Sturgis Bank Partners with MANTL to Transform Business and Retail Account Opening Across All Banking Channel

WHY THIS MATTERS

The partnership between Alkami (Nasdaq: ALKT) and Sturgis Bank, announced on May 14, 2026, highlights the accelerating “omnichannel” shift within U.S. community banking. While many banks have separate, fragmented processes for online versus in-branch onboarding, Sturgis Bank is using the MANTL solution suite to unify the experience across all 16 of its Michigan branches and its digital storefront. This matters because it removes the “onboarding bottleneck” that often prevents community banks from competing with national giants: retail customers can now open accounts in under five minutes online, while the bank’s “Banking Brought to You” initiative allows staff to open business accounts remotely in the field using QR codes and private links.

By automating over 85% of application decisions—including critical KYC (Know Your Customer), AML (Anti-Money Laundering), and BSA (Bank Secrecy Act) checks—Sturgis Bank is shifting its staff from manual data entry to relationship management. In a 2026 economic environment where deposit growth is the primary driver of bank health, this level of operational efficiency allows a community bank to scale its deposit base without a corresponding increase in back-office headcount.

Alkami Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALKT) (“Alkami”), a digital sales and service platform provider for financial institutions in the U.S., today announced a new partnership between MANTL, an Alkami solution team and leading provider of loan and deposit account opening technology, and Sturgis Bank, a community bank serving Michigan through 16 branches, to transform its account opening experience for business and retail customers. Through this partnership, Sturgis Bank will modernize onboarding across all physical and digital banking channels, reinforcing its commitment to delivering a seamless, efficient, and customer-centric experience while expanding accessibility and accelerating digital growth.

Sturgis Bank will deploy the full omnichannel suite of MANTL Onboarding & Account Opening solutions to reimagine retail and business account opening. With MANTL, the bank will significantly reduce friction, enabling retail customers to open deposit accounts in under five minutes online and in less than 10 minutes in-branch. Existing customers will be able to open additional accounts in just a few clicks.

Businesses of all sizes will be able to securely open deposit accounts anytime, anywhere—online, in-branch, or in the field—through a consistent and intuitive experience. MANTL will also support Sturgis Bank’s “Banking Brought to You” planned initiative, empowering teams to onboard local businesses and their employees more effectively. With features such as QR codes, private application links, and real-time account opening capabilities, the bank will be able to flexibly open new business accounts at locations outside of a Sturgis Bank branch.

“By partnering with MANTL, we are modernizing our account origination strategy to deliver a truly seamless omnichannel experience,” said Andrew McCall, vice president of operations at Sturgis Bank. “This transformation enables our teams to move beyond manual processes and focus on what matters most: building stronger customer relationships. At the same time, we’re driving efficiency, supporting deposit growth, and enhancing the level of service we provide to our communities.”

By implementing MANTL, Sturgis Bank will be able to streamline operations across the organization. The Platform’s integrated fraud and risk tools will enable strengthened fraud prevention and reduced need for manual application reviews, allowing staff to focus on higher-value interactions and growth initiatives. MANTL automates more than 85% of application decisions—including KYC, AML, and BSA checks—as well as product setup, funding, and core booking, significantly improving operational efficiency.

“MANTL is proud to partner with Sturgis Bank as they invest in a more modern, flexible approach to account opening,” said Benjamin Conant, chief product officer, Alkami. “By equipping their teams with true omnichannel capabilities, Sturgis Bank is creating a faster, more accessible experience for both consumers and businesses while unlocking new opportunities for deposit growth and community engagement.”

FF NEWS TAKE

Alkami is proving that the mid-market “acquisition of MANTL” was a masterstroke for its long-term platform strategy. By integrating MANTL’s account opening technology into its broader sales and service ecosystem, Alkami is providing community banks with a “growth engine” that works 24/7. For Sturgis Bank, the “Banking Brought to You” initiative is the real differentiator; it essentially turns every banker’s tablet or mobile device into a fully functioning branch, allowing them to capture business deposits at the point of need—whether that’s at a local business site or a community event.

However, the real technical alpha lies in the automated core booking. Many onboarding solutions still require manual “re-keying” of data into the bank’s core system once an application is approved. MANTL eliminates this friction by automating the product setup and funding process. As Sturgis Bank rolls this out, they are not just “fixing” a website; they are re-engineering the bank’s entire origination strategy to be digital-first, regardless of where the customer physically stands.