CU*Answers, a 100% credit union-owned cooperative CUSO, recently announced the launch of an enhancement to its CU*BASE® core platform which for the first time ever will allow credit unions complete customization of member information stored in the database. The new feature, called Unique Data Management (UDM), gives credit unions the ability to create and manage custom data points on their members. Previously, all users of the CU*BASE core could use only pre-existing file structure and fields to store information about memberships and accounts.

The development of UDM was spearheaded by a collaborative group of CU*Answers’ credit union-owners with the initial goal of being able to log and track members’ life-cycle data and social statistics.

Keegan Daniel, VP of Professional Services at CU*Answers, has seen a wide variety of value discussed for this new feature: “Some credit unions are using this to keep track of extra SEG participation statistics or outside loan details discovered in the recapture process. Others have thought about using it to log facts like member wedding anniversaries, sports team preferences, and event attendance. The customizability of membership and account information gives credit unions a blank canvas to paint their members’ story and we’re curious to see where they’ll choose to take this.”

Database administrators can define field names as well as the rules that control what data can be entered: dollar amounts, quantity, percentage, text, yes/no checkbox, date, or a defined list. The CU*Answers Asterisk Intelligence team, led by Daniel, is actively working to engage credit unions with this feature, and outlining data strategies for managing these new, custom field opportunities.

The Asterisk Intelligence team is a newly-formed group focusing on data analytics and data warehousing for credit union business intelligence. They currently offer 15+ analytic solutions in an online store, and continue working on further database management projects, including a data warehouse solutions which is scheduled to launch November 2017.

For any questions regarding Asterisk Intelligence or data analytics and warehousing at CU*Answers, please contact Keegan Daniel, vice president of Professional Services, or visit the Asterisk Intelligence web page.