No. Member-specific color themes and picture albums were not included in the first phase of our new look project. However, members can personalize the site using the Favorite Accounts and Favorite Features settings on the main page (click the little gear icon next to each). They can also upload a personalized image to appear in the Profile menu (upper-right corner of the screen). Also, your credit union will have nearly unlimited ability to customize the standard colors, layout, graphical ad  More...

There are two ways to accomplish this: The first way is to use the Marketing Opt-Out flags on the member's MASTER record. Introduced in the CU*BASE 9.2 release (August 2009), these are two flags that can be checked to exclude the member from third-party marketing communications and/or CU-related marketing commnunications. See the Opt Out link below to read more about the use of these flags. When creating a database file using Member Connect tools, or the CU*BASE List Generator, or even t  More...

Deactivating auto-security then reactivating it does require you to enter a different employee ID. After a password is entered to reactivate auto-security under that ID, the screen will refresh the tools display to show which ones can be accessed and which cannot. However, it doesn't necessarily refresh all of that employee's other preferences such as color theme or tool set (Favorites vs. All My Tools). Therefore it's best to just log off and have the next user log in to complete  More...

Prior to the 16.10 release, the SSA began using multiple Company IDs, and it was recommended that credit unions consider using Automated Funds Transfers (AFTs) to handle distributions. Beginning the 16.10 release a new cross-reference system will be implemented that will automatically funnel all incoming company IDs from the Social Security Administration and treat them as if they came from one, consistent company ID we’re referring to as the “Primary ID.” With the changes ma  More...

You can use a third party tool to work your asset and liability projects and the associated income and expenses. Just remember that you can only upload the income and expense figures into your budget. The upload tool does not support uploading resulting balances for asset and liability G/Ls.

Yes, there will be a few features we are not bringing over into the new mobile first design. Features being permanently sunset: Promise Deposits - As most CUs and members have fully embraced RDC with its available near-real-time posting option, we made the decision not to bring the Promise Deposits feature into the new modules/mobile first design. Member-selected color themes, picture albums, and start page - The start page feature has been replaced by the Favorite accounts and Favorite feat  More...

Prior to the 16.10 release, the SSA began using multiple Company IDs, and it was recommended that credit unions consider using Automated Funds Transfers (AFTs) to handle distributions. Beginning with the 16.10 release a new cross-reference system will be implemented that will automatically funnel all incoming company IDs from the Social Security Administration and treat them as if they came from one, consistent company ID we’re referring to as the “Primary ID.” With the chang  More...

To customize the appearance of your CU*BASE homepage, use the Preferences (F5) button (the star) on the home page. From there, you can customize the look and action of your home page in the following ways: Activate auto security when logging in Launch ProDOC when logging in Which tools to show when logging in (All My Tools, My Favorites, All Available Tools) When displaying favorites, choose to show My Groups, my CU Groups, or Both Sort tools by favorite sequence, tool number, or tool titile   More...

For an additional level of security or to fulfill complex password requirements, members may add special characters to their passwords. They may also add special characters to their security question answers. Some members may even use the feature that allows them to create their own security question, and they may elect to include special characters in that as well (for example a question mark). Allowed special characters are listed below. Some characters have special significance to certain   More...

Using CU*BASE to Comply with New Rules for Tracking Beneficial Ownership FinCEN has issued new rules under the Bank Secrecy Act that require financial institutions to identify and verify the identity of the beneficial owners of all legal entity members (corporations, etc.). Under the final rule, credit unions are required to have written procedures to identify and verify beneficial owners of legal entity members who open new accounts on or after May 11, 2018. In addition to identifying and coll  More...

The Secondary Names (SECNAMES) file stores instructions that link a membership account to another member or non-member record. The file stores links to joint owner names and beneficiary names for all non-IRA account types. (IRA beneficiaries are stored in a completely different file because they are linked to an IRA Plan Type, not specific individual sub-accounts.) The file also stores a third type referred to as miscellaneous owner which can be used for any purpose you wish. The most co  More...

The differences ultimately come down to control and cost. The online ASP system is the fastest, simplest, most inexpensive way to get started with an e-documents strategy for your credit union. With online ASP you offload the back-end service management headaches to CU*Answers. We manage, backup, secure, and patch/upgrade the eDOC servers and databases and these processes fall under our SAS 70 and third party security audits. The online ASP system consists of electronic storage of receipts, loan  More...

The first step is to make sure your credit union has filled out the three required forms: Sign Up Form, Electronic Payment Service Agreement, and Fed ACH Participation Agreement. There is also a non-disclosure agreement to sign to receive a copy of Magic-Wrighter's SSAE-16 audit results. Once the Client Service and Education team has received the forms from your credit union, they will send the form to our third party processor, Magic-Wrighter. Magic-Wrighter will submit a confirmation with  More...

