CU*BASE ASP Strategy

At CU*Answers, we offer our clients a core solution not a core system.

CU*Answers’ signature CU*BASE system combines the processing power of a proven, feature rich application with business logic and middleware standards designed to promote integration with third party systems such as Zoot for online credit bureau access and Paymentus for electronic bill payment and presentment. This open business philosophy empowers clients to expand into new, dynamic processes on a level rarely found with traditional packages.

The ASP model targets credit unions of any size. Benefits of the ASP include a menu of enterprise processing services, including Network Services – a Virtual Private Network (VPN) offering a secured, high-speed link to access select business partners, virtual education, technical and client support services. Additionally, CU*Answers will manage client data communications and network security access to CU*BASE, while providing a single delivery channel for services such as online banking, audio response, ATM/debit and credit card offerings. All of these are tightly integrated to benefit from the CU*BASE relational database structure.

The ASP model incorporates TCP/IP networking, popular LAN/WAN server technology, CISCO communications routers and firewall security to provide automated systems balancing and controls. To ensure maximum efficiency, the ASP is architected to be physically separated from CU*Answers programming, quality control and item processing networks. Other ASP benefits include:

Minimal Capital Investment
ASP eliminates upfront, long-term capital expenditures often associated with in-house processing including equipment, software license fees, operations staff and more.
Future Growth Demands
ASP incorporates unlimited scalability as based future growth demands, without the client having to budget for or incur large capital outlays.
Eliminate Technology Obsolescence
ASP clients typically deploy new member services faster. Since the ASP pricing model is based upon a per transaction or event basis, clients benefit from eliminating cash layouts routinely required for keeping up with rapidly changing technology, and the financial risk associated with member indifference to those purchased products.
Operational Simplicity
End of day, end of month and year-end processing requirements become a non-event. CU*Answers literally becomes an extension of your staff for completing these processes. An added benefit is that ASP clients are able to eliminate their dependence upon a single-operator shift having to support a 24/7 self-service product environment.
Disaster Recovery and Security
ASP incorporates an extensive and layered approach to ensuring optimum performance and security safeguards. Back-up systems include transaction posting to redundant processing platforms, on-site battery and generator back-up, contracted IBM hot-site services, and Branch Sharing options; all for under 2.5 cents per member month!
Peace of Mind
ASP eliminates the stress and worries often associated with managing an internal system. In many ways, it allows credit union people to focus on what they do best versus having to become data processing and network security experts. What value do you place on this? For many, ASP provides the perfect balance for promoting quality member service while ensuring a regular and consistent approach to data processing.
Updated
April 10, 2023

Reminder: The Next HA Rollover is Coming March 10th – We Need You to Perform a Connectivity Test!

Reminder: The Next HA Rollover is Coming March 10th – We Need You to Perform a Connectivity Test!

Twice each year, CU*Answers tests our ability to redirect CU*BASE core-processing from our production data center in Kentwood, MI to our high-availability (HA) data center in Yankton, SD.  The next HA rollover is scheduled for Sunday, March 10th. The rollover is scheduled to begin at 1:00 AM ET on Sunday, March 10th with the rollback… Read more »

Feb 21, 2024

Let’s Build It Together! Now Accepting Applications for the 24.05 CU*BASE Release Beta Pool

Let’s Build It Together!  Now Accepting Applications for the 24.05 CU*BASE Release Beta Pool

Earn a $3,000 CollabRebate for testing new CU*BASE tools and features coming with the 24.05 release! Learn more about enhancements coming in the May release, eligibility requirements for joining the beta pool, and what you will need to do to receive the CollabRebate reward. Interested in joining the Beta Pool?  Use the link below to… Read more »

Feb 13, 2024

The Next HA Rollover is Coming March 10th – We Need You to Perform a Connectivity Test!

The Next HA Rollover is Coming March 10th – We Need You to Perform a Connectivity Test!

Twice each year, CU*Answers tests our ability to redirect CU*BASE core-processing from our production data center to our high-availability (HA) data center.  The next HA rollover is scheduled for Sunday, March 10th. This rollover will enable support teams to perform planned network maintenance at the primary production data center without disrupting core processing.  The rollover… Read more »

Feb 21, 2024

January Owner’s View Monthly Recap

January Owner’s View Monthly Recap

Check out recent programming changes in the January 2024 edition of the Owner’s View Monthly Recap! Open the Owner’s View Monthly Recap The Owner’s View Monthly Recap is designed to keep you informed of feature improvements, vendor enhancements, and other changes to CU*BASE and accompanying core-software products. Read previous editions of the Owner’s View Monthly Recap… Read more »

Feb 7, 2024

[The Pulse] 2024 Business Continuity Plan Now Available

[The Pulse] 2024 Business Continuity Plan Now Available

As your core data processor, we continue to invest in high availability and recovery strategies to ensure that the products and services you count on us for are there when you need them. Implementing those strategies and responding when uncertainty happens requires a well-designed and thoroughly tested plan. We’ve recently completed the 2024 CU*Answers Business… Read more »

Jan 29, 2024

Updates Relating to Annual CU*BASE Maintenance

Updates Relating to Annual CU*BASE Maintenance

ATTENTION ONLINE AND SELF-PROCESSING CREDIT UNIONS Yesterday, January 28th, we performed annual maintenance to CU*BASE program libraries.  As part of this maintenance, there were a few file updates implemented, which can be reviewed here. We will be posting any/all issues related to this weekend’s maintenance on the CU*BASE Alerts page, compiled into a single alert… Read more »

Jan 29, 2024

December Owner’s View Monthly Recap

December Owner’s View Monthly Recap

Check out recent programming changes in the December 2023 edition of the Owner’s View Monthly Recap! Open the Owner’s View Monthly Recap The Owner’s View Monthly Recap is designed to keep you informed of feature improvements, vendor enhancements, and other changes to CU*BASE and accompanying core-software products. Read previous editions of the Owner’s View Monthly… Read more »

Jan 10, 2024

Changes Coming to Client-Facing “FROM:” Addresses – Order a DKIM Signing Package by 1/8/24

Changes Coming to Client-Facing “FROM:” Addresses – Order a DKIM Signing Package by 1/8/24

If your credit union has received the associated email, it is because CU*Answers has determined that your client-facing CU*BASE “FROM:” address is currently NOT compliant with the new requirements from Google and Yahoo.  In order to become compliant, your credit union MUST purchase the DKIM signing package through the CNS store. Purchase a DKIM Signing… Read more »

Jan 5, 2024

Temporary Member Reach CUs Moved to New Email Domain

Temporary Member Reach CUs Moved to New Email Domain

Temporary Member Reach Clients Moved to New Domain During our response to the Spamahus incident, we placed some credit unions into the Member Reach service as a temporary stopgap to quickly regain the ability to deliver mass email for all credit unions – this was not a permanent solution. As previously announced, those credit unions… Read more »

Dec 18, 2023