OneUnited Bank has been committed to information technology or “IT” for many years. IT is integrated into all aspects of the Bank, from the services we offer to the way we process transactions. We believe IT enhances our efficiency, communication, accuracy, timing, productivity, training and even the happiness of our employees and customers.
Yes, happiness!
Over ten years ago, we concluded that information technology, if implemented effectively, could enhance the experience of our employees and customers. Effective implementation was critical.
So we began with our Human Resources and Information Technology departments. They launched a Knowledge Portal in 2001 to provide “a place” where all employees can obtain information and access the tools they need to do their jobs.
Our employees “check in” and “check out” of the Knowledge Portal every day to access different tools. There is a section called My Resources where employees request and approve time off for vacations and personal days, find out how many days they have remaining and sign up for employee benefits. My Resources also includes a Professional Development Center, where employees obtain online training on bank regulations, policies and procedures and important topics like data security.
Another section of the Knowledge Portal is My Tools, where employees access our operating system to process transactions. It includes “workflow” applications where employees can request product changes, advertising approval, reserve conference rooms and complete other projects that require coordination across departments or locations.
We have Policy Management, where all policies and procedures are housed and a Report Center, which provides information on all areas of the Bank. We also have a Phone Book that lists employees and has a green or red light to let you know if an employee is in or out the office. Employees can also access their email and see bank-wide announcements.
The Knowledge Portal provides a comprehensive, easy to use employee center. Our employees, who are located in Boston, Los Angeles and Miami, feel connected. They love the Portal and cannot imagine working without it. And their use of technology has multiplied. Any time there is an issue, a team of employees will explore how to use IT as part of the solution. Problem solving becomes fun and solutions are more effective.
Information technology has been used to offer and improve online banking and bill pay services; make it easy to open a savings, money market or checking account or apply for a home loan online; improve the ordering of replacement ATM and Visa Debit cards; and provide financial literacy information to customers and supporters with our blog (www.oneunited.com/blog).
Technology also makes it easy to process transactions, which gives our employees more time to spend with customers. Our customers love the personal service provided by our retail branch and Customer Support Center employees!
By beginning with Human Resources and IT over ten years ago, we planted the seeds for our employees to embrace technology as a tool to improve the quality of their work and our customer service for years to come…which makes us all happier!
(Check out our new online checking and savings products…our latest effort to use technology to provide better services for you.)
