Carefull
Carefull is a PRT (protect/retain/transfer) service for credit unions purpose-built to protect older members, retain deposits, and bridge to the next generation ahead of wealth transfer. It is the first and only digital platform designed to help credit unions protect the daily finances of seniors while assisting the adult children who often support them.
Older members face $27 billion annually in fraud and money mistakes, and 45 million Americans are now involved in coordinating an aging loved one’s finances. This has put a growing burden on both older members and their next-generation family members, along with critical pressure on financial institutions with aging memberships.
Carefull's technology integrates senior-specific AI financial oversight focused on the unique behaviors and threats targeting older adults. This is supplemented with identity theft protection, password and document management, and weekly original content.
Carefull exists to put financial care into financial services, delivering safety and simplicity throughout this challenging financial life stage.
How a strategic alliance with Carefull benefits credit unions
Credit union memberships are aging, and with age comes a unique set of needs – for both members and the credit unions. Members now require new protections and support against elder fraud and exploitation (EFE). Credit unions, in need of younger members, need relationships and new deposits from members' next-generation children.
Carefull's technology achieves both objectives.
Protecting your existing member base is the best path towards retaining existing deposits, building "whole-family" relationships, and becoming the financial institution where family wealth is ultimately consolidated.
By protecting this vulnerable and valuable member segment, Carefull is proven to:
- Protect and delight member families by identifying and resolving small threats before they become big issues
- Drive up to 10% reduction in deposit churn
- Deliver three net new warm member leads per member protected
- Save over 300 hours per year in member support for every 1,000 members protected
Why choose Carefull?
Carefull is the industry's only technology platform built to engage older adults and those who support them. Since 2019, Carefull has built a proprietary engine that goes beyond a financial institution’s standard fraud rules, which typically look reactively only at a subset of transactions and can place an added burden on BSA officers.
Carefull uses multiple data sources and signals to address the specific challenges facing older members. This means surfacing issues and concerns across their entire financial profile, including accounts and assets held outside the credit union. It also means taking a proactive approach to prevention, with content and member tools that engage families directly, allowing Carefull to stop issues from ever walking into a branch.
This graceful and holistic approach empowers members while detecting behaviors unique to seniors. Examples include:
- Signs of elder abuse
- Check washing
- Cognitive decline
- Unintended or recurring charitable donations
- Phishing scams
- Theft by a caregiver
- Romance scams
Additional features like trusted contacts sharing and safe password storage are designed to engage loved ones.
Only Carefull has everything in one place; a simple service for families with older adults.
Connect with Carefull
Talk to one of our CUNA Strategic Services alliance managers to learn more about Carefull. We’ll help you identify and evaluate the best solution for your credit union.
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Aligning With the New Interagency Guidelines: How credit unions can combat elder fraud
Credit unions are being encouraged now more than ever to adopt a range of strategies to combat the growing threat of elder financial exploitation by a new Interagency Statement on Elder Financial Exploitation.
podcast
Carefull Scam Watch - November 2024
Learn how your members can protect themselves from scams during the holidays.
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Carefull Scam Watch - October 2024
Learn about the most prevalent scams and what your members should watch out for in the upcoming holiday season.
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Educate Your Members to Help Reduce Elder Fraud
Elder fraud is growing at a dizzying rate, but did you know that educating members about fraud is surprisingly effective at decreasing susceptibility?
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Prepare Your Older Members for Holiday Scam Season
The hustle and bustle of the holidays is the peak season for scammers, especially those targeting older adults online.
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Protect Your Members From Natural Disaster Scams
Whenever there is a natural disaster, con artists find ways to use it to their advantage. Learn what you can do to protect your members from these scams.
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How Credit Unions Can Stay Ahead of Elder Scams and Fraud
Learn what credit unions can do to stay ahead of the ever-evolving threat of elder fraud.
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Build a Network to Fight Elder Fraud
Credit unions have a unique way to combat fraud. Learn how you can make it work for you.
on-demand webinar
CSS Webinar Series: Safeguarding Your Credit Union’s Future (Beating Fraudsters at Their Own Game)
Learn how to protect your members from fraud at the transactional level and how to prevent further negative impact in the event a member is impacted by fraud.
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Researcher Says Financial Institutions Can Protect Account Holders With Dementia
Learn about the financial warning signs of dementia that go well beyond late and missed payments.
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Watch Out for the Unpaid Toll Text Message Scam
Learn about the newest scam targeting your older members – fake unpaid toll bills – and what they can do about it.
resource guides
Is It a Scam?
Learn how this guide can help your credit union with the fight against fraud.
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Five Things Credit Unions Should Do Now to Protect Older Members
Learn how to establish ongoing senior engagement as part your credit union’s core offering.
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How Credit Unions Can Leverage AI to Fight Fraud
Market-ready solutions can provide highly effective fraud detection that helps retain assets.
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What Credit Unions Need to Know About New Elder Financial Exploitation Laws
Learn about the new requirements and take steps to put systems in place to protect vulnerable account holders.