Founders Corner: Integration is the Real Feature of Any Digital Banking Platform

When asked what's missing in digital banking, my answer is never a single feature. The real opportunity for community financial institutions (FIs) lies in integration - in other words, how their systems work together to create one single platform that can be used across account opening, digital banking, fraud, payments, etc.

But FIs almost always rely on separate platforms for account opening, fraud detection, digital banking, payments, and lending. Why? 

1. It is difficult to find a platform that fulfills the needs of all point solution problems.
2. The advantages of integration, which promise outsized value to financial institutions through a unified platform, are often overstated.
3. FIs are skeptical of a vendor that claims they can “do it all.”

While I think it’s unfortunate for the industry that we are at this point, I don’t blame financial institutions. Many have been burned by roadmap promises, failed acquisitions, or, simply put: platforms that don’t work.

The impact of true integration

A well-integrated platform can be a game-changer for financial institutions:

Imagine customers applying for pre-approved loans right within their banking app—no extra marketing needed, just seamless growth. 

Cross-selling becomes effortless, guiding users to activate debit cards, set up payments, or add business users without friction. 

Fraud prevention gets smarter with a unified system that detects threats across account openings and transactions. 

Payments become simpler with one interface for FedNow, ACH, wires, and Zelle—all protected by that same fraud backend. 

And for staff, a single backend for lending, payments, and digital banking means easier workflows and less training time. 

It’s not just about better technology—it’s about making banking smoother, safer, and more efficient for everyone.

The challenge of integration necessitates a practical approach

True integration is difficult. Different systems have unique architectures and priorities, making seamless interaction rare. While tight integrations are possible, separate systems will never function as smoothly as a purpose-built platform.

And even if the “right” platform solution with the right level of integration exists, many FIs feel stuck:

• “We can’t overhaul our tech stack all at once.”
• “Our vendor contracts expire at different times.”
• “Resources are too tight to transform all of our solutions at once.”
• “A lot of my tech stack is broken, but there’s one piece that I want to keep.”

The best technology providers design solutions that allow gradual adoption, meaning financial institutions pick one piece of their technology stack to modernize and grow from there. Conversely, if a vendor can’t support modular integration, then they haven’t thought through the realities of implementing software at financial institutions, and probably aren’t right for yours.

I don’t view integration as just a technology issue; it’s a competitive strategy. Institutions that get it right will lead the industry forward, offering more seamless experiences for their customers and saving their staff thousands of hours of work. 

Good integration transcends any one feature. After all, features can be built quickly by your competitors, but lasting integrations can’t be!