Leaders in Lending

From having a child to starting a business, every major life decision comes with financial implications—and with those come concerns and challenges. But even concerns come in all different shapes and sizes, so building trust as a bank means having an in-depth and empathetic understanding of the community they’re operating in. 

This week, host Matt Snow speaks with Eric Fiala, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer at KeyBank and CEO at KeyBank Foundation.  Eric delves into the evolving role (and perception) of banks as agents of positive change within their communities. He discusses how banks can go beyond traditional services by providing financial education and involving community leaders to better understand and address the specific needs of underserved areas. Eric shares practical steps that banks can take to truly invest in a community, rather than just operating within one.

Discussed in this episode:

• The need to create new homeowners and help build generational wealth.
• Gathering information about community needs through outreach and engagement initiatives
• How minority depository institutions (MDIs) and community development financial institutions (CDFIs) help underserved communities
• Current trends in financial education

Like many institutions, credit unions can't afford to be left behind in the race to adapt to the new AI-driven technological landscape. But successfully and responsibly leveraging AI goes beyond adopting AI solutions for the sake of checking off a box—it involves identifying opportunities to collaborate with seasoned partners who can help solve the problems that AI is equipped to solve.

This week’s episode features a conversation with Upstart Senior Account Managers Barry Roach and Drew Megrey, which originally took place on an episode of The CU Lab. Barry and Drew outline the crucial role of a strong digital and AI strategy in helping credit unions tackle issues like liquidity restraints and regulatory hurdles—and they explore how strategic AI adoption can help credit unions not just keep up, but lead the way.

Join us as we discuss:

• The importance of transparency and education in forming successful partnerships between AI providers and credit unions
• Starting small and involving all teams for successful scaling
• The benefits of AI in underwriting, including better risk prediction and higher approval rates
• How Upstart’s "Recognized Customer Personalization" feature helps credit unions identify potential borrowers more efficiently

Things need to change, oftentimes more than we’d like.

This week, host Matt Snow is joined by Adam Goller, EVP and Head of Fintech Banking at Cross River Bank, for a conversation about transformation and innovation within fintech in the face of turbulent times and shifting preferences. Adam shares his insights on how smart strategy, rapidly evolving technology, and—most importantly—a willingness to adapt, is resulting in creative solutions for today and tomorrow’s challenges.

Join us as we discuss:

• The shifts in entrepreneurship and banking during global events like the 2008 Financial Crisis and Covid-19
• Why user experience solutions need to accommodate shorter attention spans
• The challenges of integrating AI in heavily regulated sectors like banking
• How the expanded skill sets of today’s students impacts what technical knowledge is required in finance

Although the US Supreme Court recently upheld the CFPB’s funding system—and removed a major threat to the agency’s ability to regulate financial products and services—the future of financial regulation is far from settled or certain. 

On today’s episode, host Matt Snow speaks with Armen Meyer, Co-Founder of the American Fintech Council, about the implications of the CFPB ruling on the financial industry and other regulatory and government institutions. Matt and Armen also explore the growth of the FinTech industry, the role of regulatory technology, and the potential risks and benefits of generative AI.

Discussed in this episode:

• Why finding a middle ground between pragmatism and aspiration is essential for regulatory stability
• The relationship between rising interest rates and the decline in bond prices
• How open banking rules facilitate the free flow of data and enhance competition in the banking sector
• The disparity in tech investment between big banks and small regional banks

Successful AI integration isn’t just about saving time or cutting costs—it’s about thoughtfully implementing the technology into areas where it can do the most good for the company and the customer.

On today’s episode, host Matt Snow speaks with Will Robinson, CEO at Encapture about AI’s application in financial institutions. Will has seen first-hand the challenges of legacy processes and resistance to change, and he shares specific use cases for successful AI implementation—along with the importance of partnering with experienced vendors.

