NAFCU Journal July August 2021

42 THE NAFCU JOURNAL July–August 2021 INSIDE NAFCU SERVICES I ’m privileged to announce this year’s Innovation Award winners. Every year, this awards program recognizes some of the most valuable contri- butions to our industry. A panel of esteemed judges from different segments of the credit union industry reviews these groundbreaking advancements in technology, software, digital media, campaigns and more, and evaluates the entries based on degree of innovation and impact on credit union success. The 2021 Innovation Award Winners are: Allied Solutions for Refund Plus ■ Streamlines and manages the entire product cancellation and refund pro- cess with automated file transmission and review, reporting and data analyt- ics, validation of refund amount—tol- erance acceptance, and more. This provides a lower-cost, efficient, and member-centric solution for risk and liability mitigation, reporting, and auditing of cancellations and refunds. Blend for Digital Lending Platform ■ From applying for and closing on a mortgage to opening a new check- ing account or securing an auto loan—members demand an easy omnichannel experience every step of the way. With Blend, credit unions can be there for their members’ major financial moments. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2021 NAFCU SERVICES INNOVATION AWARD WINNERS By Randy Salser