've put into developing this app for our credit unions will contribute to further development down the road for bigger and better online and mobile solutions."
© Touchpoint Markets, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more inforrmation visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
Roy Urrico
Roy W. Urrico specializes in articles about financial technology and services for Credit Union Times, as well as ghostwriting, copywriting, and case studies. Also: writer/editor of a semi-annual newsletter for Association for Financial Technology since 1997 and history projects funded by the U.S Interior Department, National Park Service and Warren County (N.Y.).
