"Without NEACH, I’d be hindered… Without their help to get AAP and NCP certifications, I don’t think I’d be as valued in my position as I am."
For Kelly MacLeod, there’s just something in the water.
From her favorite movie (Jaws) and song (Carrie Underwood’s “Something in the Water”) to a recent vacation memory (kayaking for the first time), a passion for the life aquatic emerges.
“Maybe it was from watching Jaws all those years ago, but I love sharks. I recently watched an Animal Planet special, and the divers were swimming with them. The divers put the sharks into a catatonic state,” says Kelly. “It seemed like a great experience to have with such an animal.”
While scuba gear is not required in her day-to-day, the ebb and flow of the payments industry creates a similar pull for Kelly. She points out that in the 17 years she’s worked in the field, she’s never had a day of boredom.
“What excites me the most about the industry is that it’s constantly growing and evolving to meet the needs and demands of those in it. I’m excited to see what’s going to happen next.”
With clear thoughts on what she’d like to see, Kelly sat down with NEACH to talk about the fast-evolving payments landscape.
NEACH: What do you think will be the biggest change in payments over the next three-to-five years?
KELLY: Hopefully no more writing checks! People want real-time payments when transferring money and paying bills. I’m looking forward to when we can have a transaction post to an account in real-time.
NEACH: If I called you an early adopter, what product or service offering would I be describing?
KELLY: We currently issue the EMV smart-chip cards at our branches so members don’t have to wait to get them in the mail. We also offer our business members RDC of their checks, and our mobile deposit is a fast-growing service as well.
NEACH: What one thing is your organization doing in payments that’s unique to it?
KELLY: We receive all types of ACH transactions, and we originate and not a lot of credit unions in Maine originate. It sets us apart.
NEACH: What business topic keeps you up at night?
KELLY: The one big topic that keeps me up at night is fraud across all channels. My biggest concern is for my elderly members, and we all do what we can to stay ahead of that. We all have individual pieces of fraud detection.
NEACH: What do you want others to know about NEACH?
KELLY: I think NEACH’s staff is built of knowledgeable people who have worked for FIs. NEACH’s staff understands the environment we’re in and the challenges we deal with on an everyday basis.
I call them for anything from A to Z. From needing help on a Rules question to getting ahold of another financial institution, I call them and they get me the information I need. They are always there to help.
Without NEACH, I’d be hindered. To work with the ACH Network without their guidance would be difficult. Without their help to get AAP and NCP certifications, I don’t think I’d be as valued in my position as I am.