FIsionaries

Differentiation in the banking industry is not easy. Especially for a credit union with $400 million in assets and only 5 branches.

cPort Credit Union, headquartered in Portland Maine, has found that providing advanced digital services and serving the community in unique ways is the key to building a strong brand, supporting a powerful culture, and delivering continued growth.

My guest on the FIsionaries podcast is Ashley Simmons, Director of Digital Experience at cPort Credit Union. We discuss how cPort uses five core values as a guide to stand out in a crowded marketplace.

In the past, the ability to be on the cutting edge of innovation and digital transformation was only possible for organizations with the most assets and deepest pockets.

PeoplesChoice Credit Union has dispelled that myth, by rethinking traditional business models – continually creating new products, services and ways to better serve the community.

My guest on the FIsionaries podcast is Luke Labbe, President of the $325 million PeoplesChoice Credit Union in Maine. We discuss how PeoplesChoice continues to invest in digital technology and their employees to provide better member experiences, higher returns, lower loan rates and fewer fees for its members.

When consumers are looking to find the best rates offered on savings accounts, they usually are pointed to NerdWallet or Bankrate.com by Google. The problem is that the search results are often biased … influenced by advertising or affiliate dollars.

To respond to the need for a more extensive and unbiased source of the best savings rates nationwide, Seattle Bank created CD Valet. This unique site allows consumers to search for the best rates, set maturity and target rate alerts, track investments, and even receive financial education.

My guest on the FIsionaries podcast is John Blizzard, President and CEO of $800 million Seattle Bank. We discuss how a community bank can support an innovative culture across an organization, making an impact beyond geographic boundaries.

Financial institutions of all sizes must be able to deploy advanced technology and digital functionality at speed and scale. This can be a challenge for smaller organizations, but is made much easier with a strong digital-first culture and leadership that embraces change.

Premier Bank, headquartered in Youngstown, Ohio, has $8.5 billion in assets and operates 74 branches and 12 loan offices in 5 midwestern states, with wealth professionals dedicated to each community banking branch.

My guests on the FIsionaries podcast are Varun Chandhok, EVP and CIO and Kathy Bushway, Chief Marketing Officer at Premier Bank. They discuss how Premier Bank brings the best in digital banking to both current and prospective clients alike by leveraging partners across the banking ecosystem.

More than ever, financial institutions must rethink their legacy business models for growth and profitability. This is especially true for mid-tier organizations that can’t spend at the pace of the biggest banking leaders.

Headquartered in Stamford, CT, Webster Bank is a leading bank in the Northeast that provides a wide range of digital and traditional financial solutions. With $68 billion in assets, its core footprint spans the northeastern U.S., with certain businesses operating in extended geographies. They recently merged with Sterling Bank.

My guest on the FIsionaries podcast is Matthew Smith, Chief Digital Banking Officer and Head of Enterprise Product, Marketing, and Transformation at Webster Bank. Matthew discusses how Webster Bank has marched forward with digital transformation while also managing a core conversion as a result of their merger with Sterling Bank.

Community banks and credit unions have taken deposits and made loans to consumers, small businesses and dreamers of all kinds for decades. Over the years, the business model for these institutions has remained virtually the same.

But the marketplace has changed. Today, instead of being forced to choose the products that financial institutions offer, customers have come to demand the personalized products that they want from their bank or credit union.

My guest on the FIsionaries podcast is Curt Queyrouze, President, Coastal Community Bank. We discuss how a $3.2 billion bank in Everett, Washington is rethinking the products and services offered and the delivery channels used to better serve customers, employees and shareholders.

While many financial institutions are challenged to deliver digital banking solutions, Quorum Federal Credit Union, out of Purchase New York, serves their more than 70,000 members in 50 states with online and mobile banking options only.

Founded in 1934 as the exclusive credit union for Kraft Foods employees, Quorum now serves over 50 companies nationwide with highly competitive rates on deposits and loans and with a culture that encourages innovation and a commitment to the highest level of member experiences. In fact, Quorum was just named the Best Credit Union in 2023 by Bankrate.

My guest on the FIsionaries podcast is Jeffrey Pachter, President and CEO at Quorum Federal Credit Union. Jeffrey shares how innovation at Quorum never stops – and why status quo is not acceptable.

Welcome to the FIsionaries Podcast, sponsored by Alkami. I’m Jim Marous. This exciting podcast series shines a light on financial institutions at the cutting edge of digital transformation … providing you with the tips and tricks to elevate your digital game.

Our guests are competing with the biggest players in financial services by embracing their digital vision at speed and scale.

At a time when almost all financial institutions look and act the same, it is more important than ever to create brand differentiation through innovative products, a commitment to the community, and an internal culture that impacts members and customers directly.

Founded in 1940 with a schoolteacher’s shoebox and a handwritten ledger, iQ Credit Union has never forgotten its roots, growing relationships through empathy and a commitment to financial wellness education.

My guest on the FIsionaries podcast is Jordan Lehrman, Chief Technology Officer, iQ Credit Union, a $2B asset financial institution serving the Pacific Northwest. Matt shares how making a commitment to internal culture pays member dividends that stimulates growth.

Watch the video version of this interview on our YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@Alkamitech

Nothing will ever beat the service you can receive in a conversation with a real human being. But, in an age where people connect through mobile devices more than ever, data and analytics can support engagement across the customer journey.

Beyond risk and fraud detection, customer data and analytics can now monitor the financial health and needs of customers and members, including small business clients.

My guest on the FIsionaries podcast is Matthew Teoli, VP of Digital Channels at the $1B Florida Credit Union in Gainsville Florida. Matt shares data can personalize banking services and drive member engagement for improved results.

Watch the video version of this interview on our YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@Alkamitech

Welcome to the brand new FIsionaries Podcast, sponsored by Alkami, and hosted by me, Jim Marous. This podcast series shines a light on financial institutions at the cutting edge of digital transformation … providing you with the tips and tricks to elevate your digital game.

Today, most financial institutions (FIs) do not have the insights and data automation necessary to achieve a full understanding of account holders, proactively address their financial needs, and personalize their engagements.

To remain competitive in a very fluid market, FIs must apply the right balance of supervised machine learning and automation to data collection, enrichment, account holder analytics, predictions, and engagement.

My guests are Leeah Webb and Emily Stewart from Meritrust Credit Union and Ben Udell from Monona Bank. They share to how leverage actionable intelligence to deepen account holder understanding and transform experiences.

Watch the video version of this interview on our YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@Alkamitech