I don’t know how best to comment on the Oct 30 post [link] regarding the TBJ
article but I would like to. Sorry. Would you post the following
comment from me on your blog please?
The TBJ did not “fact check” Mr. Hayes quote with me before publishing
this article even though they offered my picture in the article. Chris
Ayer and I provided a long list of successful improvements in technology
implemented by our IT staff which the TBJ chose to ignore even though
our information directly refuted the lie that was told over and over
again to the public.
As Chris said our IT staff was the best in the business. They made huge
advances and improvements in all areas of technology year after year
which benefited our members and our employees. Areas that included
systems architecture, digital offerings, websites, applications,
hardware, software, cyber, loan origination, loan collections, image
systems, ATM software, our teller platform, statement rendering, new
general ledger, personnel, payroll, benefits, applicant tracking,
accounts payable and other software and two brand new state-of-the art
data centers just to name a few that haven’t been mentioned much
already.
Another example of their excellent work includes the fact that under
stress and in a matter of only a few months our IT staff increased the
number of workstation hardware/software platforms during the COVID
pandemic from 250 to 2,500 SECU employees to allow them to work remotely
from home.
I cannot adequately recognize and thank them for the great work that
they did to help members and employees through their dedication, skill
and hard work. As Chris said, You are the Best! You deserve accolades
and praise! THANK YOU!
Chris Ayer and our IT staff did not deserve to have their efforts
ignored and their reputations disparaged and disrespected. It was
outrageous and unconscionable and speaks to a lack of character of those
who chose to take that route. The TBJ could have found out the truth
with one phone call to me before they published and they never took the
opportunity to make that call. When provided the truth they chose to
look the other way instead of reporting the truth. The significant
legacy of our dedicated and talented IT staff and the reputation of SECU
deserved better.
—-Mike Lord
Why would the SECU Board do this to the staff?
What are they doing to all of us?
Well said, Mr. Lord. I was fortunate to work with those experts and learn from them for years
ReplyDeletehttps://blogs.nasa.gov/voyager/2024/10/28/after-pause-nasas-voyager-1-communicating-with-mission-team/ NASA's Voyager 1 and 2 continue to report important data on the far reaches of the solar system after 47 years. One wonders if those core computer systems are also running on "tanks" as Jim Hayes called it. Reliable, hardworking systems that are at the core of most major banks (big banks). Update, upgrade, buy a system that moves all the computing jobs to North Dakota or India. Move it all out of the North Carolina home base. But OWN what you are doing. It is too hard for this board and management to run this organization. all the consultants that are hired can do is tell them "No other credit union in the country does this. It is not "industry standard"." So goodbye good paying jobs for NC in tech.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you should have stayed and worked along side all the IT staff you speak of and get more change done. Data centers don’t directly affect members. The real and impactful work remains.
ReplyDeleteOh really? Tell that to members when the systems are down and they can’t access their accounts. —Mike Lord
Delete"Data centers don’t directly affect members."
Deleteau contraire ...you want to go back to pencils and paper? 95% of current employees would have no idea on how to steer the ship... It's so critical that you could actually collapse the business if it stayed down long enough ... hence the phrase "All hands on deck"
Side note: Although I've been retired for over 8 years, that high cost, complex, high security data center project was 2 years into the planning phase before I left.
DeleteTech priority at SECU was always given to safety, security, and reliability of technology performance over the numerous "bells and whistles" tech projects which were usually easier and less costly to implement... but both got done.
No financial institution - including SECU - can afford any longer to have an unreliable or "accident prone" IT system.
Some members become impatient when the bells and whistles are slower in coming, but all the members will never forgive SECU if there is a major breach or failure in SECU tech. In defense of Ayer and Lord, would you choose differently?
An example of what happens if you do choose wrong is the recent Cash App debacle. A $23++ million loss for SECU members, caused by new tech rushed into production without prudent planning and without adequate testing by the current leadership .
Cash App was implemented after both Ayer and Lord had left.
Meanwhile SECU continues to operate soundly under systems and technology thoughtfully planned and carefully implemented by talented IT staff ... going all the way back even to 1983!
A Cash App level mistake should give the SECU Board pause... the buck (all $23 million of them in this fiasco) after all stops at the board table.
Hope 9:17am isn't employed at secu, or won't be shortly.
DeleteCash App fiasco should have done more than give board pause. It was preventable and implemented against the recommendations of some. CFPB just showed Vystar how you can be held accountable for bad implementations. someone should have lost their job for it.
Delete"The Buck Stops Here"
DeletePresident Harry S. Truman
Meanwhile the insane number of system approved mobile deposit checks continues every day. People know anything under a certain amount auto approves. The same account will come through for weeks. No end in sight. They clearly aren’t concerned about losses.
DeletePoint of order Cash App was put in by Lord and Ayer.
DeleteNot true @ 6:51 AM. Chris and I read about the Cash App debacle like everybody else. Wasn’t on our watch. Pushing a new lie. Shame on you.
DeleteCash App wasn’t put in by anyone. It’s a third party service either run through the card provider (Visa) or ACH.
DeleteAlso, CashApp transactions were definitely occurring on SECU accounts when Lord was CEO. My account included.
DeleteWhat eally happened? The current SECU IT and operations gurus mismanaged a tech update at SECU which blew up Cash App controls. It was SECUs fault for the mega-million losses. Brady was our COO in charge at the time. Don't try to lynch the prior leaders.
DeleteBrady's baby no one else.
Okay. If Cash App wasn’t put in by anyone and transactions were being processed back in 2021 it is noteworthy that there were safeguards in place so there weren’t any $23 million losses of our members money back then.
DeleteThe hold up is trying to untangle the mess of patchwork systems and the fact that no updated technology works with a core that predates the internet. Thanks for investing so much in technology
DeleteThe elephant in the room is that our members defrauded us of $23 million and no one wants to talk about that. And how we’re still supposed to service them with their share account and access cards, etc. with a smile on our face.
DeleteI think it is a bit embarrassing that recent leadership isn’t entirely clear on how CashApp even works :/
DeleteI worked directly with much of the IS organization from 2000 - 2017 as a vendor (and member) and without a doubt they made major upgrades during that time. The Board is doing a disservice to the employees.
ReplyDeleteIs 9:17 saying data centers don’t matter because SECU is moving everything to the cloud? CrowdStrike here we come!
ReplyDeleteGlad all this is being documented out in the open so that members can show that the Board was negligent , including individual liability, if the ineptness continues.
ReplyDelete