Securing this certification ensures DirecFunds’ uninterrupted access to EWS’s premier, bank-contributed data repository. This specialized intelligence network serves as a foundational component of DirecFunds’ proprietary fraud validation and prevention framework. By analyzing real-time financial data, this system identifies and flags anomalies before they materialize into losses, safeguarding digital payment pipelines from sophisticated transactional fraud.

The rigorous verification process was completed with the strategic assistance of U.S. Bank, one of the nation’s five largest financial institutions.

Through this ongoing integration, DirecFunds continues to deliver elite risk mitigation, helping partners and corporate clients execute high-volume payments with confidence.

The post DirecFunds Passes Comprehensive EWS Risk and Compliance Review, Strengthening Fraud Prevention Infrastructure first appeared on DirecFunds.

In this vital leadership role, Ms. Kim will oversee all of DirecFunds’ core product development, system architecture enhancements, and support programming initiatives. Her primary focus will be optimizing platform reliability, expanding API capabilities, and maintaining the absolute technical integrity of DirecFunds’ secure middleware infrastructure.

Ms. Kim joins DirecFunds with a robust background in enterprise-grade software design and database management. She previously served as a software engineer for National Data Systems Corporation, where she specialized in high-availability data processing and system security. Ms. Kim holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from California State University.

“Securing our payment environment and maintaining continuous technical integrity requires elite engineering leadership,” said the DirecFunds executive team. “Tiffany brings the exact combination of rigorous computer science principles and hands-on enterprise troubleshooting experience that our platform demands. As market adoption accelerates, her leadership over our development and support programming teams will ensure our software continues to scale seamlessly and safely.”

Based in Orange County, California, Ms. Kim is an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys mountain climbing, fishing, and playing tennis in her free time.

To learn more about the DirecFunds development roadmap or technical architecture, visit about.direcfunds.com.

The post DirecFunds Names Tiffany Kim as Senior Programming Lead to Head Development and Support Engineering first appeared on DirecFunds.

Mr. Wacker brings decades of elite, data-driven operational expertise to DirecFunds. As a retired senior executive from Kroger’s 84.51°, he spearheaded initiatives for the organization that manages the massive national Kroger Store Loyalty Program. During his tenure at 84.51°, Mr. Wacker worked closely with multi-billion-dollar Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) manufacturers, successfully translating complex, large-scale data insights into actionable corporate marketing and growth strategies for the Kroger Corporation.

Prior to his leadership role at 84.51°, Mr. Wacker built a distinguished career managing high-level data analytics and consumer insights at market-leading organizations including Catalina Marketing and dunnhumby.

Driving the Future of Fintech Middleware

At DirecFunds, our mission centers on eliminating transaction risk, preventing fraud, and establishing unchangeable, automated audit trails within banking firewalls. Achieving this requires an absolute commitment to data integrity and highly scalable software structures. Mr. Wacker’s deep background in navigating massive, enterprise-grade data pipelines adds invaluable strategic guidance to the DirecFunds board as the platform expands its integrations.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ken to our Board of Directors,” said the DirecFunds executive team. “His experience working alongside multi-billion-dollar entities and transforming technical data insights into secure, high-value corporate strategies aligns perfectly with our vision. As we continue to scale our fintech middleware to meet growing market demand, Ken’s operational wisdom will be an immense asset.”

A long-time resident of the region, Mr. Wacker is married with two daughters and resides in Cincinnati, Ohio.

To learn more about how DirecFunds builds authenticated environments for enterprise payment processing, visit about.direcfunds.com.

The post DirecFunds Welcomes Data Infrastructure Leader Ken Wacker to Board of Directors first appeared on DirecFunds.

Ms. Collins currently serves as the President of the Cincinnati Center for Improved Communications (CCIC), a regional leader in addressing communication disorders and language-based learning challenges. Under her leadership, the CCIC has become a vital resource for the majority of private schools in the Greater Cincinnati area, providing essential speech therapy and learning disorder services.

A longtime resident of the area, Sharon lives with her husband, Donald Hughes, and is an active member of the Terrace Park Country Club. DirecFunds looks forward to the insight and professional perspective she will contribute to the company’s future growth.

The post DirecFunds Appoints Sharon Collins to Board of Directors first appeared on DirecFunds.

Eliminating the Paper Check

The SoftPro E-Payments module will be “Powered by DirecFunds,” providing title agencies and law firms with the technology needed to finally eliminate paper checks. Despite modern advancements, 80% of all property closing payments are still processed via paper check today. This partnership provides a digital-first alternative that increases speed and reduces human error.

Unmatched Security and Insurance

Security is at the core of this integration. Every payment processed through DirecFunds passes through a proprietary Payment Fraud Filter. To provide ultimate peace of mind, DirecFunds backs its technology with a financial guarantee: agencies are insured against fraud-related losses for up to $1 million per payment.

A First for the Industry

SoftPro E-Payments, powered by DirecFunds, represents the first-ever embedded banking solution in the real estate sector to offer a comprehensive suite of payment rails, including:

• Wire Transfers
• Real-Time Payments (RTP)
• ACH
• Zelle

Beyond Real Estate

While launching first in the title industry, DirecFunds is actively expanding its reach. The company is currently working with leaders in Retail, Financial Institutions, and Manufacturing to integrate similar secure digital payment services into other major operating platforms that disburse high-value funds.

The post DirecFunds and SoftPro Announce Industry-First Embedded Digital Banking Solution for Real Estate first appeared on DirecFunds.

