Element 22 Commercial Group and OnCore Payment Technologies Partner to Strengthen Member Business Lending Ecosystems for Credit Union

KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN – SEPTEMBER 2026– Element 22 Commercial Group (“Element 22”), a leader in commercial lending strategy and execution for credit unions, today announced a strategic partnership with OnCore Payment Technologies to enhance the Member Business Lending (MBL) ecosystem through integrated merchant services solutions.

As credit unions continue to expand their commercial lending portfolios, the need to deliver comprehensive, relationship-driven business services has become increasingly critical. This partnership enables credit unions to move beyond transactional lending and into full-spectrum business banking—deepening relationships, increasing non-interest income, and strengthening long-term portfolio performance.

Through this collaboration, Element 22 will provide credit unions with access to OnCore’s end-to-end merchant services platform, equipping institutions to better serve business members with embedded payment solutions that complement lending relationships.

"Having worked with Brian Sullivan for more than a decade, I have witnessed firsthand his dedication to delivering exceptional service and results for his clients,” Kenneth Leonard, CEO & Co-Founder off Element 22 Commercial Group explains, “Brian's customer-centric approach, combined with his focus on solving problems and creating mutually beneficial outcomes, has earned the trust of countless business owners. We are proud to formalize our strategic partnership with PayOnCore and look forward to helping businesses grow through the combined strengths of our organizations."

OnCore Payment Technologies brings more than 30 years of experience in payment processing and merchant services, offering solutions such as gift card and campus card integration, cash discount programs, and specialized processing capabilities for a wide range of business types. Combined with dedicated, U.S.-based support and competitive pricing, OnCore enables credit unions to confidently extend additional value to their commercial members.

Advancing the MBL Value Proposition

This partnership is designed to directly support the strategic priorities of credit unions growing their commercial portfolios:

 Deepening Lending Relationships: Merchant services create ongoing, daily touchpoints with business members—transforming a loan relationship into a primary financial partnership.

 Driving Non-Interest Income: Payment processing introduces a scalable, recurring revenue stream that complements interest income from commercial loans.

 Enhancing Member Retention: By embedding operational tools like payment acceptance and processing into the relationship, credit unions increase switching costs and loyalty.

 Supporting Business Member Success: Access to modern, flexible payment solutions helps business members improve cash flow, reduce expenses, and operate more efficiently.

 Strengthening Competitive Positioning: Credit unions can better compete with banks and fintechs by offering a more complete commercial banking experience.

“OnCore is excited to partner with Element 22 to help credit unions deliver more value to their business members,” said Bobby Harabedian, President of OnCore Payment Technologies. “By bringing our payment and merchant services solutions together with Element 22’s commercial lending expertise, we can help credit unions strengthen relationships, enhance the member experience, and support the continued growth of their business banking programs.”

By aligning commercial lending expertise with advanced payment technologies, Element 22 and OnCore are helping credit unions evolve their MBL programs into comprehensive business service platforms—positioning them for sustained growth in an increasingly competitive market.

About Element 22 Commercial Group

Element 22 Commercial Group, headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan, supports credit unions and banks nationwide with comprehensive commercial lending solutions. Their services span the full lending lifecycle, including loan sourcing, underwriting, documentation, servicing, and loan participations. With a strong focus on service quality, the Element 22 Commercial Group team is dedicated to helping clients efficiently and effectively meet their Member Business Lending (MBL)/Commercial lending needs. For more information, visit www.element22cg.com.

About Oncore Payment Technologies

OnCore Payment Technologies has more than 30 years of experience providing payment processing and merchant services to growing businesses nationwide. Built around exceptional service and long-term relationships, OnCore delivers a comprehensive range of payment solutions, transparent pricing with no arbitrary rate increases, along with U.S.-based, in-house customer support to help businesses operate more efficiently.