MSU Federal Credit Union Wins Innovation Award for Pillur Platform

Developed alongside the core banking provider Nymbus, the Pillur platform addresses a significant gap in service for small and medium-sized businesses. Beyond providing digital-first financial tools, the system solved a critical challenge for the credit union: integrating accounts from its acquisitions of Algonquin State Bank and McHenry Savings Bank. By creating a destination brand for business clients, MSUFCU successfully migrated 1,100 SMB members and 2,500 accounts—totaling $64 million in deposits and $172 million in loans—without disrupting existing branch operations.

The initiative relies on a cloud-native, API-first architecture that functions as a sidecar core, running parallel to the institution's legacy infrastructure. This setup allows the credit union to maintain its established member experience while simultaneously scaling new digital brands. According to Ami Iceman Haueter, chief experience officer at MSUFCU, the technology serves as a vehicle to create distinct member experiences rather than an end in itself. For Nymbus CEO Jeffery Kendall, the project proves that institutions can leverage mergers and acquisitions as a growth accelerator for modernization.