Here’s how it typically works:

• Scammers gain access to the email account of someone involved in the transaction—often a title company, real estate agent, lender, or attorney.
• They monitor the communication quietly, waiting for the perfect moment.
• Just before closing, they send an urgent, convincing-looking email with fake wire instructions, often using real signatures, logos, and formatting.
• Buyers—already overwhelmed with last-minute tasks—follow the instructions and unknowingly transfer their closing funds directly to the scammer.

These funds are often impossible to recover once sent.

How to Protect Yourself

Even a small pause can save you from a costly mistake. Before sending any wire transfer:

✔ Always verify wire instructions by phone
Use a trusted, previously confirmed number—not a number from the email.

✔ Be cautious with any last-minute changes
Legitimate companies rarely change wire details at the eleventh hour.

✔ Watch for subtle email address changes
Scammers often register look-alike domains that are easy to miss at a glance.

Stay Informed. Stay Protected. Stay in Control.

Understanding the risks is the first step toward stopping real estate fraud in its tracks. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or a seasoned investor, knowing how scammers operate empowers you to take the right precautions.

If you want to explore the landscape of real estate fraud more deeply—and learn how to better protect your money during the closing process—visit this helpful resource:

? https://about.direcfunds.com

You’ll find tools, insights, and solutions designed to make every real estate transaction safer, smarter, and more secure.

The post The #1 Threat: Wire Fraud & Email Compromise first appeared on DirecFunds.

Instant Payments, Superior Protection

Our new Digital Wire utilizes DirecFunds’ “best-in-class” Wire and Instant Payment prevention filter to significantly safeguard against payment fraud. This cutting-edge security measure is central to our commitment to protecting our customers.

• Consumers and businesses can now confidently send Good Funds instantly.
• Payments are processed using the FedNow and Real-Time Payment Networks.
• The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Addressing the Need for Security

The need for secure, instant payment methods has never been greater. According to the FBI, over $220 Billion in payment fraud occurred in the United States during 2024. DirecFunds is dedicated to reducing this risk for our users, offering both speed and unparalleled security.

The post DirecFunds Launches Nationwide Digital Wire for Instant, Secure Payments first appeared on DirecFunds.

For decades, the industry has relied on outdated, stressful, and risk-prone wire transfers to move closing funds. The process has become increasingly vulnerable as fraud schemes evolve, bank cutoff times disrupt closings, and consumers struggle to navigate unclear instructions. Settlement agents ultimately shoulder the burden, fielding phone calls, chasing confirmations, and resolving avoidable delays.

With Consumer Funds to Close, DirecFunds eliminates these challenges and delivers a modern, secure, compliant, and streamlined process for both consumers and settlement professionals.

Why the Old Way No Longer Works

Traditional wire transfers create unnecessary stress and uncertainty for homebuyers and settlement teams:

Escalating Wire Fraud

Wire fraud is rising at alarming rates across the real estate industry. Criminals intercept emails, spoof identities, and manipulate wiring instructions—often resulting in devastating financial losses.

Bank Cutoff Times

Buyers frequently find themselves rushing to the bank at the last minute, only to be blocked by cutoff times that jeopardize same-day closings.

Lack of Visibility

Consumers often worry whether their funds arrived safely and on time, while settlement agents scramble to track receipts and verify transfers.

Preventable Delays

Phone calls, troubleshooting, and confirmation chasing add unnecessary friction to the closing process.

A Modern Solution: How Consumer Funds to Close Works

DirecFunds replaces outdated wire transfers with a secure, intuitive, fully authenticated system that provides true peace of mind.

Here’s how it works:

1. The consumer logs into the DirecFunds Secure Portal at DirecFunds.com.
2. They enter their personal and banking information to be authenticated.
3. DirecFunds completes extensive fraud checks to verify all parties involved.
4. Good funds are transferred directly from the consumer’s bank account to the settlement agent—smoothly, securely, and without the stress of wiring instructions.

The result?
A safer, faster, more transparent way to move funds for closing.

Why Settlement Agents Love It

Consumer Funds to Close delivers:

• Enhanced security backed by Federal Reserve governance and SOC II compliance
• A faster process with no bank visits and no cutoff-time risk
• A consumer-friendly experience that reduces confusion
• Fewer inbound calls and status checks for your team
• More reliable closings with fewer delays

This is the future of good-fund delivery — built for title and settlement professionals who demand accuracy, compliance, and efficiency.

Questions? We’re Here to Help

If you have any questions about the platform or looking to register, please contact:

Ron Frederick
Ron.Frederick@DirecFunds.com

The post Introducing Consumer Funds to Close: A Faster, Safer, and More Reliable Way to Receive Good Funds first appeared on DirecFunds.

This partnership will play a vital role in supporting several new products and services that DirecFunds plans to launch nationwide in the first quarter of 2026.

In addition, U.S. Bank will serve as an important partner in the implementation of the DirecFunds-SoftPro Technologies Embedded E-Payment solution, which is also expected to be available across the U.S. in the first half of 2026.

This collaboration marks a significant step forward in DirecFunds’ mission to deliver secure, efficient, and innovative financial technology solutions to clients nationwide.

The post DirecFunds Announces Strategic Banking Partnership with U.S. Bank first appeared on DirecFunds.

Corporate One Credit Union, one of only five corporate credit unions serving as a key facilitator of payments for credit unions nationwide, has a strong presence in Ohio, Michigan, Florida, and California.

Through this partnership, DirecFunds and Corporate One Credit Union will collaborate on leading-edge digital payment solutions, with the potential to expand into additional software products. These offerings are expected to become available to the credit union industry beginning in 2026.

The post DirecFunds and Corporate One Credit Union Announce Strategic Partnership to Develop Digital Payment Solutions first appeared on DirecFunds.