2 minutes
Discover how Together Credit Union enhanced operational efficiencies and increased member satisfaction by centralizing its data with Amazon Redshift.
Together Credit Union, striving to distinguish itself from large banks and nimble fintechs, recognized that fragmented data and inefficient processes were limiting its potential.
Data silos slowed collaboration and restricted access to real-time insights, forcing branch managers to wait up to two months for key performance indicators—effectively blocking quick and agile responses to change.
“To define goals and adjust processes, you need current data—not insights that are nearly two months old,” said Paul Scheibal, Director of Data Architecture at Together Credit Union.
Seeking real-time insights and a secure, self-service solution for branch managers, Together CU turned to Amazon Web Services (AWS). By building a centralized data lake on Amazon Redshift, with support from AWS Professional Services to validate security, Together CU smoothly integrated data into a unified, scalable platform.
“The queries that took 15–20 minutes on the other database were taking 10–15 seconds using Amazon Redshift,” said Scheibal.
Solution and Key Benefits
Together CU realized significant improvements through Amazon Redshift, including:
- Data Integration: Unified data sources break down silos and enhance collaboration across departments.
- Real-Time Access: Teams can now analyze data in real time, enabling them to respond quickly to member needs and market shifts.
- Scalability: The data lake was designed to grow along with future data and technology needs.
Benefits Realized
Together CU’s new data lake delivers significant benefits, including:
- Operational Efficiency: Streamlined data access facilitates faster, informed decisions, boosting productivity.
- Enhanced Decision-Making: Real-time data equips leaders to make strategic, member-focused decisions.
- Member Satisfaction: Data-driven insights improve service speed and quality, resulting in higher member satisfaction.
Best Practices
Centralizing data enables credit unions to enhance efficiency, improve decision-making, and elevate member experiences.
Credit unions facing challenges similar to Together CU’s should first assess their data limitations; establishing clear goals early on will ensure a robust data lake that is centralized to support both operational and strategic goals. Secondly, choosing a trusted technology partner like AWS is vital to the success of a centralized data solution.
If your credit union is looking to assess its data limitations, break down data siloes, and create real time insights, you can get started with AWS by speaking to an account manager today.
Rodney Santwier is a Cloud Advisor at Amazon Web Services (AWS), specializing in the nonprofit financials sector. His expertise lies in empowering Credit Unions, Insurance Agencies, Pension Groups, and similar organizations to enhance member/customer value through innovative cloud solutions. With a track record of supporting hundreds of Credit Unions in the past four years, Rodney has been instrumental in transforming various aspects of their operations, including: Data Strategy, AI/ML/Generative AI implementation, Business Continuity and Resilience planning, Migration and Modernization initiatives, Hybrid and Multi-cloud Environment management, Call Center Modernization. Before joining AWS, Rodney honed his skills in the Education Technology sector. As a consultant, he collaborated with some of the nation's largest school districts to develop and align virtual learning solutions designed to boost academic performance. Rodney's diverse experience in both financial and educational sectors positions him uniquely to drive digital transformation and deliver tangible value to organizations in the not-for-profit financial space.
