How does your CU rank in disclosure?

Cheryl Lawson, EVP- Compliance Review, John M. Floyd & Associates (JMFA), offers advice to credit unions on how to achieve the best possible rankings. Achieving high consumer rankings greatly depends on an institution’s practice of consistently delivering excellent service experiences. This is especially relevant when it comes to products that address account holders’ financial stability […]

Cheryl Lawson, EVP- Compliance Review, John M. Floyd & Associates (JMFA), offers advice to credit unions on how to achieve the best possible rankings.

Achieving high consumer rankings greatly depends on an institution’s practice of consistently delivering excellent service experiences. This is especially relevant when it comes to products that address account holders’ financial stability needs. In a recently released study, “Consumer Voices on Overdraft Programs,” the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) interviewed consumers about their experiences with overdraft programs and their understanding of how these programs work.

Study participants identified an overdraft program as a resource for covering important expenses—such as medical bills, transportation costs, groceries and utility bills—when they didn’t have the balance in their account to cover the amount. They credited such programs as a way to prevent late fees and negative credit reporting, as well as the embarrassment associated with having electronic payment attempts declined. However, respondents also pointed out that they are often unclear about the policies and procedures tied to their financial institution’s overdraft offering.

Take the guesswork out of your products to improve service quality and overall performance

To avoid member confusion – which can lead to damaged relationships and potential regulatory scrutiny – make sure your credit union maintains an ongoing, consistent focus on transparency for the products and services you offer. This includes incorporating updated communications strategies and management tools into your overdraft program to make it easier for everyone to understand how the program works, as well as how to use it responsibly. Key components of a fully disclosed program include:

  • reasonable, communicated fees;
  • clearly established overdraft limits;
  • definitive explanations of regular and extended overdraft coverage;
  • transparent transaction clearing policies that avoid maximizing member overdrafts and related fees created by the clearing order; and
  • on-going advice and information that explain alternative financial products that may more appropriately fit the needs of excessive overdraft users.

An expert in compliance and industry best practices can review your existing overdraft solution to ensure that you are in line with all regulatory expectations or help you implement a fully transparent program to improve your service quality. This includes comprehensive staff training to provide employees with the knowledge and confidence they need to fully explain your program; advanced analytics and robust data monitoring to support program management; and enhanced reporting and tracking capabilities to accurately measure program performance and identify any areas requiring improvements.

How does your overdraft solution rank in terms of compliance and service quality?

Sometimes people forget about a scheduled online payment or miscalculate the timing of a deposit to their account. Sometimes a temporary low balance or emergency situation makes the decision to knowingly overdraw a checking account the safest, least expensive option to ensure that important bills are paid. By implementing and maintaining a fully disclosed overdraft solution, you can provide members with a reliable safety net to get them through these situations.

On the other hand, if you are lacking fully disclosed overdraft policies and clear procedures, your institution is missing out on compliance piece of mind, as well as the opportunity to rank among the top providers of excellent member experiences in your market.

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The League of Southeastern Credit Unions & Affiliates represents 302 credit unions in Alabama, Florida and Georgia, with a combined total of $175 billion in assets and more than 11.6 million members. LSCU & Affiliates provides legislative and regulatory advocacy; education and training; cooperative initiatives (including financial education outreach); public messaging; information services; and business solutions.

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