What does it really take to grow a business lending CUSO in 2026? Mark Ritter and Jeff Lyons pull back the curtain on eight years of organizational evolution, honest reflections on artificial intelligence, and where credit union technology is finally delivering results. From Microsoft Copilot upgrades that went from frustrating to impressive, to AI-assisted hiring wins, to the unfiltered reality of conference networking, this conversation is refreshingly direct. If you work in fintech or credit unions and want a perspective grounded in real experience rather than buzzwords, this episode is for you.

What You Will Learn in This Episode:

✅ How credit union technology like Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT has evolved from clunky early tools into genuinely useful platforms for business efficiency inside a growing CUSO.

✅ Why a thoughtful approach to AI adoption paid off for MBFS, including a real example of how updated job descriptions powered by AI led directly to a successful hire.

✅ How portfolio management practices and internal team development have transformed credit union growth at MBFS over eight years of organizational change.

✅ What conference networking looks like today compared to 20 years ago, and why showing up at trade shows is now more about relationships than closing deals on the floor.

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TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Jeff Lyons reflects on eight years of credit union growth and his evolving COO role

05:14 History of artificial intelligence, from Clippy to ChatGPT and credit union technology

09:44 Honest take on Microsoft Copilot, AI adoption struggles, and real business efficiency gains

14:21 How AI adoption improved hiring via smarter job descriptions and operational efficiency

16:16 The changing reality of conference networking, trade show etiquette, breakfast buffets, and industry trends observations

21:52 Wrapping up favorite conferences and final thoughts on AI adoption in credit union growth

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

💎 Artificial intelligence tools like Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT are no longer aspirational. Teams willing to invest in better prompting and consistent use are delivering real gains in business efficiency right now.

💎 AI adoption works best in small, practical steps. The MBFS team saw direct results when they used AI to sharpen a job posting, proving that credit union technology need not be complex to create a measurable impact.

💎 Conference networking remains valuable for credit union growth, but the purpose has shifted. Today, the goal is to maintain relationships and digital marketing visibility, not to generate new business from the booth floor.

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Jeff Lyons - LinkedIn

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Mark Ritter - Website

Mark Ritter - LinkedIn

SEO KEYWORDS:

Credit Union Conversations, Mark Ritter, MBFS, Credit Unions, CUSO, Credit Union Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Business Lending, Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Financial Technology, Credit Union Growth, Portfolio Management, Trade Shows, Conference Networking, AI Adoption