Clear Mountain Bank adopts Alkami digital platform

Clear Mountain Bank has launched Alkami's digital banking platform for its retail and business customers, and plans to expand the relationship by adding Alkami's data and marketing products.

The rollout is intended to modernise the bank's digital banking service while preserving its customer service model. The platform is now live for retail and business users and includes Positive Pay and ACH Reporting for business customers.

Clear Mountain Bank serves north central West Virginia and western Maryland and has operated for more than 130 years. The change reflects a broader push by smaller lenders to improve digital services as customers increasingly expect consumer and business banking tools to work consistently across mobile and desktop channels.

For business customers, Positive Pay and ACH Reporting add tools for payment monitoring and fraud checks. Those functions are designed to improve transaction visibility and support day-to-day operations for commercial users.

The lender is also preparing to introduce Alkami's Data & Marketing Solution. The product uses transaction data to help banks identify customer needs and shape marketing and cross-sell activity based on account behaviour and product use.

Digital bank shift

Digital banking suppliers are increasingly targeting community banks with platforms that combine front-end banking services with data analysis and customer marketing tools. For smaller regional institutions, the appeal often lies in upgrading online and mobile services without having to build those systems in-house.

David M. Thomas said the bank wanted to match the digital standards of larger rivals while preserving its local identity.

"At Clear Mountain Bank, our goal is to provide the same high-end digital capabilities you'd find at larger institutions, without losing the hometown experience that defines who we are," said David M. Thomas, President and Chief Executive Officer of Clear Mountain Bank. "Launching Alkami's Digital Banking Platform allows us to deliver a modern, user-friendly experience to both our retail and business customers, while continuing to strengthen the relationships at the heart of our community."

That balance between digital access and local service has become a defining challenge for community banks. Many are trying to retain long-standing customer relationships while responding to competition from national banks and financial technology groups with larger technology budgets.

The new system is intended to give customers a more consistent digital experience across devices while supporting the bank's competitive position and relationship-led approach.

Outlook

Tim Boyles linked the next phase of the partnership to the bank's use of customer data.

"We see a real opportunity to better understand our customers through the data we already have," said Tim Boyles, Chief Experience Officer of Clear Mountain Bank. "The Data & Marketing Solution will help us identify needs sooner and connect customers with the right products, without losing the personal touch that sets us apart."

Alkami, which sells digital banking software to US banks and credit unions, said the Clear Mountain deployment shows how smaller institutions are combining customer-facing banking tools with back-end data analysis. Suppliers in this market are increasingly pitching integrated systems that cover onboarding, digital servicing and customer engagement in a single environment.

Taylor Adkins, Vice President of Product Management at Alkami, said the bank's approach reflects that shift. "Clear Mountain Bank demonstrates how community financial institutions can pair advanced digital capabilities with a strong relationship culture," Adkins said. "With the Digital Banking Platform already live and the Data & Marketing Solution on the horizon, they're well-positioned to drive engagement, protect customers, and fuel sustainable growth."