America First Credit Union (AFCU), based in Utah, is the fifth-largest credit union in the U.S., serving over 1.3 million members across multiple states. With a focus on improving the financial well-being of its members, AFCU’s growth strategy includes optimizing member onboarding and simplifying internal workflows. In 2022, AFCU set out to upgrade its membership application system to handle document verification more efficiently while maintaining high security and availability.
Business Challenges & Goals
The membership process required applicants to submit various documents for federal eligibility verification, but AFCU’s outdated system struggled to manage unstructured document data. The back-end database experienced frequent downtimes, leading to user frustration and abandoned applications. AFCU’s leadership decided to revamp the critical membership platform with a solution that could handle a variety of document types, improve user experience, and meet high security standards.
Business Results & Metrics
By implementing MySQL Enterprise Edition and leveraging MySQL Document Store for NoSQL document storage, AFCU simplified its membership process, improving the application experience by over 50%. The new system reduced unnecessary page views and saved 84,850-page hits per month, speeding up the process and cutting overall workflow time by 11%. Membership applications grew by nearly 1,000 new applications per month.
With MySQL Enterprise Edition, AFCU also achieved 99.9% uptime, ensuring a seamless experience for applicants. MySQL InnoDB Cluster provided high availability and disaster recovery, with a backup site 30 miles from headquarters. Enhanced security measures, including Transparent Data Encryption (TDE), helped AFCU protect sensitive data while complying with strict regulatory requirements.
The dual access MySQL solution allowed AFCU to manage both NoSQL and relational data, streamlining reporting and data analysis for future product offerings and personalized member interactions. The system also integrated seamlessly with key applications, further enhancing AFCU’s IT infrastructure.
Why MySQL Enterprise Edition?
AFCU turned to MySQL Enterprise Edition to handle its need for flexible document storage. The decision was driven by MySQL’s proven performance, low cost, and robust support. AFCU’s long-standing relationship with Oracle Premium Support ensured smooth implementation and ongoing system optimization.
Conclusion
AFCU’s adoption of MySQL Enterprise Edition has transformed its membership onboarding process, reducing complexity, improving system performance, and boosting member satisfaction. By combining the flexibility of NoSQL document storage with the power of MySQL’s relational database capabilities, AFCU has set a new standard in credit union technology. As the credit union continues to grow, MySQL will remain central to its strategy for improved operational efficiency and member experience.
Additional resources:
Read blog: MySQL Enterprise Edition for Financial Services
Read blog: Boosting Profitability in Financial Services with MySQL
Read blog: Enhancing Security and Compliance in Financial Services with MySQL Enterprise Edition
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