Fortifying the Vault: A New Alliance Tackles Credit Union Cyber Risk

EAST LANSING, Mich. – July 29, 2026 – In a strategic move to reinforce the digital defenses of the credit union industry, Reseda Group, the fintech CUSO of MSU Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU), has announced a significant investment in Stickley on Security. The partnership aims to make comprehensive cybersecurity and fraud prevention education broadly accessible, addressing a sector grappling with increasingly sophisticated cyber threats that cost the U.S. economy a reported $21 billion last year alone.

This collaboration brings together Reseda Group's CUSO-driven investment model with a newly consolidated security powerhouse. Stickley on Security, founded by cybersecurity expert Jim Stickley, recently merged with VYFI, an industry-leading information security CUSO. The result is a single organization designed to provide a full spectrum of security services, from employee training and member education to technical risk assessments and incident response planning. The investment signals a critical shift in how the credit union movement is confronting systemic risk: through collaborative innovation rather than isolated defense.

A Frontline Defense Against an Evolving Threatscape

The timing of this partnership is no coincidence. Credit unions are prime targets for cybercriminals, who leverage everything from AI-generated phishing campaigns to complex ransomware attacks that not only lock down systems but also threaten to expose sensitive member data. The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) has designated cybersecurity as its top supervisory priority for 2026, demanding that institutions demonstrate robust board-level oversight, rigorous risk assessments, and battle-tested incident response plans.

"Reseda Group's investment in Stickley on Security is a continuation of our efforts to expand fraud prevention and financial security services for credit unions," said Ben Maxim, COO of Reseda Group and CTO of MSUFCU. "We believe that collaboration is the backbone of an innovative industry, and our investment directly reflects that. We are proud to partner with a company making fraud prevention education more accessible for all credit unions and, in turn, providing a more secure and trustworthy experience for their members."

This partnership directly confronts the resource gap that often leaves smaller credit unions vulnerable. Many lack the budget or in-house expertise to combat threats that are growing in scale and complexity. Stickley on Security aims to level the playing field by offering a consolidated solution that was previously the domain of large financial corporations.

"Financial institutions shouldn't have to assemble a half-dozen vendors to build an effective cybersecurity program," said Jim Stickley, Founder and CEO of Stickley on Security. His vision is to provide a single, trusted partner that can guide credit unions through today's security labyrinth. "From risk assessments, IT audits, penetration testing, and security assessments to vulnerability management, employee security awareness training, member security education, incident response planning, and organizational resiliency, we provide a comprehensive suite of cybersecurity services designed to strengthen security, support governance and compliance, and reduce risk," he explained.

The Collaborative Power of the CUSO Model

This investment is a prime example of the Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO) model acting as a powerful engine for industry-wide progress. Formed in 2021, Reseda Group embodies the "credit union helping credit union" philosophy. By investing in and partnering with specialized firms like Stickley on Security, it creates an ecosystem of advanced solutions that can be shared across the movement, allowing institutions of all sizes to benefit from economies of scale.

This approach provides a compelling alternative to sourcing solutions from purely commercial vendors, who may not fully grasp the unique operational and regulatory environment of credit unions. The CUSO structure fosters a deeper sense of trust and alignment, as the solutions are backed by a peer institution. For Reseda Group, adding a premier cybersecurity provider to its portfolio is a foundational move. It ensures that the other innovative fintech and member engagement solutions within its ecosystem can be deployed on a secure and trusted bedrock, a critical factor for both regulatory approval and member adoption.

The strategic synergy is clear: Reseda Group provides the capital and the collaborative framework, while Stickley on Security delivers the specialized, battle-tested expertise. This combination allows for the rapid deployment of high-caliber security resources across an industry that is foundational to the financial health of millions of Americans.

Empowering People: The Critical Human Layer of Defense

While technical defenses are essential, the partnership places a strong emphasis on the often-overlooked human element of cybersecurity. Industry reports consistently show that social engineering—tricking people into revealing sensitive information or granting access—remains a primary vector for successful cyberattacks. With the rise of AI-powered deepfakes and hyper-personalized phishing emails, the need for a well-trained human firewall has never been greater.

Stickley on Security was built on a mission to make security awareness meaningful and accessible. The firm's education courses, training programs, and newsletters are designed not just for compliance checkboxes but to create a genuine culture of security. This involves empowering employees to recognize and report threats while also educating members on how to spot scams and protect their own accounts. This dual-pronged educational strategy is vital for building long-term resilience.

By teaching members to be more vigilant, credit unions can reduce fraud losses and strengthen the trust that underpins their relationship. When members feel their financial institution is actively helping them stay safe, their loyalty deepens. The recent merger with VYFI further enhances these capabilities, bringing additional expertise in regulatory readiness and information security to create a more holistic training and awareness program.

Ultimately, this collaboration between Reseda Group and Stickley on Security is about more than just a financial transaction; it's a structural enhancement to the credit union industry's collective defense. By making enterprise-level expertise and comprehensive education accessible to all, the partnership provides a scalable model for securing the financial data and trust of millions of credit union members nationwide.