Credit Union Streamlines Loan Payments and Reduces Manual Work
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A Simpler, More Efficient Loan Payment Experience
PECU, a financial institution based in Central Texas with over 20,000 members, needed a more efficient way to manage loan payments—especially for indirect borrowers who were not checking account holders with online banking access.
By implementing CheckAlt’s LoanPay solution, PECU modernized loan payment workflows, reduced manual work, and improved the overall payment experience for borrowers.
challenge
Manual Processes and Operational Complexity
PECU faced a common but complex problem: how to efficiently process loan payments, particularly for indirect borrowers who needed a fast, simple way to pay without having to open a checking account and log in to online banking.
Before CheckAlt, PECU relied on a manual, in-house process to support loan payments for indirect borrowers. This included a web form that required:
Manual Excel downloads and file handling
Copy/paste processes and file transfers
Frequent reconciliation and exception handling
Additional security oversight and issue resolution
As Gregg Curtin, VP of IT at PECU, explained, “Before CheckAlt, we had a cumbersome loan payment process that was prone to a lot of errors. We knew we needed a better long-term solution.”
The previous process also created delays, including missed or mismatched files due to formatting issues, and required frequent intervention from both IT and accounting teams.
At the same time, many borrowers preferred a simple “pay and go” option rather than becoming a deposit account holder and enrolling in online banking—making it difficult to shift behavior without a better solution.
solution
CheckAlt’s LoanPay
PECU selected CheckAlt’s LoanPay solution to replace manual workflows with a more automated, user-friendly approach.
Key factors in the decision included:
Guest payment functionality for quick, frictionless payments
Flexible payment options, including ACH and debit cards
An intuitive interface for both staff and borrowers
Responsive support and smooth onboarding
Custom branding for the loan payment portal
“LoanPay has been a big improvement for us operationally,” said Bill Collard, Chief Financial Officer at PECU. “Everything runs as it should, and we’re not spending time chasing down errors or fixing issues like we were before.”
results
Less Manual Work, Fewer Errors, and a Better Borrower Experience
The outcome at PECU after implementing LoanPay was immediate:
Smooth Implementation: PECU experienced a fast, low-friction rollout, with quick onboarding and configuration, responsive support throughout implementation, and minimal disruption to existing operations.
Reduced Manual Work: Automation eliminated time-intensive processes across teams, with at least three hours saved per weekacross IT and accounting, plus less time spent managing ACH files and resolving issues.
Fewer Errors and Exceptions: Built-in validation and automation improved accuracy with no more missed or delayed files, greater accuracy for account entries, and less manual reconciliation.
Improved Payment Experience for Borrowers: LoanPay made payments faster and easier for borrowers, extended the cutoff window by three hours, and offered simple options to pay with no login required—resulting in positive feedback from both indirect members and staff.
“CheckAlt was great to work with,” Gregg added. “LoanPay was easy to set up, the team was knowledgeable and responsive, and the loan payment platform was much more secure than what we were using before.”
“Many of our indirect borrowers are members by necessity, not by engagement, so they’re looking for a quick and easy way to make payments. We needed a solution that simplified the loan payment experience while reducing manual back-end work. CheckAlt provided us with a clean interface, flexible payment options, and measurable time savings across our teams.”
— Gregg Curtin, Vice President of IT at PECU
Key Takeaways for Credit Unions
Meet borrowers where they are: Not all borrowers are members who will use online banking, so flexible payment options matter.
User experience drives adoption: Simple, intuitive payment flows improve both staff efficiency and member satisfaction.
Modernization doesn’t require disruption: Incremental improvements can deliver immediate value without overhauling existing systems.
For PECU, implementing CheckAlt’s LoanPay solution delivered immediate operational relief and a better experience for borrowers. By replacing manual processes with a streamlined, secure platform, PECU is better positioned to support loan payments efficiently while also continuing to modernize its member experience.
Ready to Simplify Your Loan Payment Operations?
Learn more about CheckAlt’s LoanPaysolution and how we can help your institution streamline payment processing and empower borrowers with a secure, self-service platform for flexible, on-time payments.
