Raiz FCU Slashes Account Opening Times from Nine Days to Four Minutes with Alkami

Raiz Federal Credit Union has implemented Alkami Technology’s full Digital Sales & Service Platform to overhaul its member experience and operational efficiency. For fintech professionals, this case study demonstrates the tangible ROI of integrating digital onboarding with core banking, showing significant reductions in account opening times and a shift toward branch models focused on advisory services rather than transactions.

What was announced

Raiz Federal Credit Union, which serves over 78,000 members in El Paso, Texas, has expanded its partnership with Alkami to deploy a unified digital ecosystem. The implementation includes the Alkami Digital Banking Platform, MANTL Onboarding & Account Opening, and Alkami’s Data & Marketing Solution. This integration is designed to connect onboarding and digital banking across online, branch, and call-center channels, reducing manual workloads for staff while personalizing member engagement.

The results of this digital transformation, as detailed in a new case study, show a significant impact on speed and engagement. Online account opening times dropped from up to nine days to approximately four minutes. In-branch account opening was reduced from 30–45 minutes to under 10 minutes, while call-center funding times fell from two to three days to roughly nine minutes. Furthermore, the credit union’s monthly digital login rate increased from 30% to 49%.

Operationally, Raiz has used the platform to modernize its nine-branch network. By 2024, all locations transitioned to a digital model that lacks traditional teller functions or cash drawers. Instead, routine transactions are handled via the digital platform and enhanced self-service ATMs, allowing staff to focus on financial guidance. Security has also been bolstered, with Alkami’s layered fraud prevention helping the credit union prevent more than $286,000 in reported fraud during the first year of use.

"Alkami is helping us make banking more accessible, efficient, and connected for our members while preserving the Red Carpet service that defines Raiz," said Amy Krasikov, vice president of digital experience at Raiz. "We're proud to serve the El Paso community today, and we're excited to bring the warmth and care to people across the nation. Through digital banking, we aim to make our support accessible wherever and whenever it's needed. With Alkami, we've created a stronger digital foundation for today while continuing to find new ways to engage members with greater relevance and impact."

Amy Krasikov, vice president of digital experience at Raiz Federal Credit Union.

The companies involved

Alkami Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALKT) is a leading provider of digital sales and service platforms for financial institutions in the United States. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, the company specializes in providing credit unions and community banks with the digital tools necessary to compete with larger national banks. Its platform covers a wide range of functions, including retail and business banking, account opening, and data-driven marketing analytics.

MANTL is an enterprise software company that focuses on account opening and onboarding solutions for the banking industry. By integrating with core banking systems, MANTL automates the traditionally manual processes of KYC (Know Your Customer) and account funding. The company’s technology is a key component of the Alkami Digital Sales & Service Platform, providing the front-end experience that allows for the rapid account opening times reported by Raiz. Raiz Federal Credit Union, formerly known as El Paso Area Teachers Federal Credit Union, is a member-owned financial institution that has been a fixture in the El Paso community for decades, now leveraging technology to expand its reach beyond its traditional geographic footprint.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has tracked Alkami’s steady expansion within the credit union sector and its recent corporate developments. In late 2025, we reported on leadership changes at the firm, specifically when Alkami Appoints Cassandra Hudson as Chief Financial Officer. The company’s platform adoption has been a recurring theme, with similar digital overhauls covered in Jeanne D'Arc Credit Union Accelerates Digital Transformation with the Alkami Digital Sales & Service Platform. Additionally, we have followed the growth of Alkami’s ecosystem partners, including Southland Credit Union Selects Eltropy Through Partnership with Alkami. Our coverage of MANTL includes their broader industry collaborations, such as when MANTL Partners with Method Financial to Modernize Loan Refinancing with Real-time Liability Data Integrations.

What this means

This announcement highlights a significant shift in the "branch of the future" narrative, where physical locations pivot from transaction hubs to advisory centers. By removing cash drawers and tellers, Raiz is betting that automation can handle the "how" of banking, leaving staff to handle the "why." The dramatic reduction in account opening times—moving from days to minutes—puts immense pressure on legacy institutions that still rely on manual back-office processing. It raises a critical question for the sector: can community institutions maintain their "human touch" brand identity when the primary interface becomes a screen? As digital engagement rises, the industry must balance efficiency with the relationship-based model that defines credit unions.