To open a new member account — in branch or online
Time Saving
Members
Account opening time dropped from 30–45 minutes to 3–5 minutes
Member data syncs automatically to core instantly — no manual entry
QR codes let staff open accounts on the spot at community events
Staff morale increased significantly — more time for member conversations, less time on paperwork
Now expanding to business and trust accounts on the Glide platform
Financial institution
Credit Union
Asset size
$800m AUM
Employees
96
Headquarters
Sacramento, CA
About Sacramento Credit Union
Sacramento Credit Union has been serving California's capital city since 1935, when a group of Sacramento County employees pooled resources in an abandoned church on Seventh Street. Nearly nine decades later, the credit union manages $754 million in assets and has expanded well beyond its county employee roots to serve the broader Sacramento community across branches in Sacramento, Elk Grove, Folsom, and Roseville. The institution has always been member-driven by design — but its account opening process hadn't kept pace. Manual workflows, department handoffs, and a clunky online experience were costing members time and costing the credit union growth.
The problem: opening an account took longer than it should have
Before Glide, opening a new member account at Sacramento Credit Union took anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes. ChexSystems checks had to be run manually. If something flagged, staff had to wait for another department to review before proceeding. Every step required human intervention.
The online experience was just as limited. The credit union was opening roughly 10 accounts a month through its digital channel — a number that told its own story.
"It wasn't very efficient for our employees and then as that trickled down to our members, it was taking anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes to open an account. Our online experience — we were opening maybe 10 accounts a month and we just felt like we weren't getting the quality of accounts or the number of accounts we needed." — Tammy Ellis, Region Manager
What changed after going live
Sacramento Credit Union went live on Glide earlier this year. The shift was immediate — and it showed up in places beyond just the clock.
Staff morale lifted. With accounts opening in 3 to 5 minutes and member data syncing automatically to the core system overnight, frontline employees stopped spending their time on manual entry and started spending it on members.
"They're talking about how quickly and how efficient it is now to open an account — to where they can have more of a financial consultation with their members versus focusing on getting the account open."
At community events, the QR code changed everything. Staff started taking codes to events and letting members open accounts on the spot — no branch visit required. The reaction from members was consistent.
Member Feedback
"Members can't believe how simple and how quick. They're like, 'Oh, that's all I need to do? I'm done.'
The next chapter: business and trust accounts
Sacramento CU is now kicking off business and trust account opening with Glide — and the team's reaction to the kickoff said everything. One staff member walked out of the room and said it was going to feel like she was missing something, because the process was so simple compared to what they were used to.
For Tammy, that reaction is exactly the point. Before Glide, a 30-to-45-minute account opening left no room for the deeper member conversations that actually drive growth. The time is now there.
"Now with Glide, we're going to be able to do it all."
Manager, Sacramento CU
Want to see what Glide can do for your credit union?
Sacramento Credit Union went from 45-minute account openings to under 5 minutes — and is now expanding across business and trust accounts on the same platform. Schedule a demo with Glide to see how fast your team could get there.
