ACUMA ONpoint

Seeking graduate-level training in leading a credit union mortgage lending program? Ready to discuss everything from e-closings to improving the housing inventory to growing your mortgage loan portfolio? Look no further than Beth Eller, SVP of Mortgage Lending Truliant Federal Credit Union. She is among the “best” that the credit union mortgage industry has to offer when it comes to capability and commitment in serving member borrowers, according to ACUMA President Peter Benjamin, who shares with her the most significant issues facing credit union mortgage lending today. For Beth Eller, loving the industry she’s in and the members she serves is the first step to building a successful mortgage lending program, and perhaps the most important.

With apologies to whomever said it first, the theme of the latest ACUMA podcast – and the first in its monthly series on policy updates – could well be “May You Legislate in Interesting Times.” According to experts polled in this first episode, 2024 is no ordinary year, but one when not only the presidential administration may change, but how we do business as financial institutions may come under even closer scrutiny. Join D.C. policy experts Zach Pfister and Leah Dempsey, both from the firm of Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber and Schreck, as they share their thoughts and insights with ACUMA President Peter Benjamin on what the year ahead will look like for U.S. credit unions. “When it comes to making new laws, expect some very challenging sausage-making,” Pfister notes. And the growing encroachment of artificial intelligence – AI for short – is only one of the problems.

The partnership between credit union mortgage lenders and Realtors is as symbiotic as it can be successful. But that success is greatest when the two professionals have a previously established relationship and understand how best to meet each other’s business needs in the process, according to Christopher Davis, AVP of Business Development with Navy Federal Credit Union. Listen in to this podcast as Chris outlines Navy Federal Credit Union’s specific steps in meeting both the members’ needs and helping Realtors reach their goals in creating a dynamic relationship that yields the highest levels of success.

Difficult times call for exceptional leaders, those who can maximize the talents and personalities of their staff to address the needs of credit union members. How you get there from here comes through a blend of personal traits, professional training, and a positive attitude to help staff members work through their own opportunities and challenges to better meet their professional obligations. Carolyn Morganbesser, AVP of Mortgage Originations with Affinity Federal Credit Union, draws on personal grit, gumption, and her own experiences to maximize the best resources of others. At the end of day, Carolyn tells ACUMA President Peter Benjamin, choose a positive approach to reach out to your staff and everyone will benefit.

Looking back on ACUMA in 2023 may mean different things to different members, but it clearly meant good things – let’s say GREAT things – to the association’s powerhouse staff: Peter Benjamin, President; Krista Korfmacher, Director of Events and Member Relations; Justin Hawkins, Director of Marketing & Communications; and Camryn Hinton, Associate Director of Events and Member Relations. The four association professionals come together in this podcast for a candid, often humorous discussion of the year’s high points, biggest surprises, and best lessons learned throughout the year. 2023 was a year of growth with successes embraced and goals achieved. Tune in to relive the year’s highpoints, gain insights into ACUMA’s personalities and operations, and get an early-bird view of what’s coming in 2024. Hint: It’s going to be a great year!

The lack of affordable housing continues to plague society’s different economic strata, but there are things credit unions can and should do to foster greater homeownership among current and potential members. To credit unions, members are more than mere transactions, and it behooves them to act as servant leaders to make the dream of homeownership a reality. Join ACUMA President Peter Benjamin, CMB, as he learns how Le Tran, AVP of Mortgage Underwriting with WEOKIE FCU, and Tim Cox, Director of Neighborhood Funding with Neighborhood Housing Services of Oklahoma, reach the heart of the human spirit to deal with this critical issue.

Sometimes the smallest decisions we make have the greatest consequences, often defining and shaping the trajectory of our lives. For Suha Zehl, founder and senior advisor with Z Technology Solutions, understanding and seizing those pivotal moments define us and, ultimately, influence the direction and the success of our lives. This is true not only for ourselves as individuals, but for those we mentor, and even those who mentor us. ACUMA president Peter Benjamin, CMB, participates in a fascinating discussion with one of the financial services industry’s most original thinkers, learning that action leads to reaction and, most importantly, reflection, and that dreams without action are just dreams. Tune in.

The clearest path to financial security is through homeownership, but how many of your members know your credit union not only offers mortgage loans but is sincerely interested in embarking on that journey with them? According to Wendy Dawson, Vice President of Mortgage Lending for Coastal Federal Credit Union, this awareness is especially critical for first-time homebuyers. Through propensity modeling, Coastal identified 76,000 members who qualified for mortgage loans. Join ACUMA president Peter Benjamin, CMB, during this podcast as he discovers just how the credit union went about knowing its members, telling its story, and increasing its share of wallet to include more mortgage loans.

We've all heard it at some point or another in the past few years. Face-to-face conversations have seen a large decline. Peter Benjamin, President of ACUMA is coming to you live from ACUMA's Annual Conference in the beautiful Gaylord Hotel in National Harbor, MD where he is joined by Kathy Weber, VP of Residential Lending at Delta Community Credit Union; and Mike Vogue with Optimal Blue talking about all things Annual Conference and what it means to really make these personal connections as we move through such tough times. Sponsored by Optimal Blue.

How do you motivate your loan officers – internal as well as external – during difficult times? For Nestor Villanueva, AVP for Mortgage Production at Northwest Federal Credit Union, motivation and success are built on the twin cornerstones of trust and accountability. These are not processes that happen overnight, and they must create a two-way street to assure mortgage lending success. If both sides can hold each other accountable, then success will follow. Join ACUMA President Peter Benjamin, CMB, the host of this podcast, and learn more. Sponsored by MeridianLink.