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The CUInsight Network

The CUInsight Network podcast: Partnership over vendorship – Alacriti & Zelle

Featuring Mark Majeske, SVP Faster Payments at Alacriti, and Matt Kinne, Senior Director of Market Solutions at Zelle

Mark and Matt

“Work with a partner instead of just a vendor. Your success is our success. We feel very strongly about that.” - Mark Majeske

Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guests on today’s show are Mark Majeske, SVP Faster Payments at Alacriti, and Matt Kinne, Senior Director of Market Solutions at Zelle. Mark and Matt discuss the partnership between Alacriti and Zelle and how the alliance benefits credit unions in offering peer-to-peer (P2P) payment services to their members. They explain that Zelle has become a household name and an expected service for consumers, with nearly 80% even saying instant payments are the most important feature their financial institution can offer.

In our conversation, we highlight how Zelle helps credit unions address the challenges they face in P2P payments, challenges such as members using external apps such as Venmo. Their directory-based approach allows credit unions to bring that business back into their ecosystem. Offering Zelle as an option also helps credit unions strengthen their position as a trusted partner compared to fintech apps by taking advantage of their existing brand, security, and personal service.

As we wrap up the episode, Mark, Matt, and I discuss the growing use of Zelle by small businesses, which now make up 15% of Zelle's total transactions, presenting an opportunity for credit unions to deepen relationships with local businesses. Our discussion also outlines the benefits of using Zelle via Alacriti as opposed to going direct, including Alacriti's role as a true partner, managing integration complexity, and providing a faster time to market! Enjoy my conversation with Mark Majeske and Matt Kinne!

Shout-out: Early Warning
Shout-out: Venmo
Shout-out: PayPal

[00:59] – Matt explains how Zelle has evolved from an idea to an essential service which credit union members now expect.
[01:59] – Hear how Alacriti noticed a gap in P2P payments and partnered with Zelle in order to fill it.
[04:23] – Instant payments have become integral to daily life, making Zelle necessary for credit unions to remain relevant.
[05:41] – Credit unions offering Zelle allows them to compete with fintechs while reinforcing trust, loyalty, and member satisfaction.
[06:34] – Matt argues that by embedding Zelle within credit union apps, members stay connected within a trusted and unified system.
[08:45] – Mark points out how Alacriti distinguishes itself by partnering closely with clients.