Michael Motell

About Michael Motell

Payments infrastructure is one of those systems most people never think about—until something breaks.My career has focused on the operational side of that infrastructure—how money actually moves through financial institutions and across payment networks.I currently serve as Assistant Vice President of Payments at Beginnings Credit Union, where I oversee strategy, operations, and risk management across multiple payment channels including ACH, wire transfers, RTP, FedNow, push-to-card networks, and check processing. My work sits at the intersection of operations, compliance, and technology, with a focus on building resilient payment systems and supporting the modernization of payment infrastructure across those channels.My path into payments developed gradually—from frontline banking to back-office operations and leadership roles in payment and deposit operations before ultimately overseeing payment infrastructure itself. That progression provided firsthand experience across the full lifecycle of financial transactions, spanning member-facing services and the operational systems that power modern payment networks.I hold four industry certifications spanning the major payment systems in the United States:• AAP — Accredited ACH Professional• AFPP — Accredited Faster Payments Professional• APRP — Accredited Payments Risk Professional• NCP — National Check ProfessionalTogether these certifications reflect experience across the full spectrum of payment systems—from check image exchange and ACH processing to modern real-time settlement networks.My professional interests include faster payments adoption, ACH network operations, payments risk management, fraud mitigation, and the operational resiliency of financial infrastructure.Payments is a fascinating field because it brings together technology, regulation, and economics. The infrastructure may be invisible to most consumers, but it quietly supports trillions of dollars of economic activity every year—and it continues to evolve as new payment technologies reshape the way money moves.

Experience

1. Assistant Vice President of Payments

   Beginnings Credit Union

   Jul 2025 — Present

   Leads strategy, operations, and risk oversight for the credit union’s payments infrastructure across multiple payment rails, including ACH, wire transfers, RTP, FedNow, push-to-card networks, and check processing.• Oversees payment operations and product expansion initiatives supporting faster payments adoption and the evolving U.S. payments ecosystem while maintaining operational accuracy, efficiency, and regulatory compliance.• Ensures operational resiliency of payment systems through enterprise risk management, regulatory compliance oversight, and business continuity and disaster recovery planning.• Supports the credit union’s strategic adoption of emerging payment technologies while maintaining strong operational controls across domestic and cross-border payment services.

Education

• Binghamton University

  Bachelor’s Degree, English, General Literature and Rhetoric

  2001 — 2006

Skills

• Financial Reporting
• Remote Deposit Capture
• Business Development
• Risk Assessment
• Loan Origination
• Fraud Detection
• Credit Analysis
• Atm Networks
• Mobile Payments
• Chargebacks
• Mortgage Lending
• Branch Management
• Payment Card Processing
• Sales
• Bank Secrecy Act
• Teller Operations
• Iras
• Leadership
• Payroll Services
• Home Equity Lines of Credit
• Risk Management
• Wire Transfers
• Finance
• Payment Systems
• Employee Training
• G/L Reconciliations
• Credit Card Analytics
• Notary Public
• Consumer Lending
• Credit Cards
• Compliance
• Electronic Payments
• Ach
• Electronic Funds Transfer
• Records Management
• Identity Theft
• Public Speaking
• Reg E
• Credit Scoring
• Home Equity Loans