eSwitchKit enhancements

Here is the latest on the new developments we’ve added to the eSwitchKit. We didn’t sit on our haunches after the launch; we’ve already made some improvements.

One of the most important portions of the new eSwitchKit is the real-time status checklist that’s created for the member to use throughout the switching process. A major upgrade we’ve just implemented is the ability for the member to re-send switch emails and/or to print switch letters at any time, via their personalized online switching checklist.

For member convenience, we’ve also added an “Already fill a switch kit out?” login area on the first page of the eSwitchKit. Just in case they’ve lost their email with the login link, or can’t access their email, they can still log in and view their checklist to see the status of their switches. We’ve also implemented a password retrieval system in case they don’t have that info handy.

If you are demo’ing the eSwitchKit, then in order to experience the eSwitchKit’s full capability, be sure to input your email address as well as create a username and password. After doing so, you’ll feel the same hand-holding experience your members will be receiving. You’ll get a copy of all of the secure emails, along with the most important email; the email guiding the member to their secure and personalized eSwitchKit checklist. If you’re interested in the eSwitchKit’s full capability, be sure to complete this step. There isn’t another switch kit in the country like it.

Why is the personalized eSwitchKit checklist important?

1. In one convenient spot for the member, they have a record of every company that has been informed of the switch, and can check it at any time to see the real-time status of each company that has, or has not, replied to the notification.
2. The secure emails sent to companies have specialized replies pre-written within the email that use radio button technology. The vendor selects an answer and that answer is instantly updated on the checklist.
3. The member can stay in the know at all times concerning their account switches and they can re-send and re-print the switch emails and letters any time they need to.
4. The receiving company can send notes back to the members via the secure emails and the notes will appear in real-time on the checklist.

Click here to demo the eSwitchKit.

We are also extremely pleased to announce that already six credit unions have signed on to the eSwitchKit in less than three weeks. Welcome aboard Pam Griffiths and the Railroad & Industrial FCU team as well as Malinda Warchus and the Electric Service CU team.

Announcing the innovative new eSwitchKit!

EverythingCU.com is thrilled to announce an innovative new breakthrough in making it easy for your new members to switch their previous accounts over to your CU! Our new eSwitchKit makes switching incredibly easy via secure email and organized with a personalized online checklist that both your member and your credit union can monitor for real-time status updates.

Making the switch to your credit union has never been easier with our new eSwitchKit!

See for yourself how easy and convenient it is by trying out the Demo!

The eSwitchKit makes it easy for your member (or your MSRs to help your members) switch their previous accounts over to your credit union. The member’s information only needs to be entered one time, and the correct information is then sent to each vendor involved in the process, including Employer for Direct Deposit, previous Financial Institution for close account instructions, and for every ACH/Automatic Payment vendor as well as any vendors making automatic withdrawals via Debit Card.

The member is in control every step of the way, being able to decide which of these organizations are to receive account numbers, which organizations are to receive secure email communications, and which organizations are to receive printed and mailed letters.

• The most innovative switch kit in the industry brings the member an active, real time checklist with email alerts keeping the process top of mind and organized
• The member and credit union can access a Switching Checklist providing an up-to-the-second look at each step of the switch
• Member is alerted via email whenever a vendor responds with switching updates
• Full admin controls enables you to help your members through any sticking points
• SSAE 16 compliance and industry-standard 128-bit encryption
• Vendors can send messages back to the member in regards to switch status and details
• The eSwitchKit is the latest innovation from the same company that brought you the original Online Switch Kit in 2004 and Premium Online Switch Kit in 2011. More than 100 CUs nationwide employ these Switch Kits that have helped more than 23,000 members switch to their credit union

If you are currently using the Original or Premium Switch Kit and would like to upgrade, please contact me for your prorated upgrade pricing; via email: morriss@everythingcu.com or call me direct at 413-535-0621. For more information about the eSwitchKit or to place an order, visit the eSwitchKit Info/Sales page.

