The Story Behind SNAP:
Banking Innovation from Zelus Automation Platform
Transforming banking operations through intelligent automation
Our Story
SNAP (Simple New Account Platform) is a revolutionary deposit platform created by Zelus Automation Platform, LLC. What began as a solution for one bank’s efficiency challenges has evolved into a comprehensive platform that’s transforming how financial institutions handle account opening and maintenance.
Our clients’ experiences validate SNAP’s impact. As one bank executive told his board of directors: “After evaluating deposit platforms for six years, SNAP is the first solution I’ve confidently brought forward for approval.”
The Evolution of SNAP
SNAP was born when a banking client expressed the need to dramatically improve the account opening experience. Their customers were waiting 30-40 minutes to open accounts, and back-office teams were drowning in paperwork and error corrections.
What started as a “dune buggy” built for speed has evolved into a full-featured deposit platform with capabilities that exceed expectations. We’ve spent years in design, development, and refinement—working directly with frontline bankers to create the most efficient and user-friendly account opening platform in the market today.
The SNAP Advantage
Our clients have experienced remarkable results after implementing SNAP:
85% increase
in operational efficiencies
95% increase
in employee input errors
82% decrease
in back-office processes
77% reduction
in account opening time
19 new branches
opened without additional operations staff
Training time reduced
from days to hours
Zelus Automation Platform Leadership
Meet the minds shaping the future of banking technology.
Russell Bond
CEO
As Chief Executive Officer of Zelus Automation Platform, Russell Bond leads the company’s strategic direction, sales initiatives, and is responsible for scaling the organization and expanding its innovative technology solutions. With over 30 years of leadership experience in the financial services and technology sectors, Russell brings a wealth of knowledge and a proven track record of driving growth, enhancing operational efficiency, and delivering exceptional client experiences. His career includes successful tenures at prominent companies such as Hewlett-Packard (HP), Diebold Nixdorf, Wex Inc., and Fiserv. Russell’s expertise in both sectors positions him to lead Zelus’s continued growth and innovation.
Joe Gillen
Founder & Chairman
Joe Gillen is the founder of Zelus and currently serves as our Chairman, bringing more than three decades of proven success in creating best-in-industry solutions for community banks and credit unions. Joe is best known for his role as founder and former CEO of Pinnacle Financial Strategies, where he revolutionized the overdraft privilege services industry by developing unparalleled technology to automate processes and enable full integration with the institution’s core. Under Joe’s leadership, Pinnacle implemented overdraft privilege at more than 1,200 financial institutions across the U.S.
Julie Dunn Story
President
As President of Zelus Automation Platform, Julie oversees product development and company operations while providing leadership for software development for SNAP. Julie’s understanding of bank operations and processes comes from her 28 years in banking in senior-management and executive-level positions. This extensive knowledge makes her an invaluable asset in leading the team for Zelus and understanding the real-world challenges banks face daily. Before her role with Zelus Automation Platform, she served for 12 years as Executive Vice President for Pinnacle Financial Strategies, where she was responsible for client support, product implementation, and operational strategy.
Strategic Partnerships
SNAP’s effectiveness is enhanced through strategic integrations with industry-leading partners:
SNAP integrates seamlessly with Jack Henry SilverLake™ and CIF 20/20™ via jXchange™, providing real-time updates to the core system. This integration allows frontline bankers to create new CIF records, open accounts, and perform maintenance while enforcing important business rules.
Our integration with ChexSystems provides best-in-class analytics and business rules designed to address risk, fraud, identity, and compliance matters during the account opening process.
Zelus has developed technology that interfaces with MEA’s Online Account Opening solution to automate the creation of new CIF and New Account records for mutual clients.
The Genesis of
Groundbreaking Banking
Since our inception, Zelus has focused on creating technology that solves real banking challenges. The development of SNAP came from witnessing the limitations of existing account opening platforms and recognizing the opportunity to build something fundamentally better. By combining deep banking expertise with innovative technology approaches, we’ve created a solution that transforms daily operations into competitive advantages.
Technology & Security
SNAP integrates with your core banking system and offers enhanced security features that protect both your institution and your customers:
Real-time Processing:
All transactions and updates occur in real-time through secure jXchange™ integration
Comprehensive Encryption:
All data transmitted is fully encrypted
Controlled Access:
Your bank maintains strict control over device and user access
Secure Authentication:
SNAP uses your bank’s active directory to authenticate users
Vendor Control:
All vendor access is tightly managed by your institution
Together, we’re shaping the future of banking.
Our Guiding Principles
At SNAP, we live by these guiding principles:
Client-Centricity
Clients are at the heart of everything we do. Their feedback directly shapes SNAP's evolution, and their success defines our success. We actively seek customer insights to ensure our platform addresses real operational challenges faced by today's financial institutions.
Innovation
We thrive on pushing boundaries in banking technology. Whether integrating new workflows, enhancing user interfaces, or streamlining complex processes, innovation drives us forward. We constantly challenge ourselves to find simpler, more efficient ways to solve banking's most persistent challenges.
Reliability
We understand the critical nature of banking operations. SNAP is built to be robust, secure, and dependable because we recognize that financial institutions cannot afford downtime or errors. Our rigorous development and testing processes ensure that our platform performs flawlessly when it matters most.
Collaboration
We believe in partnerships – with clients, industry experts, and fellow innovators. Our collaborative approach brings together diverse perspectives to create solutions that address complex banking needs. By working together, we develop technology that transforms how financial institutions operate and serve their customers.
Facing Forward
SNAP’s journey is guided by our commitment to transforming banking operations through innovative technology. We don’t just respond to industry trends—we anticipate the evolving needs of financial institutions and their customers.
As we look ahead, we’re expanding SNAP’s capabilities with deeper integrations across core banking systems, including our seamless work with Jack Henry SilverLake™ and CIF 20/20™. We’re developing new features that will further streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and drive growth for our banking partners.
Our vision extends beyond just account opening. We’re creating a comprehensive ecosystem that empowers banks to operate with unprecedented efficiency while delivering exceptional service at every customer touchpoint.
The future of banking demands bold solutions. At Zelus, we’re not just facing forward—we’re actively shaping what comes next.
Why SNAP?
SNAP, the Simple New Account Platform, isn’t just a name; it’s a promise:
Simple
We believe in making complex tasks simple. Opening and managing accounts shouldn’t be a headache for your staff or customers. With SNAP, even complicated account types become straightforward processes that anyone can handle with confidence.
New Account
SNAP transforms the account opening experience. Whether for new customers or existing ones, SNAP ensures the process is smooth, efficient, and hassle-free. We’ve reimagined how accounts are created and maintained to eliminate the friction points that slow down traditional systems.
Platform
SNAP is not just banking software or a bolt-on tool. It’s a comprehensive deposit platform that serves as the foundation for your account operations. Think of SNAP as the stage where banking magic happens – from customer onboarding to account maintenance and everything in between.
Life is too short for paperwork, lengthy processes, and avoidable errors. SNAP streamlines everything so you can focus on what matters most – building relationships with your customers and growing your business.
Ready to Explore SNAP?
The automated Deposit Platform of the future is here. Request a free demo today!
