Unitus Community Credit Union Wins Award for Innovation in Digital Banking Excellence

Posted by Alyse Knudsen on May 20, 2024

Unitus Community Credit Union has been honored by Alkami Technology with a 2024 FIsioinaries Award, which highlights innovative initiatives through Alkami’s FIsionaries podcast. Unitus earned the award in fintech innovation for its proactive approach to inclusive financial services, including its bilingual initiatives across various touchpoints.

FIsionaries featured Unitus on its podcast episode “Supporting Underserved Communities with Multilingual Solutions at Unitus Community Credit Union.” In it, podcast host Jim Marous highlighted how Unitus uses technology to enhance member services and innovate new solutions to positively impact the lives of its members.

“This visionary podcast talks directly to regional and community financial institutions about the digital transformation process in all stages of the journey. The guests on the podcast are entrenched in regional and community banking and provide insights into how their organizations are punching way above their weight in the work they are doing,” said Jim Marous, FIsionaries podcast host and owner of the Digital Banking Report.

“We are honored to be recognized as a 2024 FIsionaries Award recipient,” said Char Sears, Unitus’ VP of Member Experience and Product Management. “This award recognizes our efforts to empower and support every member, leveraging technology to enhance the member experience and remove barriers and access to inclusive financial products and services.”

Unitus offers its website in both English and Spanish, utilizes a bilingual chatbot, and employs Spanish-speaking staff in member-facing roles. The credit union is also innovating other digital solutions to reach historically underserved communities.

“We recognize how important it is that every member of our community can access our financial services,” explained Steven Stapp, President and CEO at Unitus. “I am honored that this award is a representation of our efforts to implement new technologies for Spanish-speaking communities so we can support them throughout their financial journeys.”

Unitus is the first Pacific Northwest credit union to offer a Spanish-language chatbot, and the only western credit union recognized by the FIsionaries Awards.

“Alkami takes immense pride in honoring these exceptional financial institutions and their transformative initiatives,” said Alex Shootman, Alkami’s CEO. “The FIsionaries platform amplifies their inspiring journeys, and Alkami is privileged to collaborate with esteemed industry leader Jim Marous in recognizing their profound contributions to the industry.”

Posted in Oregon, Regional Member News, Washington.