Folsom, Calif. – (April 11, 2023) – SAFE Credit Union hosted its first conference dedicated to supporting credit unions growing with the FinTech industry on Monday, Apr. 3 at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center. The now annual FinTech Credit Union Connection 2023 drew on the growing synergy between credit unions and FinTechs in the Sacramento region, calling on industry and banking leaders from the Bay Area and beyond to attend and speak at the event.
Financial Technology companies, or FinTechs, provide technological solutions for financial institutions. They allow credit unions and banks to modify business models, applications, processes, and products. The growing industry is also faced with evolving government regulations and partnerships with credit unions and other financial institutions.
From left, Julie Esser, CEO & Founder of Ignite-Fi; Chris Boncimino, Co-Founder of Flow Networks; Faye Nabhani, President & CEO at SAFE Credit Union; Doug Leighton, Founder of Tahoma Advisors pictured with the Tower Bridge Award.
Chris Boncimino, co-founder of San Francisco-based Flow Networks, accepted the coveted Tower Bridge Award for their innovative turnkey platform built specifically for financial institutions that drives incremental revenue from existing customers. The Tower Bridge Award is given to the top solution provider as voted by event attendees.
SAFE Credit Union President & CEO Faye Nabhani says the conference offered unparalleled opportunities for innovators in the credit union and FinTech industries to collaborate and network.
“SAFE Credit Union is honored to have brought these leaders together to forge partnerships and spark innovation,” says Nabhani, who spoke at the event. “We are committed to getting the conversation moving on how to take credit unions and FinTechs to the next level in both California and Nevada.”
Conference speakers also included Barry Broome, President and CEO of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council; Christina Tetreault, Deputy Commissioner in the Office of Financial Technology Innovation at the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI); and Larry Palochik, Executive Vice President of the California & Nevada Credit Union League (CCUL).
“Through this event, SAFE strives to support innovation and tech jobs,” says SAFE Credit Union Chief Technology Officer Mike McCarthy.
“We wanted to show other credit unions the way – specifically two avenues they could take – in working with FinTechs to better serve their members,” McCarthy says. “Specifically, they can either invest with a FinTech to research and develop products and services tailored for their business and members or they can purchase existing products and services available from FinTechs.
“Either way, the credit union industry wins by being better able to serve its thousands of members in California and Nevada,” McCarthy continues.
SAFE looks forward to hosting another FinTech Credit Union Connection event next year, continuing its mission to strengthen the partnership between credit unions and FinTechs.
About SAFE
SAFE Credit Union has made members an integral part of its vision since 1940. Over the years the credit union has kept the focus on what really matters, putting members first, a formula that has seen SAFE grow into a leading financial institution in Northern California with $4.5 billion in assets and about 247,000 members. SAFE crafts every cutting-edge product and sterling service with members’ needs foremost in mind. In addition to banking services conveniently available through online, chat, mobile, or phone options, SAFE offers in-person services for members and small businesses at service centers across the Greater Sacramento region. SAFE is a not-for-profit, state-chartered credit union with membership open to businesses and individuals living or working in Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, El Dorado, Sutter, Butte, Nevada, Solano, San Joaquin, Contra Costa, Yuba, Amador, and Alameda counties. Insured by NCUA. www.safecu.org