Powering Payrailz solutions is an artificial intelligence engine, a robust software developer's kit and adaptable user interface/user experience that allows financial institutions like Suncoast to deliver smart payment experiences through varied channels such as online and mobile banking, voice-enabled devices, interactive messaging and payment bots.

Although Suncoast has an in-house innovation department, which focuses on mobile and online banking development, it still sought to partner with Payrailz to obtain specialized expertise to help chart its payment experience roadmap. This allows Suncoast to offer members a full range of payments services using Payrailz' technology.

Hassenfelt indicated Suncoast currently has the standard bill pay and A2A, but doesn't currently have P2P. "So Payrailz is taking care of all of those items for the credit union. The digital experience attracted us to Payrailz, but we needed to do something different for our members in the digital payment space."

Hassenfelt noted, "I think the future mobile user is going to be much less concerned about going in and navigating apps," adding that he sees them wanting to respond to messages or prompts, or find much simpler ways to make payments.

Fran Duggan, CEO of Payrailz, said, "Their whole team has very progressive ideas and it just fit perfectly. Suncoast Credit Union fully embraces the current and future needs of its members, particularly in today's 'do it for me' culture, which prioritizes ease of use and the need for more sophisticated and predictive payment solutions to simplify their daily lives."

Duggan also explained Payrailz wants to provide credit unions with the ability to pay their members' bills for them and set up the payments they need. "And we're doing that based on payments they're already making," he said. The Payrailz CEO pointed out credit unions have a wealth of data about what their members do: Who they pay, when they pay and how often they pay. "Why not leverage what members are doing and when they're interacting online? This is where you leverage all that AI stuff and put it to use. We make life simpler. We help them control and manage their finances and money."

Payrailz uses its AI platform to deliver what it described as smarter experiences enabled through a combination of intuitive interactions and robust capabilities. The name "Payrailz" was inspired by the system, which uses multiple payment paths or rails interchangeably.

Duggan explained a payment could start off as a direct-to-core payment for funding, but delivered via a card rail or ACH. "Where the smart part comes in beyond the user experience is that back-end in the smart engine." The type and size of the payment, and how fast the user needs to get it there, all goes into the pot the engine uses to determine the best way to make the payment on behalf of the member. "So, it could use multiple rails and interchange pieces of the rails."

Payrailz solutions include Smart Pay, an electronic bill presentment and payment piece that interacts conversationally with digital assistants and messaging bots; Bill Pay, which engages members through its design, ease of use and security, and allows payment options such as a choice of delivery times (emergency/immediate, same day, next day, future date, recurring schedule or "set it and forget it" with auto-pay capabilities) and payment methods; and Person Pay, a digital payment experience between consumers that provides the capability to send, request and split money electronically using an email address or mobile phone number.

Payrailz also has external transfers (A2A) and new account funding options as well as several commercial solutions such as Business Smart Pay and Customer Pay.

The firm also deploys enhanced experiences though Action Insights, which makes recommendations to end users based on their payment and money-movement activity; Smart Feed, which presents money-movement information in a format that mimics social media interfaces; and Pay Dot, which makes payments more accessible through the entire digital experience. An additional option, Conversational Payment Services, allows payments though voice-enabled devices or messaging bots.

Duggan explained Payrailz offers a fully digital experience that works across all environments, including tablets, computers, smartphones, voice-enabled devices and chatbots. Members can access Payrailz through digital channels as well. "That's the nice thing about the API. It supports all of those," he said.

Duggan also noted, "We believe everybody deserves the Cadillac as opposed to a dumbed down version where you only get this piece or that piece by paying more. All of it comes on the one platform so all the services are fully available to our clients through all the channels." He added all members of its clients credit unions get everything Payrailz offers currently and will receive all new offerings as it continues to innovate. "Since we're 100% API-based, we can support just about anything."

Suncoast's implementation plan is to gradually start introducing Payrailz capabilities to members by year-end or in early 2019. "Every one of the mechanisms is possible. They may not all go in on day one," Duggan said.

Suncoast plans to enhance its digital presence by offering a second, digital experience app in addition to its traditional SunMobile app. Hassenfelt said, "Think of Chime with U.S. Bank or maybe even Finn by Chase. We're literally going to brand another app to be a full digital experience. Payrailz fits into that very well because it will be API-based."

Suncoast signaled the most important objective is offering a much higher quality digital payment service for its members. Hassenfelt admitted the credit union has been "talking about this for years," and noted Payrailz simplifies payments and improves the experience. "Our best relationships have been real partnerships. That partnership was a big part of Suncoast's decision to go with Payrailz and we've received much more than just a solution."

Duggan agreed and added, "We're going to do more than just the basic stuff here. We've got years of innovation in front of us and both sides are excited. It's encouraging to the industry, to open your eyes and look around and not get bogged down just because you have some provider who's not letting you innovate it. It's possible."

Mickey Goldwasser, vice president of marketing for Payrailz, explained. "It's full-featured whether you're using your mobile phone or desktop."

Goldwasser added Payrailz' focus and vision are in creating that smarter payments experience. "To us it's, 'How do you want to make the payments?' And then, 'What's the best way to send the payments?' We're all about finding the best way to get the money there." He noted Payrailz wants to nail down the payments experience solution and not tie it to old categories.

Goldwasser added the key is having members go to the credit union to simplify their lives and give the organization more value. "It's another reason for them to bank with their credit union."