Sunrise Banks Embraces Intelligent Collections with AKUVO's Platform
Wide Adoption of Digital Self-Service
75% of collections payments now come through virtual channels
Dramatic Collections Efficiency Gains
Processes which used to take 30-40 minutes now take seconds to complete
More Intelligent Staffing
Automated digital outreach frees collectors to focus on high-touch accounts
Exceptional Support & Implementation
Fast & light deployment, seamless Go-Live, and continued, standout support
Overview
Sunrise Banks entered its modernization journey with a clear goal: replace an aging collections process with a system capable of scaling, automating, and elevating account holder engagement. After years of working within manual, fragmented workflows, the bank knew it needed a platform that could not only improve day‑to‑day operations but also provide a modern foundation for growth. Following an evaluation of several providers, Sunrise Banks selected AKUVO’s collections platform, citing its superior functionality, clean user experience, and ability to support any collections process under a single, intuitive system.
According to Ross Clay, Collections Manager at Sunrise Banks, the transition to AKUVO felt different from the start. The team experienced immediate improvements in efficiency, visibility, default management processes, and borrower interactions — results that Ross says “surpassed expectations.”
Why Sunrise Banks Chose AKUVO
As the team explored the platform further, they realized AKUVO could support far more than standard collections. “What we were doing before was archaic,” Ross explained. “The things we were able to do in AKUVO were something my team jumped into full force.”
Implementation: Fast, Light, and Exceptionally Supported
For many financial institutions, system implementations can be resource‑intensive and disruptive. Sunrise Banks experienced the opposite. Ross described the implementation as the smoothest of his 15‑year career, emphasizing how surprisingly light the lift was for his team. Collectors with varying levels of technical comfort onboarded quickly, and training requirements were minimal.
“This was by far the easiest implementation I’ve been part of,” Ross shared. “What I had to provide wasn’t extensive, and at no point did I ever feel weighed down by the process.”
Beyond ease of deployment, support quality emerged as a standout. Sunrise Banks consistently received clear, timely communication from AKUVO’s teams. Ross noted, “If I’m given something, I’m never left hanging for an answer. The communication and its speed have been fantastic.”
Go Live: Immediate Adoption and Bank-wide Excitement
The momentum didn’t stop with the collections team. As internal departments observed how AKUVO was elevating Ross’ team, interest spread rapidly across default management teams at the bank. They began requesting demos to explore additional ways the system could be utilized to bring more efficiencies to the organization. “With regularity, I get contacted about showing what the platform can do,” Ross shared. “The platform and the results, from a debt recovery aspect, are getting a positive reception bank‑wide.”
Real World Results: Efficiency, Automation, and Better Borrower Engagement
Sunrise Banks began seeing measurable impact almost immediately.
Digital Adoption & Virtual Payments
With Virtual Collector, AKUVO’s digital, self-service collections portal, borrower engagement shifted dramatically. Where previously payments occurred mostly over the phone during business hours, AKUVO enabled automated outreach and self‑service payment links. As a result, 70–75% of payments now come through virtual channels — a transformation Ross described as “a massive win.”
Dramatic Efficiency Gains
Prior to AKUVO, pulling account data required manual authentication, searches, and copying of data across disconnected systems, often taking 30–40 minutes per account. With AKUVO’s integrated Platform, collectors can access the same account information in seconds. Ross captured the impact best: “What used to take 30–40 minutes now takes 8 seconds. We can make two outbound calls and close the file in the time the old process would take to even start”.
Smarter Use of Staff Time
Automated outreach shifted collectors’ workloads, freeing them to focus on meaningful, high‑touch accounts. These improvements were visible not only in the team’s day‑to‑day experience but also in their dashboards, which clearly reflected when virtual campaigns were active and helping the team redirect their time strategically.
Growing Use Cases
Momentum continues as Sunrise Banks expands AKUVO into other related departments, including insurance tracking, dispute workflows, and commercial account oversight. As Ross summarized, “People get one look at it and say, ‘Yeah, this makes all the sense in the world.’”
“What used to take 30–40 minutes now takes 8 seconds. We can make two outbound calls and close the file in the time the old process would take to even start”.
Ross Clay
Collections Manager
Conclusion
Within just three months, Sunrise Banks achieved measurable operational gains—including a 70–75% shift to virtual payments, dramatic time savings in core workflows, and improved compliance through automated documentation. Collectors are happier, more efficient, and supported by a platform that continues to spark bank‑wide applause.
As Ross summarized: “This has been a big win—not just for me, but for the bank”.
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