Mobilizing online banking: delivering the latest technology.

• Author: Kalytiak, Tracy
• Position: FINANCIAL SERVICES

One of the first things Jennifer Delgado and her husband, Mark, did after moving to Alaska from Texas was open an account with Alaska USA Federal Credit Union.

"We used checks a lot back then," Jennifer Delgado said of their early days in the state. "We'd have to call the bank, order checks. Now, we use debit cards and get online. Everything gets paid right away. You don't have to wait for checks to clear. You just fill out information, click a button and it's done."

The Delgados have stayed with Alaska USA through the births of two children, a move from Anchorage to Palmer, and the transition of the credit union and a growing number of other Alaska financial institutions from paper-based and automated-teller banking to online and mobile financial transactions.

Jennifer uses a smartphone but hasn't yet explored what Alaska USA provides for it via mobile banking; her husband, however, has used the credit union's mobile banking service.

"Mark seems to be more in tune with all that," she said. "He uses it to check the balance. That's more than I would do; we usually just do everything online to keep track of where our money goes, where it's spent, what's been paid."

Alaska USA, Wells Fargo and KeyBank are among the Alaska financial institutions that offer online and mobile banking options to members and customers.

ULTRA BANKING

Dan McCue, senior vice president of corporate administration for the $4.4 billion credit union, says Alaska USA's UltraBranch service is a free account management tool that can be accessed online, by phone or mobile, or through self-service terminals in branches.

With UltraBranch, members can transfer funds, make loan payments, pay bills, open new account types and view eStatements.

"Since the introduction of Alaska USA mobile services, including apps for iPhone and Android, members have increasingly used their cell phones and mobile devices to access their accounts on the go," McCue said. "UltraBranch also is available in a Business Edition that makes payroll processing and wire transfers efficient for small and medium- sized businesses."

Alaska USA's free mobile apps also make it possible for the credit union's members to research rates, find locations of branches and ATMs and pull up cleared-check images.

Twenty percent of the 425,000-member credit union's log-ins originate from mobile devices, according to Alaska USA statistics.

SECURITY LAYERS

Keeping members' information secure is of topmost importance, McCue said.

"Alaska USA has numerous security tools in place to protect members' personal and financial information," McCue said. "This includes multiple layers of...