Washington State Employees Credit Union (WSECU), a leading Washington State financial institution, announced today the results of its ongoing partnership with digital banking technology provider Backbase as part of its modernization strategy. WSECU reports that, since launching its Backbase-powered mobile banking app in December 2019, registered mobile users have increased by 39%, and monthly active users have grown by 19%. 

The enhanced app, built on Backbase’s Engagement Banking platform, has harmonized WSECU’s mobile banking experience with its overall online banking infrastructure, providing enhanced user friendliness and functionality for WSECU members. In addition, Backbase’s platform provides a strong foundation upon which WSECU can build to develop and deploy new technologies and offerings for its members on a continuous basis. 

Core to WSECU’s digital banking strategy is completely owning the member banking journey from end-to-end, delivering a streamlined, secure omnichannel experience that evolves to meet shifting member demands. The new app has helped achieve this goal by ensuring consistent functionality across all of WSECU’s platforms – whereby all services available on the web are available on the app, creating a universal banking platform across all touchpoints and an improved member experience. 

The out-of-the-box features and flexibility of Backbase’s Engagement Banking technology have proven essential to WSECU’s success over the past year, particularly amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Backbase’s platform allowed WSECU to quickly roll out app updates to address urgent member needs in the early days of the pandemic such as new self-service options for actions like loan payment deferrals. 

Additional features available in the mobile app include member-to-member payment capabilities, new self-service functions, streamlined customer usability and additional multi-factor authentication options to heighten account security for members. 

Jim Averna, VP of Digital Services & Contact Center at WSECU, comments: “The past year has demonstrated more clearly than ever before the importance of speed and flexibility in our digital strategy. Not only has Backbase helped us develop and deploy the modern mobile banking app our members deserve; they have also helped us quickly adapt to the challenging circumstances created by the pandemic, ensuring that we can be there to support our members’ financial needs no matter what. The ability to continuously innovate and iterate upon our mobile app via Backbase’s platform has been invaluable.” 

Vincent Bezemer, Senior Vice President, Americas at Backbase, adds: “WSECU’s mission is deeply rooted in being a trusted, reliable community resource to its members, and delivering on that promise means creating a cohesive, intuitive digital banking experience. We’re pleased to have been able to support WSECU’s efforts in this area, significantly growing their members’ mobile engagement, and look forward to being a long-term partner to them in innovation.”