EPCOR Awards

EPCOR President & CEO Susan Doyle, AAP, presented the 2022 Payments Innovation Award to RIBBIT for leveraging the recency and accuracy of bank behavior to power lenders, billers, banks and Fintechs to make smarter decisions, expand financial inclusion and reduce fraud.

“In the face of pervasive fraud, it can be difficult for financial institutions to keep pace with tech-savvy criminal networks and the onslaught of ever-evolving attacks. RIBBIT Inc. brings risk-mitigating, AI-powered insight within reach for financial institutions and organizations of all sizes without the requirement of invasive personal information that is often difficult to obtain,” remarked Doyle.

Brian Dao, Vice President of Product & Marketing at RIBBIT, accepted the Payments Innovation Award in recognition of its bank behavior insights that identify 12 thousand fraudulent bank accounts weekly, often created with valid consumer credentials. Driven by real-time banking and payment data, RIBBIT’s insights examine over one trillion data points to validate account ownership and assess bank account stability. Banks and credit unions leverage these insights to streamline new, digital account openings while managing risk of payment acceptance. As an ACH processor, RIBBIT increased its ACH processing by 344% from 2020 to 2021 and is on pace to add another 77% by the end of the year.

“We’re honored to receive the Payments Innovation Award from an organization that truly promotes the improvement of our payment systems,” said Brian. “Since forming in 2020, RIBBIT has worked hard to protect the integrity of the ACH network by analyzing the behavior of bad accounts. Our bank behavior data recently identified 500,000 fraudulent bank accounts transacting with over 2,000,000 different identities in our network. We are committed to keeping these fraudulent accounts out of our payment systems.”

Amber Bass, APRP, SVP, Business/eBanking Solutions, accepted the Award in recognition of First Community Bank’s Verify program that detects ACH abnormalities and monitors for data errors and suspicious activity. The solution allows the bank to proactively manage payment activity, while mitigating risk and fraud for the institution and its corporate clients.

“It is an honor to recognize First Community Bank for establishing this program and being diligent in upholding the safety and security of the ACH Network,” remarked Susan Doyle, AAP, President & CEO, EPCOR.

Bill Esry, President and CEO accepted the Marquis Award in recognition of Blue Ridge Bank & Trust’s unique Independence Square branch which opened in May 2019. The branch is home to a unique capstone program that offers students from three different high schools an opportunity to learn all aspects of finance and banking through classroom time and real-life experience, with senior capstone students working fully hands-on as part-time employees.

“It is an honor to present the EPCOR Marquis Award to Blue Ridge Bank & Trust for establishing this program and introducing a new generation to banking and the fascinating world of payments,” remarked Bartels.

The Payments Innovation Award was presented to Art Moore, AAP, Vice President, Deposit Operations Manager in honor of nbkc bank’s Fountain City Fintech program which offers a forward-thinking banking partner, compliance expertise and a solid infrastructure for scale to early-stage technology startups that focus on the financial services industry. The 75-day accelerator program, launched in 2018 and led by Zach Anderson Pettet, is one of the first accelerator programs run by a community bank focusing on Fintechs in the U.S.

“I am pleased to present the Payments Innovation Award to nbkc bank for establishing Fountain City Fintech, encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship and putting Kansas City on the map as a fintech friendly city,” Bartels shared.

Scott Laferty, AAP, NCP, accepted on behalf of Heritage Bank
In recognition of the bank’s robust ACH Risk Management and Due Diligence program which includes an extensive review of not only Third-Party Sender clients, but the customers of the Third-Party Sender as well. As a result, the $7.6 million bank has been able to expand its Third-Party Sender program and Treasury Management Services. In the three years since the program was launched, the once very low ACH activity originated by the bank has grown to over 500,000 transactions per month, possibly ending 2018 with over 1,500,000 transactions.

Leah Morgan, AAP, accepted on behalf of Grand Savings Bank of Grove, OK
In recognition Grand Savings Bank’s “Junior Board” program. High school students who are elected to serve on the Junior Board participate in monthly meetings which include ongoing mentoring and financial services education, as well as opportunities to engage in community service projects and visit the state capital and local business customers of the bank.

