Lisa Wilhelm

Many community banks launch credit card issuing programs with agent bank providers because they seem like the simple option. But that simplicity comes with trade-offs: 1. Low revenue 2. Limited control over your program or product design 3. Weak customer relationships There’s a better option. Owning a credit card program enables community banks to profit more, leverage local knowledge, win customer loyalty, launch quickly, and compete with big issuers in the market. 💡 You don’t need to build an issuing platform from scratch or settle for handing your customers over to an agent bank. Learn more about owning your issuing program in our new blog: https://lnkd.in/gtmZUDXF #communitybanking #creditcards #communitybank #issuing

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🚨 𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 🚨 If you're a 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗱-𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 (𝗧𝗣𝗦𝗣) operating in the ACH space—especially in fintech—now is the time to act. NACHA is tightening its fraud monitoring expectations, and TPSPs are squarely in the spotlight. The 2026 rule changes 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 to detect: ✅ Originators with unusual ACH volumes ✅ Rapid-fire transactions from newly created accounts ✅ Behavior consistent with money mule activity At Unit21, we’re here to help you stay ahead. From customizable rules like: 📌 Flagging new accounts receiving $10K+ in 7 days 📌 Catching 80%+ outflows within 48 hours We make fraud detection and compliance 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭. 🔗 Dive into Nacha's expectations and how Unit21 can help: https://hubs.li/Q03QMSZ00

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Credit unions and community banks have an advantage that they talk about too little. You already know your members better than most megabanks & fintechs. The problem is not the data. It’s not using it in the digital experience. Young adults do not want another generic product push. They want the next best step. At the right time. In the app. That is where the engagement layer matters. A community institution can see the real story: - Paycheck hits - Rent clears - Cash gets tight - The goal gets delayed - Family matters Used the right way, that data can make banking feel personal at scale. Not creepy. Not noisy. Just relevant. “Looks like cash flow is tight this week. Start here.” “You’ve been consistent. You may be ready for the next step.” “That savings goal is slipping. Here’s a simple adjustment.” That is how digital starts to feel like the mission again. One stat worth paying attention to: 53% of Gen Z and 51% of Millennials said a checking account linked to investing would be a better value than their current primary account. (The Financnial Brand) The winners with younger adults will not just market harder. They will use community insight to make digital banking feel like someone is actually paying attention.

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ACH vs. Real-Time Payments vs. OCT/AFT: What’s the Difference? The #Payments ecosystem offers various methods for moving money. Let’s compare three critical systems and their unique advantages: 1️⃣ ACH Transfers: Speed: Typically processed in batches, taking 1-3 business days (or same-day for Same Day ACH). Cost: Low fees make it great for payroll, bill payments, and recurring transactions. Use Case: Ideal for everyday transfers like direct deposits and business-to-business payments. 2️⃣ Real-Time Payments (RTP): Speed: Instantaneous—funds are moved and settled in seconds, 24/7. Cost: Generally higher than ACH but lower than wire transfers. Use Case: Perfect for urgent, high-priority payments like real estate transactions or account-to-account transfers. 3️⃣ OCT (Original Credit Transactions) and AFT (Account Funding Transactions): Speed: Near-instant transfers initiated via payment networks like Visa Direct or Mastercard Send. Cost: Typically higher due to network fees but offer incredible speed and reach. Use Case: Great for payouts like refunds, gig economy payments, and instant cash disbursements. Understanding when to use ACH, RTP, or OCT/AFT can make all the difference in optimizing costs and efficiency in your payment strategy. 🎓 Want to master the nuances of these payment methods? 👉 Get FREE access to our Intro to Payments course at the Payments Academy and learn how these systems power the modern payments industry. Sign up now: https://lnkd.in/eMP95gJa #ACH #RealTimePayments #OCT #AFT #FinTech #DigitalPayments #PaymentsAcademy #ProfessionalDevelopment

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EVC for Virtual & Digital Cards Is Here! From my years of working in the technology and payment space, I’ve learned that what truly moves the industry are the relationships between businesses. For example, EMVCo ushered in the era of the EMV chip because the major players in the payment space pace aligned around a shared vision. At Ellipse, we live by that same principle. We listen closely to industry leaders, partners, and customers, to bring forward solutions that can truly make a difference. That’s why we’ve been hard at work behind the scenes to expand the reach of #EVC technology. While we have been busy launching EVC with physical payment cards, a growing number of our industry peers have been asking for a 100% digital solution to bring dynamic CVV/CVC to virtual cards. This includes everything from the fast-growing fintech innovators to seasoned payment card issuers embracing a digital-first approach. And so, we’ve answered the call with EVC for Virtual & Digital Cards. For digital-first issuers, EVC can now be integrated directly into Virtual cards in mobile banking apps. And because it’s built on the same universal EMV-native platform that powers our battery-free physical cards, issuers can seamlessly expand to EVC-enabled physical cards whenever they choose.I’m indebted to the entire Ellipse team that brought this to market in record time. And it shows the flexibility of our company; to listen to real-world needs and to respond in months, not years. Cheers to our team, our investors, and our partners! Read more about EVC for Virtual & Digital cards in the press release I’ve linked here. https://lnkd.in/guPhdGaw And if you’re in Paris December 2–4, come see EVC in action, across both virtual/digital and physical card experiences at #Trustech, booth 5.2 E 005. I invite you to stop by. And if you’d like to discuss how this can support your strategy, feel free to reach out. #fintech #paytech #virtualcards

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🚀 Excited to introduce Instant Bank Connection, now live on Balance. Powered by RTP rails, this new capability removes adoption barriers for ACH payments. Buyers can now connect their bank accounts instantly using just routing and account numbers. Merchants get real-time payment confirmation, faster access to funds while reducing transaction costs, and the ability to fulfill with confidence. It’s a quick and easy way to get paid with ACH—bringing consumer-grade convenience to B2B commerce. Learn more on PYMNTS → https://lnkd.in/gbE_gtR9

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