Sturgis Bank partners MANTL for faster account opening

MANTL has partnered with Sturgis Bank to update the lender's business and retail account opening process across physical and digital channels in its Michigan branch network.

Sturgis Bank will use MANTL's onboarding and account opening products for online, in-branch and remote applications. The system is intended to cut the time needed to open new accounts and reduce manual work for staff.

Under the rollout, retail customers will be able to open deposit accounts online in under five minutes and in branches in less than 10 minutes. Existing customers will also be able to open additional accounts in fewer steps.

The partnership also covers business banking, allowing local companies to open deposit accounts online, in branches or in the field through the same process.

A planned initiative called Banking Brought to You is part of that effort. It is designed to let bank teams open accounts away from branches using QR codes, private application links and real-time account opening tools.

MANTL said its system automates more than 85% of application decisions, including know your customer, anti-money laundering and Bank Secrecy Act checks. It also handles product setup, funding and core booking.

That level of automation is expected to reduce the number of applications requiring manual review, giving staff more time for customer-facing work and business development.

Sturgis Bank serves customers through a network described in the announcement as 16 branches in Michigan, although background information on the bank also refers to 17 locations in south-west Michigan. The lender provides personal, commercial, mortgage and trust services.

Andrew McCall outlined the bank's rationale for the move.

"By partnering with MANTL, we are modernizing our account origination strategy to deliver a truly seamless omnichannel experience," said Andrew McCall, Vice President of Operations, Sturgis Bank. "This transformation enables our teams to move beyond manual processes and focus on what matters most: building stronger customer relationships. At the same time, we're driving efficiency, supporting deposit growth, and enhancing the level of service we provide to our communities."

Digital onboarding

The deal reflects a wider push among community banks to make account opening easier across mobile, branch and off-site channels. Lenders have been under pressure to reduce abandonment during onboarding while maintaining fraud and compliance controls.

For smaller and regional banks, remote account opening has become a bigger area of investment as customers expect the same process whether they start an application online, complete it in a branch or work with a banker in person outside a branch office. That has also increased demand for systems that connect identity checks, funding and account creation in a single workflow.

MANTL operates as an Alkami solution team. Alkami provides digital banking and related software to banks and credit unions in the United States.

Benjamin Conant said the partnership would give Sturgis Bank more flexibility in how it serves consumers and businesses.

"MANTL is proud to partner with Sturgis Bank as they invest in a more modern, flexible approach to account opening," said Benjamin Conant, Chief Product Officer, Alkami. "By equipping their teams with true omnichannel capabilities, Sturgis Bank is creating a faster, more accessible experience for both consumers and businesses while unlocking new opportunities for deposit growth and community engagement."