Finding ways to improve members' lives is a foundational mantra to a credit union. While the mission is clear, the pathway may be muddy. Members joined a credit union to gain access to financial products and services. But what problems does the credit union solve for them?
There are four basic member problems.
Travel problem - The member, needs transportation (not an auto loan), and the credit union is the conduit to transportation.
Shelter problem - Similar to transportation, the member needs a place to call home (not a mortgage), and again the credit union is the conduit to shelter
Travel and Play - The member has desires for either travel and play. They need a financial partner that will help them achieve these goals within their current financial condition
Rainy day and Retirement funds. - The member needs a financial partner that will help set them up short term and long term deposits.
A member may find themselves with a variety of these needs. They may have shelter, but are looking to downsize, they may want to travel, but don't know how to save. A member's financial needs describe the member's current financial journey. That journey is leading them to a financial destination that is the member's true financial north. The member's true financial north traditionally focuses on a variation of financial security. It may be retirement, and it may be the first time home purchase, it may be a 6th car purchase. Members want to have the funds when they need then to make their financial dreams come true, to seek their true financial north.
And wherever the financial destination is, there is data behind it. Data from the core, MCIF, loan origination system, payment system and more. All this data is holding information about the member's current financial condition and their next financial need. It is up to the credit union to fulfill it.
As a credit union embarks on its data journey, the first step is to start with the member and 1. identify the problem the credit union solves for the member. 2. identify the data needed to clarify the member's true financial north. This is, of course, no easy task but well worth it. Starting with the member as the focus will give the credit union its o create a member-centric data use case/ north star.
Happy trekking.