Tips for Recognizing a Fraudulent Check What is a Fractional? A fractional is used to determine the financial institution of the share draft if the MICR line is ever damaged or torn off: 2 digit city and state prefix pre-assigned by “Accuity” (in the example, the prefix is 25 – see red below) Digits 5-8 of the routing number and transit number indicating the institution identifier (in the example, this is 5678 – see blue below.) First 4 digits of the routing and transit n  More...

The FRB produces six sets of files each business day on weekdays, Monday through Friday, except for Federal Holidays. CU*Answers posts the files as follows: CU*Answers receives the first and sixth set of files overnight and posts them by 8:30 AM ET. As this posting is a combined posting, two Receive reports and one Posting report are produced. CU*Answers receives the second set of files by noon and posts by 1:00 PM ET. Same-day credits must be posted with this file. CU*Answers receives the thir  More...

Special care should be taken when adding distribution records for a member who has more than one deposit coming for the family from the same institution. Take the time to research the member ACH records using the ACH inquiry screen, and if there isn't enough information on this screen, go to CU*SPY and find the PACXTB report to review the ACH detail. For example, the Smith family receives three ACH payments for Social Security benefits: one for the husband, John, one for the wife, Mary, and   More...

CNS offers our clients a variety of solutions to maintain software hygiene on their networks. Most of these solutions are automated, and with user cooperation to complete reboots, it's relatively easy to keep your systems up to date with current software versions. However, there are some important limitations to the automated processes that are important to understand. This article presents those considerations. For Complete Care Clients that do NOT Elect Third Party Patching Services:   More...

PIB provides a layered security approach to add additional authentication controls for Online Banking. PIB, which stands for Personal Internet Branch, is an independent application that provides multiple, configurable controls that govern how Online Banking behaves and what members can do with access to it. PIB allows your members to control access to their accounts with controls by feature, day of week, time of day, and even geographic location. It layers additional passwords and member aut  More...

If you: A) automatically deactivate online banking access for all new members, and B) expire online banking passwords due to non-use after 90 days, then how do you run an online banking promotion? After all, sending a marketing piece to members won't do any good if they're disabled or locked out from logging in. Of course you could have them call the credit union to get set up, but here's another idea: Set up a special promotional period! Pick a date to start your campaign. Advert  More...

In almost all instances, the loan application only allows up to two co-signers. However, additional co-signers can be added to the loan by using the Associated Application feature. The Associated Application feature is in response to Wisconsin Marital Property regulations, which dictate that spouses of applicants must be included in the loan-application process. Learn more about this feature and adding additional co-signers in the booklet below.

These message indicators appear on the CU*BASE loan insurance premium posting report (TCUNAS2 / TCUNAS3) and the Debt Protection Fee posting/exception reports (TCUNAD2 / TCUNAD3). By looking at the reports, you can tell if a premium / DP fee posted or not based on the exception. LOAN INSURANCE MESSAGES ADD SIGN There is joint coverage on this loan. There is either no 'additional signer' record, or the birth date for the additional signer is missing or invalid. JT TO SG There is joint cov  More...

That’s true when adding a brand-new record, but it is possible to re-sequence numbers later once the records already exist, so try this: Use Add and add the new contact number, leaving the sequence # as is After saving, select the new number in the list and use Edit Change the sequence # to 1 and press Enter A warning message will appear; use Add/Update to confirm All remaining phone numbers will be re-sequenced to fit the new one in. TIP: When changing the sequence number for an existin  More...

This occurs when the release includes changes to the files that your Query uses. For example, if we add a new field to the MASTER file, any Query you have that uses that file will display an error message. Fortunately, it is very easy to refresh your Query so that you can use it again. All you need to do is access the Query and save it. That's all. You don't have to make changes to it, it's just important that you save it so it can refresh itself to match the new file layout.   More...

There are multiple ways to do this, but here's one of our favorite methods. Launch Tool #1855 Lending Opportunities Dashboard Use the Loans to Analyze button Choose a loan type from the list (Auto Loans, Mortgages, Credit Cards, Unsecured, or Other Secured) and use Enter to return to the dashboard The top two thirds of the screen shows statistics from your portfolio for that type of loan The bottom third of the screen will show opportunities, divided into two groups: members without that  More...

Credit union FROM email addresses are closely regulated and monitored within CU*BASE. As a mass email sender, and as an entity that sends on behalf of the network of credit unions, CU*Answers must meet standards of compliance set forth by email service providers, such as Google and Yahoo. Many of these standards rely on our email being delivered to appropriate and accurate member emails, from correctly configured credit union emails. If we fall out of compliance with these standards, we run the   More...