Banking on a mission.

Inside AlloSource’s 15-year relationship with Commerce Bank.

Innovation is in the DNA of AlloSource, one of the nation’s largest providers of human tissue. For 30 years, the nonprofit has redefined what’s possible in tissue-based medicine — developing allografts that can help heal cartilage in damaged joints, restore mobility after traumatic injuries, and even promote healing in burn patients.

From its roots as a local tissue bank, AlloSource has grown to serve hundreds of thousands of people annually. Becoming an industry leader has required not just scientific breakthroughs and a community of tissue donors, but also trusted partners who understand how to support mission-driven growth.

That is where Commerce Bank comes in.

“We were looking for a long-term banking partner we could grow with,” said former AlloSource CEO Tom Cycyota in a 2011 discussion about the nonprofit’s decision to finance a 66,000-square-foot addition to its Centennial, Colorado headquarters with Commerce Bank a year earlier.

For AlloSource, trust in any relationship is fundamental. The organization manages sensitive, life-impacting materials and operates in a tightly regulated environment. Its mission — to honor the gift of donation and “do more with life”— is the guiding principle behind every decision.

“Commerce understands where we’re headed," Cycyota said at the time. “And they’re providing the banking services and guidance we need to get there.”

Taking the long view.

Fourteen years later, under the new leadership of President and CEO, Dean Elliott, Commerce Bank’s unique understanding of AlloSource’s long-term vision is as important as ever.

Over that time, Commerce has supported AlloSource through multiple stages of growth and an increasingly complex set of financial needs. What began with treasury services, bond financing, credit and trust services expanded to include a payment hub and purchasing and AP card programs. To improve efficiency of their accounts payable processing, Commerce later automated the organization’s payments and streamlined routine tasks using an AI-driven financial platform.

“We are constantly trying to implement ways to be more efficient as we grow,” said James Wilson, AlloSource controller. “Commerce understands our mission, and with each upgrade, they have helped us tailor our systems to get us to our goal.”

Artificial intelligence, thoughtfully applied.

Recently, that meant transitioning their Artificial intelligence (AI) automation to the Esker platform, which offers broader functionality to support their evolving needs. As part of the move, Commerce added a collections module to automate AlloSource’s collection efforts, along with a cash application module to streamline reconciliation.

Both tools — now part of AlloSource’s accounts receivable process — have improved staff productivity and strengthened financial operations, according to Heath Gaston, senior accounts receivable specialist for AlloSource.

Formerly a manual task, the Esker system now triggers collections letters automatically based on the age of a customer’s outstanding balance, Gaston explained. “The system handles the predictable stuff, allowing our team to focus on more complex cases that require direct follow-up.”

Esker’s cash app tool also saves staff time by automatically matching payments to open invoices when remittance information meets accuracy thresholds. “It not only supports more timely and accurate posting of payments, but it also improves visibility into incoming payments, allowing the team to manage cash flow more strategically,” Gaston said. Both impact the organization’s ability to fulfill its mission.

“We have a high volume of complex transactions and want to make sure our cash gets posted on time each day,” said Gaston. “Any delays can impact our ability to serve patients.”

On the Accounts Payable side, AlloSource relies on Commerce’s invoice automation tool, introducing efficiencies and cost savings gained by making payments with AP and purchasing cards, rather than paper checks.

Balancing automation with human touch.

While AlloSource is embracing smart technologies that make its financial operations more efficient, it’s doing so on its own terms, verifying and ensuring the tech supports — but does not replace — the personal care its mission demands, according to Wilson.

“There’s a fine line with automation,” said Wilson. “You want efficiency for routine tasks, but when there is an issue, you need a real person to talk to.”

“When an automated letter goes out, it’s just a notification,” he added. “But when a customer or vendor calls us, we want to be there to answer questions and solve problems.” That mindset closely mirrors how the AlloSource team views Commerce Bank’s role.

“We don’t need someone involved in every transactional notification,” Wilson said. “But if something’s not working, we expect Commerce to be there, and they are.”

Customer service, Wilson noted, has changed a lot over the last decade. “But not with Commerce. When we call, we talk to a person. If we leave a message, we get a call back. That kind of responsiveness is rare.”

Senior payroll and accounting manager Veronica Arnold agreed, “Sometimes the challenge is knowing when automation is enough, and when a situation needs a personal touch. Commerce knows where that line is. Maintaining the right balance is something they do well, and it makes a difference.”

Preparing for what’s next.

That ability to scale technology thoughtfully — without losing the human touch — has strengthened the connection between the two organizations.

“The Esker modules are capable of much more than we’re currently using them for,” said Gaston. “Commerce has suggested expanding into new areas that can help us — but they have never pushed us to adopt anything we weren’t ready for. They’ve always respected our judgement on that.”

While Esker’s full potential is still unfolding, the team is confident it’s on the right path — with systems that can grow with the organization. “We trust the system more every day,” said Gaston.

“With Commerce, it’s not just that they implement these solutions and walk away,” added Arnold. “They’ve been a true financial partner. They check in. They stay close. They conduct a review every year — sometime more often.”

“Commerce wants to understand how our business is evolving — so they can help us find the best strategies for moving forward,” she said. “Their approach helps us stay proactive.”

“We may not be ready to hand everything over to AI,” added Gaston. “But we’re making steady progress — and, as with all our banking needs — we trust Commerce to guide us.”