Jared Freeman, President & CEO of OnPath CU shares a practical and human-centered approach to AI. In this candid conversation, he reveals how AI is helping his team at OnPath Credit Union anticipate member needs, streamline processes, and enhance relationships—without replacing humans. Learn how Jared balances rapid growth, board expectations, and emerging technology, while keeping empathy, culture, and trust at the center of his strategy. Discover why he believes in a “crawl, walk, run” approach to AI, how early experimentation with predictive tools can prevent member challenges before they arise, and why the human touch remains irreplaceable for high-stakes conversations like mortgages, first-time homebuying, and financial counseling. This episode proves: AI augments humans, but wisdom, culture, and emotional intelligence remain entirely human.

What does real leadership look like in the age of AI? Dan Sutton, President & CEO of Kemba Credit Union, makes it clear: “Not on my watch.” No employee at Kemba will lose their job to AI.In this candid Human x AI conversation, Dan shares his 26-year journey from the lowest-ranking member of the accounting department to CEO — and why he believes AI should remove the mundane, not the meaningful. From deploying AI in the contact center as a protected knowledge base to calming employee fears with steady reassurance, Dan explains how technology can enhance empathy, not replace it. He introduces his powerful metaphor: don’t be the ostrich hiding from AI — be the giraffe who sees what’s coming.This episode is a masterclass in balancing innovation with humanity — and proof that AI and people can win together.

Vyjayanthi Vadrevu, founder of Incluya and applied cultural anthropologist, explores a powerful question: Can AI truly understand humans? She explains why today’s AI systems often reflect a narrow, Western-centric perspective — and why financial “peace” means very different things across cultures. From her background in anthropology and innovation at Capital One to building an AI company focused on emotional and cultural intelligence, she shares how technology must move beyond efficiency and into empathy.We explore bias in AI, the emotional undercurrent of financial decision-making, and why ancient intelligence — human wisdom, context, and culture — must guide artificial intelligence.This is a deep conversation about trust, culture, and what it really means to build human-centered AI in financial services.

From launching credit score education products to building AI learning programs that take employees from “AI Cadet” to “AI Wizard,” Bhavna, Chief Digital Officer at Baxter Credit Union, shares how BCU is embracing innovation with intention. With one in five members logging into mobile banking daily, digital engagement is strong, yet branch and phone interactions still drive higher trust and NPS. Why? Because banking isn’t just about transactions. It’s about confidence, empathy, and human connection.This conversation dives into AI experimentation, user experience evolution, and why the future of financial services isn’t human vs. AI — it’s human x AI.

From launching credit score education products to building AI learning programs that take employees from “AI Cadet” to “AI Wizard,” Bhavna, Chief Digital Officer at Baxter Credit Union, shares how BCU is embracing innovation with intention. With one in five members logging into mobile banking daily, digital engagement is strong, yet branch and phone interactions still drive higher trust and NPS. Why? Because banking isn’t just about transactions. It’s about confidence, empathy, and human connection. This conversation dives into AI experimentation, user experience evolution, and why the future of financial services isn’t human vs. AI — it’s human x AI.

In this episode of Human x AI, we sit down with Bob Morgan, CIO at PrimeWay FCU, a trailblazing innovator in the credit union movement. From onboarding Eltropy early to shaping AI adoption at Primeway FCU, Bob shares his practical approach: start small, learn with what you know, and embrace AI without fear.He reveals how AI can handle the repetitive tasks, compliance, paperwork, even fraud detection, so humans can focus on what really matters: enabling dreams, educating members, and adding genuine value.Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, this conversation proves that AI is a partner, not a replacement, and that human ingenuity will always be the driver of impact and innovation.

What happens when a self-described AI “outlier” leads finance at a community institution? Michael Cruz, CFO of Seattle Credit Union, explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping financial services, without replacing the human heart. From using ChatGPT to model financial scenarios and remodel his home to experimenting with AI copilots for internal knowledge systems and underwriting, Michael shares a refreshingly balanced perspective: AI as calculator. AI as copilot, But never AI without humanity. his takeaway? AI will augment us. But trust, culture, and heart are still human.

Barb Lowman, President of CUNA Strategic Services, shares why understanding AI before jumping in is critical for credit unions, boards, and employees alike. From early education with boards to guiding institutions on automating mundane tasks and enabling self-service for members, Barbara shows how AI can amplify human potential rather than replace it. Along the way, she shares fun personal stories - from decoding Shakespeare on her honeymoon with ChatGPT to her hands-on philosophy for thoughtful AI adoption. Learn how education, strategy, and governance form the foundation for successful AI integration, why humans still add irreplaceable value, and how credit unions can embrace AI confidently - turning fear into opportunity, efficiency, and deeper human connections.

Kent Lugrand, President & CEO of InTouch Credit Union, calls himself an AI “tweener” — not a skeptic, not a zealot, but a leader leaning in with intention. In this compelling episode of Human x AI, Kent shares how AI is transforming decision-making, accelerating operations, and unlocking new capacity across his 70,000-member credit union. Tasks that once consumed hours now take seconds, creating space for deeper member relationships and smarter strategy. He addresses the real fears around AI, the responsibility of leadership during disruption, and why trust and human judgment remain irreplaceable. For executives navigating the AI shift, Kent offers a grounded, powerful roadmap for embracing innovation without losing your soul.

Sundeep Kapur, Founder of Digital Credence believes AI in credit unions doesn’t need to be intimidating, it just needs to be useful. As a founder and a technology educator working with multiple credit unions at once, Sundeep compares AI to GPS: you may know the route, but AI helps you find the better one. From smarter chatbots and call monitoring to biometric authentication and emerging neurosymbolic AI, he breaks down practical use cases already improving operations today. But his core message is simple: let AI handle the repetitive and mundane, so humans can focus on empathy, trust, and deeper financial conversations.