Austin Telco taps Alkami's MANTL to speed account opening

Austin Telco Federal Credit Union has selected Alkami's MANTL technology for retail deposit account opening across its online and branch channels, aiming to speed up onboarding and reduce manual work for staff.

The Texas-based credit union will use MANTL's Retail Account Opening product for both new accounts and existing members adding additional accounts. The rollout spans digital and in-branch processes across its 24 locations in and around Austin.

Faster onboarding

Members will be able to open a deposit account in five minutes or less through online banking, while the in-branch process is expected to take under 10 minutes. Existing members will be able to open additional accounts "in just a few clicks", the companies said.

Account opening has become a competitive battleground for banks and credit unions as customers compare digital experiences across providers. Many institutions are trying to reduce application abandonment and better align in-branch and online journeys, especially when customers start in one channel and finish in another.

MANTL's onboarding and account opening software includes automated decisioning and compliance checks. Austin Telco expects to automate more than 85% of application decisions, including Know Your Customer checks, Anti-Money Laundering screening, and Bank Secrecy Act checks.

The workflow also includes product service ordering, funding, and core booking-the creation of an account record in the credit union's core banking system once an application has been approved and funded.

Operational focus

Credit unions face pressure to meet service expectations with tighter operating margins while keeping pace with regulatory requirements. As volumes rise and fraud techniques evolve, automated verification and screening have become a priority for many institutions.

For branch teams, account opening remains one of the most time-consuming front-office processes. Reducing rekeying and duplicate checks can shorten appointments and free staff for sales and service work. Austin Telco positioned the MANTL deployment as a way to shift work away from manual review while maintaining controls.

Christopher Mraz, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Austin Telco FCU, described the project as a channel-wide update to how the organisation brings in new members and serves existing ones.

"At Austin Telco FCU, we are committed to meeting members where they are with a faster, more seamless account opening experience that reflects the way people bank today," said Christopher Mraz, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, Austin Telco FCU.

"Partnering with MANTL will transform how we welcome and engage members across every channel, bringing greater speed, consistency, and a more modern experience from the very first interaction," Mraz said.

"Just as importantly, it strengthens our ability to mitigate risk and reduce manual effort for our teams, so staff can focus more time on delivering exceptional service and building long-term relationships," he added.

Alkami and MANTL

MANTL operates as a solution team within Alkami, which provides digital banking and sales software to US financial institutions. MANTL was founded in 2016 and acquired by Alkami in March 2025.

The MANTL platform supports both deposit and loan origination. The firms said it can open new deposit accounts in under five minutes for consumers and under 10 minutes for businesses, depending on an institution's configuration and checks.

Benjamin Conant, Chief Product Officer at Alkami and a co-founder of MANTL, said the partnership is focused on keeping account opening consistent across channels and reducing friction.

"MANTL is proud to partner with Austin Telco FCU as it modernizes retail account opening to better serve today's members," said Benjamin Conant, Chief Product Officer, Alkami and Co-Founder, MANTL.

"By delivering a consistent, real-time experience across digital and in-branch channels, Austin Telco FCU is reinforcing its commitment to member-first banking while equipping its teams with tools that reduce friction, create deeper member relationships, and drive growth," Conant said.

Austin Telco is a member-owned cooperative founded in 1941. It reported assets of USD $2.5 billion and offers consumer and business banking products, including mortgages, credit cards, auto loans, and deposit accounts.

Austin Telco will use MANTL's automation for identity and compliance checks, funding, and core booking as it updates retail account opening across online banking and its branch network.