Maximizing the member payment relationships through debit
The member payment relationship revolves around a member’s interaction with his or her credit union when banking and making purchases. While it is important for executives to monitor trends and new payments solutions, the biggest opportunity is represented by member payment relationships.
How, then, can credit unions fully leverage the member payment relationship? Credit unions should be prepared to provide members with access to all different types of payments – from credit and debit cards to ACH options, digital wallets or other alternative forms of payments – and assist their members in utilizing them. While trends like digital currency or real-time payments are important to watch, credit unions should also ensure their legacy programs continue to be optimized and positioned for success. In particular, credit unions should elevate their focus on their debit card and checking account offerings.
Why Debit?
Debit cards – and the associated checking accounts – are the most connected component of a member’s overall wallet, as all of a member’s financials come together in one place through a debit card and checking account. A member can pay by check, set up ACH to allow for direct deposit or direct draft, or make a payment using bill pay – all with a checking account. Debit can be used at point-of-sale locations, for online purchases, for funding/receiving P2P transactions and can also receive money through Visa Direct or Mastercard Send. When considering all of the ways a consumer can get or spend money, debit and checking are central to them all.
Checking accounts and debit cards are also the most owned product across financial services, and the one product that most credit union members are likely to have with their credit union. According to the U.S. Federal Reserve System, more than 90% of all consumers have a checking account and 60% of all credit union members have a checking account with their credit union. By comparison, while 70% of all consumers have a credit card, less than 18% of members have a credit card with their credit union. Only 20% of members have auto loans with their credit union, while less than 5% hold real estate loans. Across the board, more members own checking and debit accounts with their credit union than any other product that is not required as part of membership (savings).
Not only do more credit union members have debit cards and checking accounts, but they actually use them. Checking accounts and debit cards are the most used product according to transaction data from PSCU, the nation’s premier payments credit union service organization. Debit card users conduct about 25 transactions per month, compared to only 10 transactions per month by credit card users. This further confirms that debit cards are the most connected product, as members are using these cards across all types of transactions – face-to-face, online, P2P, digital wallets and more.
The Debit Difference
While many might believe the greater potential for profitability rests with credit card programs, this is not necessarily the case. When looking at interchange, fees, interest income and deposit value, profits between credit and debit card programs are not all that different on a per account basis. In fact, debit card programs can be just as profitable as credit card programs – if not more. Considering nearly three times more members own debit cards and users conduct almost 2.5 times more transactions per card, debit is a profitable and smart option for credit union investment.
Given this data, it also makes sense that debit card and checking account users more frequently engage with their credit unions through transactions and the use of mobile and online banking. This is a prime opportunity for credit unions to have more control over their members’ payment relationships as engaged members are happier members. Members also typically have broader relationships with their credit unions when they engage more, extending their checking accounts into other lines of products like credit cards or other services.
Ensuring checking and debit card programs and offerings are consistently optimized, improved and marketed to members will help your credit union achieve success and earn the coveted top-of-wallet spot, benefiting both your credit union and its members.
