Thanks to some notes in the comments Gene, on this wireless banking post, here are some details on a highly innovative approach taken to build a solution in house.
Whenever you use your MemberCard at an ATM or at an Interac merchant to purchase something, that transaction information will be sent to a cell phone in the form of a text message and that message will come to you very quickly. This is the verification that your MemberCard has just been used.
Source: Mount Lehman Credit Union – Personal Banking
This is in line with another innovative in-house approach reported here, (this one by a Bank!) to build an online account opening system.
In general this is refreshing, re-assuring, and I hope the beginning of a trend. If there are other examples out there, it would be great to hear about them. Modern tools, and application frameworks provide enormous flexibility and while it they are faster and more efficient to develop than traditional java, and .NET, Bank security and IT standards ‘councils’ often resist, so there is a window of opportunity for those who can move quickly.
Incidentally, while I do not know the tools used here for this particular wireless system, it will be interesting to note if we see more of this kind of thing being accomplished in-house.
Bankwatch 
Gene’s system is pretty sweet. Using easily available tools he’s been able to connect his banking system and push out a valuable service for members. It’s an interesting tool in that it helps keep members informed of account activity and feel safe; doesn’t require them to do much to make it work; and is free of charge (minus the fee you end up paying your cell phone company). Yet another CU innovation.
I wouldn’t say its really a “CU innovation” but rather CU’s have the ability to implement such solutions alot quicker then the institutions from the bigger end of town.