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When you are new to the payments industry and accept a new position, the task of growing your knowledge and grasping the necessary information can be a bit daunting. It’s certainly a mixture of joy and stress! Here’s how EPCOR changed the game for me.
I became my previous institution’s ACH Coordinator in October of 2017. This was a very exciting promotion for me, and I looked forward to being in an environment where I could grow and learn more about electronic payments. I was able to brush up on some basic information through EPCOR’s online ACH training courses. The courses gave me a basic understanding of electronic payments and the many rules and regulations governing them. However, I found myself struggling with how to apply that information and understanding what was currently happening in the payments space.
Wanting to excel in my position, I asked my supervisor for more training and she informed me that I would be attending Payments Systems Update in March of 2018. I had no idea what to expect but was pleasantly surprised when I walked into a room full of professionals eager to learn. I also discovered that our trainer, Danielle James, once held my exact position at my institution. Danielle had a reputation for being kind and bubbly, which made the information enjoyable and easy to grasp.
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Throughout the training, Danielle never shied away from a question and was able to answer most questions easily. I was also impressed that she wasn’t afraid to not have an immediate answer. I saw Danielle have side discussions during breaks to clarify what the member was asking and get more background information. She would also hold off on answering to ask a colleague if necessary. I left the class feeling more confident in my knowledge and excited to continue learning about the importance of my position.
In 2019, I was excited to attend Payments Systems Update once again, as I was studying to take my Accredited ACH Professional (AAP) exam that year and wanted to network with the other professionals that would be in attendance. The learning event was a welcomed break from my normal day-to-day activities and allowed me to zero in on payment issues and challenges important to my institution. This time around, I had more knowledge and experience under my belt, so I felt I was able to truly understand what was being discussed and weigh in on discussions about how different changes may affect institutions and how institutions can be proactive. Once again, Danielle was our trainer that year and it was nice to have her bubbly attitude to greet us and laugh with us throughout the day. She addressed every topic thoroughly, maintained a professional and approachable persona and made notes to contact attendees about any questions she couldn’t answer that day.
Overall, Payments Systems Update is there for the members and professionals to get a better understanding of what is going on in the industry today, tomorrow and the days to come. It is literally an update of ACH Rules changes, regulations and industry best practices for electronic payments. Whether you are new or very seasoned in payments, you will walk away having learned something new or with a better understanding of upcoming payments changes and challenges. An ACH professional will be more knowledgeable in their position after attending Payment Systems Update, because of the networking opportunities and information shared. To me, the experience is worth every penny paid and every mile driven, as it allows professionals in the industry to remain up-to-date and proactive in their planning.
If you’re interested in attending Payment Systems Update, click here to learn more! But hurry, seats fill up fast, so register today. Or, if you have any questions, reach out to Member Support at 800.500.0100 or via email at memserve@epcor.org.