In the early days of COVID-19, important services shut down and uncertainty spread fast. For those already facing challenges, such as victims of domestic violence, lockdowns intensified their situations and critical resources were cut off.

The City of Los Angeles responded to this need by implementing Project Safe Haven to provide relief to domestic violence victims and their children. Project leaders brought in Usio – an integrated electronic payment services platform based in San Antonio, Texas Off Site Link – to support the effort from a financial standpoint. The company quickly and securely deployed preloaded debit cards for case workers to distribute directly to people who needed them most, when it mattered most.

Situations like the global pandemic shine a light on the critical need for people in vulnerable situations to access cash and other financial tools, especially in times of crisis. They also expose deeper, generational access gaps that have excluded millions of people from traditional financial systems – not just in cases of emergencies, but also in their day-to-day lives.

Partners With a Mission

Sunrise Banks understands power that financial technology (fintech) can have to improve lives. We believe it’s the responsibility of financial institutions to harness that power for good – to increase access, create opportunity, and enhance financial wellness in the communities we serve, particularly for those who have been left on the margins.

“Fintech partnerships aren’t just part of our business – they are central to our commitment to empowering underserved communities,” says Tyler Seydel, Chief Fintech Officer at Sunrise Banks. “That’s why we partner with mission-driven companies like Usio, whose work helps un- and underbanked individuals and families gain meaningful access to financial systems and long-term stability.”

As the sponsoring bank for Usio’s card issuing program, Sunrise Banks helps power the infrastructure that enables funds to be delivered quickly, securely, and at scale.

In a recent episode of the Social Currency podcast, Seydel and co-host Eric Schurr sat down with Kyle Ruschman, Usio’s Vice President of Prepaid Sales and Business Development, for an inside look at this important work – and what it takes to deliver high-impact support to a large number of people.

Powering Payments to Meet Real Needs

Usio is described as a “fintech first responder” – operating on the frontlines during financial emergencies. Its prepaid card solutions and digital payment infrastructure have enabled the company to lead critical high-impact initiatives like Project Safe Haven – a turning point that expanded its role in delivering emergency cash assistance to financially vulnerable individuals and families across the country.

“It allowed us to position ourselves in the market to be that first call for folks in that time of need,” says Ruschman.

In similar efforts during this timeframe – such as assisting individuals and families in Florida who were displaced due to a condominium collapse, as well as partnering with organizations in New York charged with incentivizing vaccinations during the pandemic – Usio distributed critical funds via prepaid cards quickly and securely.

“That’s when we really saw the power of scale with what our platform and our team could support,” Ruschman says. “It was almost $100 million – roughly a million cards that we put out, within a pretty short period of time.”

An Integrated Approach to Moving Money

What sets Usio apart in the market is its ability to handle multiple parts of the payment process in one place. While many other providers focus on a single function, Usio brings together payment facilitation, ACH (Automated Clearing House) processing, card issuing, and output solutions – making it possible to both collect and distribute funds within the same system.

Because these integrated capabilities allow users to more easily and immediately move through every part of the payment, disbursement, and billing processes, day-to-day operations for these organizations are strengthened. Instead of disconnected systems and multiple vendors, Usio provides users with greater consistency, transparency, and control over how funds move – making it easier to operate at a high volume.

While this streamlined approach strengthens the way payments work today, Usio is always thinking about what comes next.

To keep ahead of the competition and remain on the leading edge of the fintech space, Ruschman says Usio is continuously exploring new technologies. This includes biometric authentication that would rely on things like facial recognition, eye scans, and fingerprints for seamless, secure payments without relying on cards or cash.

“I think biometrics will have some disruption to the payment structure, and we want to be at the forefront of that,” Ruschman says.

Data that Drives Insights and Impact

Speed and security aren’t the only things Usio’s products and solutions bring to the table. Because the company manages the flow of funds, it can produce valuable data to help inform governments, companies, nonprofits, cities, and communities. By using the technology of prepaid cards, Usio can relay valuable information to its customers and partners, including what the money is being spent on and where it is being spent. This can lead to a better understanding of spending patterns, program effectiveness, and overall impact.

“You really don’t get that insight if you’re sending funds to somebody’s Venmo account or their PayPal account or sending them a check right to their existing debit card or bank account,” Ruschman explains.

Across many of its social impact programs, Usio finds that users spend the funds loaded onto prepaid cards within the community – supporting small businesses and enhancing local economies.

For nonprofit organizations, governments, and partners like Sunrise Banks, this data provides the opportunity to design programs that have a ripple effect – creating even greater impact and driving more meaningful, measurable outcomes.

Continue the Conversation

Don’t miss the full conversation with Ruschman, who also discusses how Usio leverages opportunities to engage youth, the company’s impact through guaranteed income programs, how he balances the fintech world with raising four kids, and much more.

Tune into Social Currency – powered by Sunrise Banks – for ongoing conversations on access, innovation, and impact. Listen and subscribe on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts

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