Cascadia Credit Union’s online banking merger has been given a new green light, with planned service interruptions Tuesday, July 7 to Sunday, July 12.
Aligning online and in-branch resources for the merged Revelstoke Credit Union, Osoyoos Credit Union and Summerland Credit Union will cut costs, allowing the union to pay for one service instead of three.
“This is one of the biggest milestones in bringing together our credit unions. This will make us able to serve all members across all three of our regions in a consistent way,” Danielle Kelliher, Cascadia Credit Union’s director of communications said.
The original April attempt to merge the bank online services was paused after testing and assessments.
“Based on this work, we have made the decision to take additional time to further strengthen the transition,” Cascadia Credit Union shared on its website.
What to expect during a merge?
Members should prepare for automatic payment disruptions and back up e-Transfer contacts as the regional bank moves everyone over to one online platform.
Starting Tuesday, July 7, Interac e-Transfer services will be paused or canceled until Monday, July 13. Existing e-Transfers sent to members during the pause will be deposited into the accounts after Sunday, July 12, but pending e-Transfers will be canceled and funds returned Thursday, July 9 at 4 p.m.
Contacts will not migrate over to the new platform, and clients are encouraged to document all current e-Transfer information before Wednesday, July 8 at 4 p.m. Kelliher recommended either screenshotting the list of contacts or copying them over into a text document to later input into the new platform.
Members can stop by local branches before Tuesday, July 7 for assistance.
Scheduled bill payments will be paused Friday, July 10 and resume Monday, July 13 but any payments scheduled between those dates will be impacted by the blackout.
Kelliher urged members to pay necessary bills before July 10 to ease any technical challenges once the system is back on. Clients should also check that recurring and scheduled payments have been successfully carried over once the system is back online Monday, July 13.
During the Friday, July 10 to Sunday, July 12 blackout, online banking and mobile banking will be unavailable and ATM and debit card services will have limitations. Kelliher advised clients to plan ahead and make larger purchases in advance or withdraw necessary cash before the service blackout.
Once the system is back online Monday, Revelstoke and Summerland members will require a debit card number to log in and will be prompted to set up a new password and two-step verification.
Clients who don’t currently have a debit card or debit card number are encouraged to visit their local branch before Friday, July 10 to get a temporary card. Any members that have issues logging in Monday, July 13 are encouraged to reach out to their local branch via phone or in person.
“We’ll have extra staff on hand to be able to answer calls and in branch,” Kelliher said.
A new app will also be available for download following the merge.
A new online system is a key step in launching upcoming online banking features such as Apple Pay, scheduled e-Transfers, increased digital security and more, Kelliher added.
“This really lays that foundation to get all these new tech features that we want to get down the road,” Kelliher said, explaining that improved online banking has been a main request from members over the years.
Still, she knows that some members will need additional support to get used to the new systems and features. With a new after-hours support line and additional staff available to help with the transition, Kelliher wants members to know resources will be available for any questions and concerns.
“We want our members to feel prepared without any surprises, and we’re working really hard to make it as smooth as possible,” she said.
You can learn more about the Cascadia Credit Union banking system integration and blackout at cascadiacu.com and by contacting the Member Service Centre at 1-866-494-7181.
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