Join us as we discuss:

• Understanding and assessing risks and trade-offs when considering AI applications
• The role of regulation and transparency in AI interactions
• How to navigate the “build vs. buy” question
• The process of identifying repetitive, rule-based tasks for automation before integrating AI

When it comes to the tech revolution, it’s not all about the coasts or the biggest cities. Although areas like Silicon Valley continue to dominate the headlines and the public imagination, there’s an undercurrent of tech growth and innovation in “Heartland” and “Rust Belt” areas like Ohio.

This week, host Lynn Sautter Beal talks with Chris Berry, President and CEO of OhioX, about the vibrant growth of Ohio's tech industry. Chris explains the industry’s historical evolution in the state, its current challenges, and significant breakthrough investments from major companies like Intel and Google.

Discussed in this episode:

• What strategic leadership and groundwork efforts led to multibillion-dollar investments from Fortune 500 companies
• The uniquely collaborative nature of Ohio’s tech industry
• How states like Ohio can leverage their geography to further develop their tech industry
• Initiatives to expose K-12 students in Ohio to skills and careers in tech

In today’s episode, host Lynn Sautter Beal talks with Jillian Murrish, CEO of Pier Asset Management, about the waves she and her firm are making in the market — targeting less liquid and underserved areas while focusing on secondary markets and early-stage credit facilities. Jillian shares her journey from working in online real estate to co-founding Pier Asset Management, while offering valuable lessons on flexibility, operational ease, and evolving borrowing bases for early-stage originators along the way.

Join us as we discuss:

• Why early-stage originators should avoid using expensive equity capital to fund loans
• The change in defining secured vs. unsecured lending
• How targeting less liquid areas can help generate alpha and deliver better returns for investors
• The role of privacy, reputational risk, and the regulatory environment play in decision-making in evaluating potential partners and deals

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to regulation in the world of financial services. Sometimes it’s a matter of encouraging fintech companies to engage in responsible behaviors—and other times it’s a matter of allowing responsible FinTech companies to continue operating responsibly without regulatory burdens.

This week’s host, Lynn Sautter Beal, is joined by Phil Goldfeder, CEO at American Fintech Council, and former New York State Assembly member. Phil has a wealth of experience and knowledge in the realm of regulatory policy—and all of it is informed by the idea of practical and realistic progress that doesn’t get in the way of responsible financial service providers doing their work, or get in the way of people receiving the financial services they need and deserve.

Join us as we discuss:

• How federal regulatory structures can evolve to support FinTech advancements
• The unintended consequences of “reactionary regulation”
• Key efforts in establishing industry standards without regulatory mandates
• The value of working groups and listening sessions involving various players in FinTech

For financial service professionals, it’s important to meet the needs of their customers and clients. But it’s equally important that they ensure they’re leaving no stone unturned when it comes to harnessing the latest technological solutions that can make their job — and the consumer’s experience — as frictionless as possible.

This week, host Matt Snow is joined by Greg Blausey, Senior Director of Banking Industry Solutions & Strategy at Salesforce, and Amir Madjlessi, Managing Director and Banking Industry Advisor at Salesforce. Greg and Amir bring a commitment to (and insights on) streamlining processes within financial institutions to better serve the customer, and allow financial professionals to focus on what they do best.

Discussed in this episode:

• The importance of fresh and representative data
• How finance can learn from the world of retail when it comes to the onboarding experience
• What it looks like to take an outcome-based approach in adopting new technologies
• Balancing using data usage for personalized service and addressing privacy concerns and regulations

On today’s episode, host Lynn Sautter Beal is joined by Matt Hrna, Senior Vice President at Regions Bank to discuss inflationary pressures and market volatility impacting banks today. Leveraging over a decade of expertise and experience, Matt covers a wide range of challenges and opportunities faced by players throughout the financial industry. 

Although economic uncertainty continues to abound, there are systems and practices lenders can take advantage of to mitigate risk while adopting innovative solutions—all of which Matt helps us uncover.

Join us as we discuss:

• Consumers turning to Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOCs) to address various financial needs
• The impact of the student loan repayment resumption on credit behavior
• Why all lenders should develop a “recession playbook” and remain proactive amid uncertainty
• The importance of maintaining primacy and deepening relationships with existing customers