Mahalo Banking, a CUSO that provides online and mobile banking solutions for credit unions, was recognized for their innovative approach to member inclusivity in the National Association of Credit Union Service Organizations’ (NACUSO) Next Big Idea Competition for its banking platform’s neurodiversity functionality.
After Mahalo presented its neurodiversity functionality platform at the NACUSO Network Conference, attendees selected the company’s innovation as one of the winners alongside Goalsetter’s solution. With its awarded prize of $2,500 provided by Co-op Solutions, Mahalo has donated the funds to Autism Alliance of Michigan (AAoM), a local nonprofit organization that specializes in leading efforts to expand opportunities for people touched by autism across the lifespan.
“Our team is incredibly honored to be named one of only two winners in this year’s Next Big Idea Competition,“ said Denny Howell, co-founder and COO of Mahalo. “By donating our award to Autism Alliance of Michigan, we want to further show our support for neurodivergence and help provide resources to cause real change. We look forward to sharing our platform and our technology with even more credit unions to enable their teams to recognize and better serve their membership base.”
Mahalo’s technology is the industry’s first and only online banking solution to fully integrate comprehensive neurodiverse functionality directly into its platform. Engineered to improve digital inclusivity and accessibility, Mahalo’s platform features numerous new humanized digital banking functionality options that accommodate members with neurodiverse abilities and cognitive distinctions, such as dyslexia, autism, colorblindness, ADD, ADHD, epilepsy, visual sensitivity, ASD and more. Among the platform’s capabilities are view options for all forms of colorblindness, as well as left- and right-hand modes. The solution’s new features enable credit unions to offer more user-centric capabilities and allow diverse groups of members to have more opportunities for platform engagement.
President and CEO of AAoM Colleen Allen said, “We appreciate this significant contribution from Mahalo Banking. Families and individuals living with autism will benefit from the services, support, and much needed professional guidance that comes with the challenges faced across the lifespan."
The eleventh annual Next Big Idea Competition took place on March 28 during the NACUSO Network Conference. Designed to inspire collaboration among credit unions, CUSOs, innovators and entrepreneurs, this yearly event showcases the latest industry innovations that are creating new ways for credit unions to support their members.