The award was given to Jill Castilla, Citizens Bank of Edmond
In honor of the complete 180-turnaround of Citizens Bank of Edmond that she facilitated using an innovative approach to FinTech and social media. The development of ATM customer interaction products, small business cash mobs and the community event “Heard on Hurd” are just a few of the noteworthy accomplishments that changed the bank’s story from near failure to great success.

The award was given to Profit Engine, LLC

The award was given to Benita Penick, AAP, NCP, PBI Bank

The award was given to Tim Mills.
The EPCOR Marquis Award, which is presented to individuals or organizations that exemplify best practices in electronic payments implementation, expand awareness and utilization of ACH payments or contribute greatly to the mission of the Association, was awarded to Tim Mills of The Clearing House for being a long-time supporter of EPCOR and its predecessor association, Payments Central.

The award was given to Marcus Wannemacher.
Wannemacher, formerly of Corporate One Federal Credit Union and long-standing EPCOR Director, was acknowledged for encouraging all credit unions, regardless of their size, to engage with their regional payments association, embrace the ACH Rules and conduct their annually-required ACH Rules Compliance Audit.

The award was presented to Carroll Monden, AAP, Treasury Management Operations Manager, First United Bank & Trust of Durant, Oklahoma.
Monden was recognized for his support of EPCOR and the association’s annual Payment Systems Update seminar, ensuring that the payments professionals of Durant, Oklahoma would have access to local payments training. He launched his own marketing efforts and continues to send personalized communications to bankers in the area to ensure the longevity and viability of the program.

The award was given to Suresh Ramamurthi, Chairman, CBW Bank.
Alan Deines, EVP, CBW Bank, accepted the award on behalf of Ramamurthi who was recognized for revolutionizing the $12 million CBW Bank in Weir, Kansas, a small community of roughly 680 residents. Through many innovations guided by Ramamurthi, CBW Bank is now offering services not available at even the nation’s largest banks, including instant payments to any bank in the U.S., direct remittance transfers abroad, specialized debit cards and a software systems that almost instantly rates the risk of any transaction by looking at 20 to 40 factors.

The award was given to Corporate One Federal Credit Union.
Corporate One Federal Credit Union was recognized for its Sponsored EPCOR Membership Program in which the organization sponsors EPCOR membership for its over 180 member credit unions with less than $20 million in assets, and provides an annual copy of EPCOR’s ACH Audit Workbook, free ACH Origination training for Executive and Operations staff and ACH Origination Tool Kits to each of its credit union members.

The award was presented jointly to Carrollton Bank and St. Louis Community Credit Union.
Carrollton Bank and St. Louis Community Credit Union were recognized for creating a unique partnership that allows them to provide greater access to affordable financial services, increase lending and expand financial education to the local underserved and Low and Moderate Income (LMI) population of St. Louis, Missouri.

The award was given to NBC Oklahoma.
NBC Oklahoma was acknowledged for how they are utilizing the FedACH Risk®-RDFI Alert Service to provide timely information on ACH activity to their corporate customers, which in turn helps ensure the customers are protected from unwanted transactions.

The award was given to Pulaski Bank.
Denise DeRousse, Senior Vice President, Banking Operations accepted on the company's behalf. Acknowledged for its progressive program to serve the unbanked and underbanked consumers in the St. Louis region. The bank also hosts free workshops that address such topics as budgeting, college financing, home buying, wise use of credit, savings and investing, and identity theft in an effort to educate consumers.

The award was given to Fifth Third Bank.
Recognized for its Fifth Third Financial Empowerment Mobile (eBus & eBus II) program which provides financial advice and guidance to low-income, underserved areas.

EPCOR President Jerry Woessner, AAP, was formally recognized for his contributions to the payments industry.

The award was presented to Debbie Howell, AAP

The award was presented to Montgomery County Treasurer's Office.

The award was presented to Commerce Bank. Senior Vice President, Michael S. Spafford accepted on the company's behalf.

APEX-ACH, a program of U.S. Central Federal Credit Union

The award was accepted by Cynthia Simpson, Program Manager & Becky Dunster, Assistant Vice President

Nebraska State Treasurer's Office

The award was accepted by Michelle Raphael, Treasury Management Director

Sandy Jensen, AAP, Cash Management Officer, Empire Bank

Wendy Wishon, AAP, Senior Vice President, EPCOR

American National Property and Casualty Companies (ANPAC)

The award was accepted by John McCaskill, Director of Underwriting Systems, Project and Support