Banks and Credit Unions: Is Your Credit Program Partner Offering Enough?

Navigating the fintech landscape in your search for the ideal partner can be a daunting undertaking. Amidst the plethora of software providers, each with alluring promises, discerning what truly matters is critical. To guide your decision, this article highlights three indispensable areas of evaluation that will ensure you choose the right partner for long-term success.

How should banks and credit unions approach credit card partnerships? 

We are all familiar with what a partnership is, right? Essentially, it’s a mutually beneficial business relationship between two entities. In this case, the two entities would be a fintech credit card program provider and a financial institution like yourself. 

When delving into the realm of launching a credit card program, it's not just about understanding the type of program you're initiating; it's equally crucial to clearly define your goals, needs, and challenges. With these parameters in mind, we recommend adopting a comprehensive approach to reviewing and evaluating fintech partners. This evaluation should encompass three pivotal facets:

1. Product quality
2. Program management and data 
3. Expertise 

Product Quality 

In 2024, a credit card program is more than just a credit card. This is why it’s imperative to see the full scope of the product when selecting a fintech partner. In essence, the quality of the fintech products you choose should not only meet your current requirements but also position your organization for future success. Prioritizing a partner with modern, scalable, and integrative solutions ensures that your brand is presented positively, both internally and externally. 

• Modern and Agile: Opt for a partner whose products are responsive to industry shifts and customer needs. A modern and agile solution ensures that your organization stays ahead of the curve, offering cutting-edge services that align with evolving industry trends.
• Scalable and Flexible: Choose a fintech partner whose products can grow seamlessly with your program and adapt to evolving requirements. Scalability and flexibility are crucial for accommodating the changing needs of your organization, ensuring that your credit card program remains a robust and reliable asset.
• Integrative and Open: Look for a partner whose products seamlessly connect with existing systems and foster innovation through APIs. An integrative and open approach allows for efficient collaboration between different components of your financial ecosystem, promoting innovation and adaptability.

Program Management and Data

Ensuring your credit card program is seamlessly managed and offers valuable insights into your customer base is paramount. Choose a partner that prioritizes end-to-end program management, provides a comprehensive program dashboard, and offers seamless customer support. This strategic approach guarantees that the experiences of both your internal team and your customers are nothing short of best-in-class.

• End-to-End Program Management: Your partner should provide unwavering support from onboarding to program launch, ensuring a smooth journey at every step. Essential support services, including underwriting and marketing, should be options your partner offers to ensure the success of your program.
• Program Dashboard: Simplify program management by having everything at your fingertips. An effective program dashboard not only streamlines the management process but also provides direct access to all program and customer data, enhancing overall efficiency.
• Seamless Customer Support: A seamless and effective customer support experience is critical, whether it's addressing your team's concerns or serving as a support mechanism for your customers. Choose a partner that excels in providing top-notch customer support to enhance the overall experience.

Expertise 

To successfully initiate modern credit card programs, it's essential to collaborate with a partner who comprehensively grasps your goals, challenges, and needs. Moreover, this partner should possess expertise spanning the credit card industry, technology and innovation, and compliance to ensure a successful and streamlined launch.

• Credit Card Industry: Understanding industry regulations, consumer and business trends, and market dynamics is paramount for the success of your credit card program. Therefore, your fintech partner must possess extensive knowledge in these areas.
• Technology and Innovation: Modern credit card programs thrive on cutting-edge technology, encompassing cloud-based software and APIs. Your partner not only needs to be knowledgeable but also actively implementing and staying up-to-date on current and emerging technologies to ensure your program's competitiveness.
• Cybersecurity and Compliance: In a digitally reliant world, cybersecurity is a top priority. Additionally, in the finance sector, compliance is of utmost importance. Your partner should demonstrate proven methodologies and strategies for both cybersecurity and compliance, ensuring a secure and regulatory-compliant environment for your credit card program.

As banks and credit unions look to elevate their program offerings and credit card programs, they should consider adopting a modern payments partner such as Torpago. Torpago’s Powered By Program enables banks and credit unions to efficiently launch, monitor, and scale modern, technology-backed commercial credit card programs. Book time to speak with the Torpago team to learn more about how our solutions can support your growth, retention, and customer experience goals.