When the Network Fails: How satellite connectivity keeps credit unions resilient

By Agility Recovery

For credit unions in rural or underserved areas, reliable internet access isn’t always a given. Severe weather, fiber cuts, and provider outages can leave branches offline for hours – or days. And in today’s digital-first financial environment, that kind of downtime doesn’t just disrupt member service – it risks compliance violations, data loss, and reputational damage.

That’s why more credit unions are integrating satellite connectivity into their business continuity plans.

Why Satellite Connectivity Matters for Rural Resilience

Most credit union branches rely on terrestrial internet connections – fiber, DSL, or cable. But in rural regions, those networks are often less redundant, slower to repair, and more vulnerable to disruption from:

• Construction or equipment damage
• Power outages and severe weather events
• Congested or overloaded local networks
• Lack of infrastructure investment

With no backup in place, an internet outage can bring critical operations like member account access, call centers, and core systems to a halt.

Satellite solutions fill that gap, offering reliable, secure, and fast failover connectivity – anywhere.

LEO vs. GEO: What’s the Difference?

There are two main types of satellite internet used in business continuity planning:

GEO (Geostationary Earth Orbit)

• Established, widely available satellite internet
• Higher latency (~600ms)
• Ideal for general backup connectivity where speed is not the top priority

LEO (Low Earth Orbit)

• Newer, faster satellite networks (e.g., Starlink)
• Lower latency (~20–40ms) and higher bandwidth
• Better suited for seamless failover and near-real-time applications

Both options can serve as reliable continuity solutions, but LEO satellites offer the performance credit unions need to maintain near-normal operations when their primary internet connection fails.

Compliance Meets Connectivity

From an FFIEC and NCUA standpoint, maintaining access to core banking systems during an outage is essential to satisfying business continuity and disaster recovery requirements.

Satellite connectivity helps ensure:

• Continuous member access to digital and in-branch services
• Core system uptime during provider or infrastructure outages
• Compliance with backup connectivity mandates
• Business continuity in regions underserved by broadband

And because most satellite solutions are portable and can be deployed quickly, they also support continuity at temporary or mobile branch sites following a facility loss or evacuation.

What Credit Unions Can Do Now

• Assess your network risks. Are you in an area prone to outages or lacking broadband redundancy?
• Evaluate your failover plan. Does it include an internet backup that works when physical lines go down?
• Talk to your continuity provider. Agility Recovery offers both GEO and LEO satellite kits to ensure your credit union stays online – anytime, anywhere.

Connect with Agility Recovery for a tailored demo to learn more about satellite connectivity options for your branches.