Fintech Unleashed: Unlocking Innovation in Finance

Join Virginia Heyburn, Director of Research, Insights, and Advocacy at Engage fi, as she discusses the future of financial institutions with industry experts Fabio Biasella and James White. Explore how economic trends, demographic shifts, and technological innovations will redefine strategies for banks and credit unions in 2026. Learn about the importance of data strategy, product innovation, and agile technology environments in staying competitive. Don't miss this insightful conversation on adapting to a rapidly changing financial landscape.

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As we step in 2026, the financial services industry is facing a year defined by big questions, from economic uncertainty and shifting demographics to interest rates and accelerated technology innovation. In this episode of Leaders Give Back podcast, Virginia Heyburn is joined by our Executive Affiliates, John Cassidy, former CEO of Sierra Central Credit Union, Cathy Pace, former CEO of Allegacy Federal Credit Union, and Gene Pelham, former CEO of Rogue Credit Union to reflect on the hard lessons learned in 2025 and share fresh perspectives shaped by the defining forces of 2026. Some topics include the historic transfer of wealth, the rise of Gen Z in leadership, and the mainstream adoption of AI and generative AI.

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In today’s financial landscape where AI is rapidly evolving, digital transformation never stops. Technology can no longer live in a silo and neither can the leaders who guide it. In our latest podcast, Virginia Heyburn is joined by Engage fi’s Executive Affiliate, John Cassidy, former CEO of Sierra Central Credit Union, to explore how technology and business strategy must now move in lockstep. They dive into the rise of technology leaders as true strategic partners and what that shift means for the future of financial institutions.

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In this episode, Virginia Heyburn is joined by Engage fi’s Executive Affiliate, Cathy Pace, former CEO of Allegacy Federal Credit Union, to discuss mentoring the next generation of financial institution leaders. As a seasoned leader and now leadership educator, Cathy discusses the attributes that lead to sustainable leadership, the concerns she is hearing from young leaders, and what timeless lessons still matter most today.

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Virginia Heyburn is joined by James White, Principal Strategist at Engage fi, for a deep dive into one of the most transformative and challenging topics in financial services: artificial intelligence. They explore what it really takes to build and execute an effective AI strategy, the most common mistakes we see, and what a true AI strategy actually looks like. With so many AI vendors entering the market, they cover key questions you should be asking and highlight some red flags that can signal trouble ahead. Most importantly, they look at all the ways AI can reshape rolls, lead to more optimized operations, and strengthen the member or customer experience.

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In this episode, Virginia is joined by James White, Principal Strategist at Engage fi, for a deep dive into CRMs and AI. They explore how AI has transformed CRM from a static system of record into a dynamic tool that drives meaningful action. Virginia and James highlight the tangible results financial institutions are already seeing with AI-powered CRMs and look ahead at how AI driven and CRM driven banks and credit unions can future proof themselves against disruption in the financial services industry.

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On this episode of Fintech Unleashed, Virginia Heyburn is joined by Fabio Biasella, Engage fi’s Director of Strategic Services, to discuss the economic outlook for the second half of 2025. They explore key trends shaping the landscape, including the employment market, interest rates, inflation, and the growing debt burden. They also take a closer look at where loan and deposit growth may be headed, the biggest risks currently facing banks and credit unions, and potential threats to the traditional banking model.

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On this episode of Fintech Unleashed, Virginia Heyburn, Director of Research, Insights, and Advocacy, is joined by Jason Beckmann, Executive Vice President of Technology and Operations at Emprise Bank for an exciting conversation on emerging technology in banking. They dive into some of the hottest topics shaping the industry, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain, and banking as a service. They also explore how financial institutions can tap into fintech partnerships, navigate regulatory shifts, and take a proactive approach to managing risk.

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Virginia Heyburn is back with another episode of Fintech Unleashed. On today’s episode, Virginia is joined by Joe Dugan, Strategic Advisor at Engage fi. Together, they explore the importance of operational efficiency, the challenges faced by banks and credit unions, and how channel optimization can enhance the member/customer experience and lead to significant cost savings.  They also discuss the need for a customer-centric approach and practical steps financial institutions can take to improve service delivery.

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Virginia Heyburn is back with another episode of Fintech Unleashed. In today’s episode, Virginia is joined by Dr. Art Harper, Engage fi’s Strategic Consultant, Payments, to explore the role of AI in payment decision making. They discuss how AI-driven solutions can streamline processes, enhance personalized offers to strengthen customer/member relationships, and even support financial literacy initiatives.

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