But like many growing institutions, Belco knew that keeping up with member expectations required more than incremental improvements. It required a digital banking platform and a partner that could move as fast as their vision.

When Belco first adopted Alkami’s digital banking platform in 2017, the relationship was focused on product implementation. Over time, as their digital banking team evolved and needs became more sophisticated, Belco recognized that they were only scratching the surface of the potential outcomes they could achieve by leveraging the full capabilities of Alkami’s digital banking platform.

“We had great tools available to us that we weren’t fully utilizing,” said April Link, Core Administration Analyst. “Features were getting lost in the shuffle. We needed to reset the relationship and get more intentional.”

The Belco team recognized they needed:

• Stronger strategic alignment with their partner
• Easier access to hands-on training and support
• More value from underutilized features
• A roadmap to help plan digital growth

A Shift Towards Strategic Partnership

It was clear to the Belco team that they needed more than a traditional vendor relationship. They needed a true partner, one that would hold themselves accountable and empower the credit union to achieve their desired growth trajectory. The turning point came when the Alkami team facilitated a Strategic Alignment Workshop for the credit union, diving deep into Belco’s challenges, priorities, and opportunities for growth.

Through this engagement, it was evident to Belco that Alkami was committed to the credit union’s long term growth, not through a singular engagement but by bringing more people into the conversation to help educate on best practices and ensure a tight alignment moving forward. This went beyond unlocking more features and deepening understanding of existing capabilities. It changed how the two organizations work together.

“Alkami became an extension of our team,” said Brittany Bollinger, Digital Banking Analyst. “They’re responsive, knowledgeable, and ready to collaborate. You don’t get that from every provider.”

Strong Relationships at Every Level

What truly sets this partnership apart is the depth of connection at every level of the organization. Paul Perini III, SVP of Marketing and Business Development said, “there were CEO-to-CEO conversations, executive to executive, senior to senior. That kind of alignment is rare and incredibly powerful.”

The credit union team felt that Alkami’s commitment to partnership wasn’t about software. It was about showing up consistently, listening actively, and acting with intention.

“Pick up the phone is a philosophy they live by,” said Bollinger. “It’s not about waiting for tickets. It’s jumping on a video call, working through the issue, and solving it together. That’s how trust is built.”

Leading with a Member-First Mindset

What started as a workshop between two teams resulted in a decision by Belco to continue their partnership with Alkami for another contract term and add additional products for their members and new capabilities for their employees. Belco is leading with confidence, driven by data, and delivering digital experiences that rival those of megabanks while staying true to their community roots.

Since their renewal and deeper collaboration with Alkami, Belco focused their efforts on:

• SavvyMoney® Credit Score: Over 50% of members using the financial wellness tool improved their credit tier
• Data & Marketing Solution: Enabled Belco to launch personalized, data-driven campaigns tied to real-time member behaviors and transactions
• Content Management System: Equipped marketers with self-service to deliver relevant messaging to their members within digital banking
• Instant Account Verification: Allowed members to connect external accounts to their digital banking experience for seamless funds transfers and insights into competitive relationships for the Belco team
• Remote Deposit Capture (RDC): Empowered members to deposit funds from their mobile device with a 24% average active user rate
• Native App Experience: Delivering a mobile interface purpose-built for app users, distinct from web, and optimized for intuitive usage on any device

Achieving Real Results

Belco’s partnership with Alkami is producing measurable impact for members and the credit union team.

By asking members for their feedback regularly, the Belco team has built a mechanism in their operations to identify what’s working well for members and what’s not. They can analyze those trends to determine strategic product enhancements, resulting in stronger satisfaction and adoption.

“We take member feedback seriously,” said Link. “With Alkami, we’re able to act on it faster and more effectively.”

Belco’s commitment to a member-first approach required more than new features and self-service capabilities. It demanded smarter operations behind the scenes. With Alkami, they began transforming their internal workflows to match the speed and flexibility of their digital experience. By introducing automation across key touchpoints, Belco has been able to reduce employee workload and reallocate resources toward high-value member interactions. Tasks that once required manual intervention are now streamlined, freeing staff to focus on complex member needs that benefit from a human touch.

At the same time, Alkami’s data tools have helped democratize insight across the organization. Operational Data & Insights and Alkami’s Data & Marketing Solutions empower marketing, digital, and frontline teams to pull relevant member data, analyze trends, and launch personalized campaigns without waiting on IT.

The result? A more agile institution where data-informed decisions happen faster, marketing is targeted and personalized, and every team member is better equipped to deliver on Belco’s mission.

Planning for the Future

This story is much broader than expanding their digital roadmap, Belco is architecting change. With a deep understanding of their members’ needs and a clear commitment to empowering both their team and their community, Belco is proving that regional financial institutions don’t need to simply follow in the footsteps of megabanks, they can blaze their own trail. Belco’s journey has been defined by intentional transformation – maximizing technology, deepening member relationships, and evolving with purpose.

Through it all, they’ve stayed focused on what matters most: making financial lives better: one member, one moment, one meaningful interaction at a time.

“We’re building the future of Belco, with every decision, every tool, and every conversation centered around our members, ”said Paul Perini.

As they look ahead, Belco is defining what’s possible. Through their collaboration with Alkami, they’re more equipped than ever to lead with purpose, grow with intention, and deliver on the promise of modern, people-first banking.