Business View Magazine | August 2020

107 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE AUGUST 2020 F I RST FEDERAL SAV INGS & LOAN ASSOC I AT ION partner is FISERV. They’re our technology provider for our core banking systems and ancillary systems. That allows us to offer the same technology that the big banks do for a better customer experience.” Every business has had to adapt during the COVID-19 crisis, and First Federal has gone above and beyond to accommodate its staff and customers, especially seniors. The first step was to close all their building lobbies, operating only from drive-up windows for a period of time (those lobbies have recently opened again). Work teams were also separated and had people working remotely – separating key functions and teams to avoid losing an entire discipline with an infection. The senior community campuses are still closed to outsiders, so First Federal staff have been calling clients in those communities to see how they can help, reaching out by telephone to check in on them. Lindsay Liddell, First Federal Marketing Manager, explains, “We have online video guides, as well “We offer a full suite of services for consumers and businesses,” says Schlotfeldt. “On the consumer side, our biggest product is residential loans and home equity loans, and on the commercial side, commercial real estate and commercial loans for small business. Technology-wise, we have online and mobile apps for anything from standard depository accounts to applying for a mortgage loan on your phone. We also added credit monitoring at no charge through our Credit Sense app.” Of course, having the right partners is key to success. Of particular importance for First Federal is the long-time relationship with Elan Advisory Services. Schlotfeldt notes, “Elan provides services for community banks that we wouldn’t necessarily be able to offer, given our size. They have the scale and capacity to run credit card programs, and so we’re offering a First Federal branded credit card that they administer. We’ve worked with them in different ways in excess of 10 years. Another valuable