CU*Answers partnered with Fortress Plus to provide financial crime risk management systems to credit unions. The new relationship paves the way for deep integration to support embedded decisioning for fraud prevention.

The new agreement follows the two organizations’ recent partnership enabling AuditLink, the audit and compliance division of Grand Rapids, Mich.-based CU*Answers, a 100% credit union-owned core data processor. The CUSO plans to use Rampart, the Fortress Plus system, to provide comprehensive fraud management and prevention services. The combined method enables CU*Answers to bring a financial crime risk management system as both user and provider of the technology thereby enabling a greater level of service.

Randy Karnes, CEO of CU*Answers, stated, “We are designing a competency in CU*BASE (CU*Answers’ core data processing system) that embeds technology and processes to extend beyond a tactical response to financial crime to a strategic initiative designed to reduce credit union employee overhead while minimizing friction for the member.”

“CU*Answers provides the visionary partner that Fortress Plus needs to achieve our goal of high efficiency, low friction fraud prevention,” added Jeff Whelton, president of Wethersfield, Conn.-based Fortress Plus. “Their commitment to innovating for their credit union owners and clients creates an environment for both companies to learn and grow in financial crime risk management.”