2,300+
Transactions in the first two months
Over $5M
in moved in the first year
Strong adoption
without formal promotion
Background
ABNB Federal Credit Union is a nearly $1 Billion credit union serving more than 81,000 members across Eastern Virginia and North Carolina, with digital services extending nationwide. Originally formed through a merger between amphibious base and naval base credit unions, ABNB has spent more than 60 years focused on serving its communities. As a low-income designated institution with a strong retail base, ABNB is committed to delivering inclusive, modern financial services to all members.
The Need for Change
As ABNB evaluated payment modernization, it identified real-time payments as a solution that could drive both member value and institutional efficiency. The credit union sought to better support members who depend on timely access to funds from gig work, earned wages, and investment disbursements. “Our decision wasn’t just instant payments and how does that fit within our membership… everybody needs access to their money as quickly as possible,” said Cassandra Tucker, Director of Operations.
Recognizing the value of getting ahead of the curve, ABNB opted to go live with both Send and Receive capabilities for the FedNow® Service and the RTP® network. “This is going to be a standard offering that I think every financial institution is going to have to do at some point in the future, so why not do it now?” said Tucker.
The team conducted an in-depth ROI analysis, risk assessments (including support from a third-party evaluator), and internal education sessions to align stakeholders. “We had to make our entire organization understand why we needed to do this,” Tucker explained.
Why Alacriti?
ABNB selected Alacriti’s Orbipay Payments Hub for its robust capabilities, turnkey implementation, built-in analytics, intuitive interface, and seamless integration with online and mobile banking.
Key drivers in the decision included:
- A True Partnership: We didn’t just get a vendor—we got a partner that was going to help us grow our business and manage our business in the real-time payments space." said Tucker. "Alacriti was beyond phenomenal in assisting us."
- Turnkey Implementation: Alacriti handled most of the heavy lifting, making deployment smooth and efficient.
- Operational Simplicity: The solution runs independently with no added FTEs required. Fraud tools, transaction monitoring, and automation were built in.
- Strategic Flexibility: ABNB appreciated the ability to monetize Send transactions on the retail side while offering free Receive access.
- Actionable Analytics: Built-in reporting provided immediate visibility into transaction activity and member payment behaviors without requiring custom reporting.
Implementation
ABNB launched Receive capabilities on both the RTP network and the FedNow Service simultaneously in May 2024 and began its pilot for Send in the following months. In the first 30 days, the credit union processed about 800 transactions totaling approximately $370,000. In two months, that number grew to over 2,300 transactions. In less than a year, they had moved over $5M through the RTP network and FedNow Service.
ABNB implemented real-time payments with no new FTEs. The back-office portal allows for automated fraud detection, pass/fail decisioning, and layered controls. Fraud mitigation includes BioCatch behavioral analytics, Socure identity verification, MFA, and transaction limits. These capabilities ensure instant payments can be offered with minimal risk and intervention.
Member adoption also exceeded expectations. Originally targeting approximately 30% member adoption, ABNB surpassed 70% in less than 18 months—well ahead of its original two-year forecast. Faster-than-expected adoption allowed the credit union to reach operational neutrality on its real-time payment rails sooner than anticipated.
Results
Member Benefits
Operational Benefits
Operationally, ABNB realized significant efficiency improvements. Real-time payments run independently and require no manual touchpoints, unlike wires or ACH transactions that often require two to three staff members from initiation to approval. With a self-service member experience and automated risk assessments, the credit union reduced internal processing time and freed staff to focus on higher-value tasks.
Beyond operational efficiencies, built-in analytics provided valuable business intelligence. ABNB gained visibility into member payment behaviors that helped uncover emerging use cases and opportunities for future member engagement without requiring custom reporting or additional analytical tools.
In addition, ABNB proactively adjusted its maintenance and IT processes to support the 24/7/365 nature of real-time rails, ensuring uninterrupted service even during off-hours or system upgrades. By designing for scalability and resilience from the outset, the credit union positioned itself for sustainable growth in transaction volume without additional staffing.
Future Outlook
ABNB views real-time payments as foundational to its future. With Send capabilities in place, the credit union will begin a phased marketing campaign and plans to further explore small business applications and emerging use cases like Request for Payment and Pay by Bank. The credit union also plans to use transaction insights to better understand member behaviors and support future engagement initiatives as adoption continues to grow. “Payments are a deeply personal thing for most members,” said Tucker. “Giving them options to move their money, how and when they want, is something we wanted to deliver.”