Initial feedback has been positive; feel free to let us know your thoughts and comments about this new concept in helping members make the switch to your CU!

Happy switching!

Making online forms as easy as possible

I’m in the process of writing an article for CUES’ CU Management magazine, about KickStart Online Lending Generator and Holy Rosary CU’s results. Editor Lisa Hochgraf had some excellent questions for me which prompted me to do a little bit more research into the universal conclusion that removing barriers and streamlining online forms from the user’s perspective leads to better results and increased sales.

So I thought I would share with you some of the eye-popping research that I discovered (and thus why Carol and Holy Rosary CU are getting wonderful results with KickStart – i.e. 10.49% growth in their loan portfolio over the past 6 months):

• Google’s Marissa Mayer: Speed Wins

• The $300 Million Button

• How Amazon’s website usability affects consumer product choice (This is a lengthy research paper)

In addition to the above research on the importance of streamlining the user/member/customer experience to improve sales, we’ve done some streamlining of our own. One item that proved to ourselves that we get better results when we make things easier online is that when we took the step of pre-filling out our own Online Switch Kit demo for you, dozens and dozens of you tried it out, compared to nearly no one trying it out when it was not pre-filled. It seems simple, but often times the little things can make a BIG difference!

So in our continuing quest to make our own forms and demos even easier to try out, we’ve now also pre-filled out the already-simple KickStart Loan Request form to make it even easier for you to test that for yourself. Kick the tires on KickStart yourself right here: KickStart test site

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this – did you find you got better results when your streamlined your online processes, forms, applications, and navigation? Was there ever a time when making things easier for your members online was a bad thing?

A special offer to Kickstart your loans

We here at EverythingCU.com are constantly looking for ways to help credit unions and their members, and we are so proud of our KickStart Online Lending Program and the results that Carole Wight at Holy Rosary CU are getting with it, that we’ve decided to make it even more easy to try it out at your CU. We are so thrilled that day after day, Carole is regularly getting quality loan apps brought right to her team’s email inbox, and we’re amazed that KickStart is largely responsible for the 10.49% increase in their loans over the last two quarters.

Matt came up with a promotion idea that we’ve decided to implement, and it goes like this:
Starting March 1, 2013, and running through March 1, 2014, EverythingCU.com is offering a FREE SIX MONTHS of KickStart for everyone who renews their EverythingCU.com Executive Membership OR for anyone who purchases a new Executive Membership.

Why are we doing this? Because we are seeing Holy Rosary CU get incredible results with the product, and we want every CU to know that this product is a can’t-lose proposition. While we can’t guarantee your loan portfolio will also grow by 10.49% over two quarters like Carol’s has, we think it’s worth a try. Once you develop results with KickStart, we think you’ll be as thrilled to continue it as Carole and Holy Rosary are.

If you’ve been considering getting into online lending, now is the time. If you’re unhappy with how cumbersome your current online lending process is, and think your results could be better with a more member-centric process, then give it a try during this limited-time free period.

As with many promo offers, we have a few disclaimers:

• Promo runs from 3/1/2013 to 3/1/2014.
• You must contact us that you want to have KickStart implemented for your CU after you order or renew Executive Membership; enrollment in KickStart is not automatic.
• After six months; unless you choose to discontinue KickStart, it will renew on an annual basis at the regular price.
• Custom programming for further functionality is not included with this offer, however we will match your web site’s look and feel.
• EverythingCU.com reserves the right to post your NCUA 5300-report lending portfolio increase and use it as testimonial for the effectiveness of KickStart.

If you’ve been thinking of getting into online lending, this is your chance. To take advantage of this offer, simply order or renew your EverythingCU.com Executive Membership, and then send an email to Matt that you would like to get started with KickStart at no cost for 6 months.

If you’re not looking to implement or improve your online lending right now, but do know of a CU that doesn’t have online lending yet, we’d be grateful if you directed them to this article so they can climb on the KickStart train!