Leaders in Lending

2023 has been a big year for the advancement of AI across all industries. But how have these changes helped community banks scale and improve their lending portfolios? And how has taking that leap to partner with FinTechs been transformative?

Bob Fisher, president and CEO of Tioga Bank, is a fifth generation community banker who believes incorporating partnerships to drive innovation is the best path forward for small banks. He joins Jeff to get into the specifics on what has worked (and what hasn’t) and why collaboration with FinTechs might not exactly be a risk, but a necessity.

They discuss:

• The burgeoning landscape of community banking and strategic partnerships with fintechs
• Insights into decision-making, risk mitigation, and the challenges of navigating failed collaborations
• The intersection of financial innovation, AI, and community connection- taking on the role of charitable foundations in the industry

Who would be bold enough to start a bank during a recession?


Neil Stevens, President and CEO at Oconee State Bank, and his team were, and he has lessons to share on how the constraints actually helped to build the business. In this episode he reflects on the pivotal moment of launching a new bank during the 2007 recession. The entrepreneurial spirit that fueled this risky move has contributed to the institution's resilience and shaped a strong organizational culture. He also dissects how the unique model of community engagement through a foundation helps to balance high standards with effective leadership.

Jeff and Neil discuss:

• Leveraging opportunities for banking by being more entrepreneurial (how a focus on the construction industry powered them through the pandemic
• Insights into building and maintaining a positive organizational culture
• The unique model of community engagement and effective charitable giving via a foundation supporting over 50 organizations in local communities

With the right mix of innovation and growth, credit unions can prioritize community, culture, and informed decision-making in serving diverse markets.

Corlinda Wooden, SVP/Chief Retail Officer at Unitus Community Credit Union, discusses the development and execution of their comprehensive strategic plan aimed at serving diverse markets.

Driven by passionate leadership, their approach emphasizes authentic community engagement. Leveraging data insights, translation services, and strategic partnerships, the credit union tailored their offerings to meet the specific needs of their members.

Join us as we discuss:

• How Unitus Credit Union developed a three-year strategy targeting the Hispanic community, founded on trust-building and authenticity
• Understanding how data analytics guides growth opportunities and can shape a credit union's product offerings
• How a combination of strategic partnerships, employee involvement, and the integration of AI brought success to the credit union's lending program

AI is not inherently intelligent, but do we need our computers and machines to think like us?

Some might be reluctant to test the boundaries of Generative AI intelligence, but Peter Voss, CEO & Chief Scientist at Aigo.ai, has spent his career figuring out how to build software that has common sense and can reason. He sees a distinct need in business for cognitive AI to go beyond what a programmer can dictate so that technology is anticipating, and solving, real-world problems efficiently. Businesses stand to dramatically reduce the cost of goods and services by having a lot more things automated- particularly banks and other businesses with vast customer facing workforces.

Join Jeff and Peter as they discuss:

• The capabilities and limitations of AI intelligence models in customer service
• The necessity of embracing cognitive AI for achieving human-like intelligence
• The transformative potential of advanced chatbot technology for Fintechs

Is your bank adapting to evolving credit demands?

Banks and private lenders have been slow to adopt technology, but with shifting demands for credit products in both consumer and business markets, the imperative to offer a diverse portfolio of lending products is higher than ever. Michael Barnett, Founder and CEO at Loanspark, shares how banks are leveraging automation and the innovative ways technology is streamlining processes and increasing efficiency in the commercial lending landscape.

Join us as we discuss:

• The impact of customer preferences on the lending process
• The role of technology in high-touch vs. low-touch communication
• Key practices and insights for improving customer service

Your home page highlights your bank’s main points of focus — are you conveying the right message?

Whether it be blog posts serving to inform and educate the community or new lines of products available for sale, your customers can get a grasp on what is important to you very quickly. If your homepage creates an incomplete picture of your business, it may be time for a brand refresh. Grace Bruins, Marketing Officer at Horicon Bank, joins the podcast after recently working on a massive brand refresh with critical insights for getting your message across the right way.

Join us as we discuss:

• The three core principles of a successful brand refresh
• Enhancing communications and transparency for a cohesive brand image
• The importance of embracing collaboration or competition with FinTech companies

For a community bank to connect with today’s clients and the clients of the future, they must be at the forefront of technology.

Darryl Caffee, SVP, Director of Retail Lending at Webster Five found his way into the banking industry through law. His unique perspective and experience have allowed him to take non-traditional approaches to community, business and designing lending solutions. Darryl joins us to share how and why today’s smaller and community banks need to embrace a larger lending mentality to succeed in the marketplace.

Join us as we discuss:

• Empathy as an innovation driver and how understanding diverse perspectives is a key to growth
• The importance of embracing a culture of adaptability and evolution
• Leveraging data to make informed decisions and retain customer-centricity

For so long, new tech has been utilized by fraud artists, costing many unsuspecting victims countless dollars. Now, AI tools and strong fintech partnerships could be used to stop fraud in its tracks.

With quickly evolving innovations, financial institutions must be at the forefront of tech. Kyle Hauptman, Vice Chairman at NCUA shares his views on the changes facing the industry and how they can be beneficial for everyone.

Join us as we discuss:

• Adapt or close: staying relevant in today’s tech-powered world
• The relationship between regulations and fintech partnerships
• Preventing scams and fraud using revolutionary AI

Commonwealth Credit Union’s partnership with Upstart shows how fintech partnerships can unlock potential in financial institutions.

Automation drives innovation, allowing for financial institutions to focus on what matters most: supporting their customers in their journey to stellar financial health. Our guest for this webinar, Jaynel Christensen, Chief Growth Officer at Commonwealth Credit Union, discusses the new opportunities being made available.

Join us as we discuss:

• Innovative solutions made available through fintech partnerships
• Enhancing member experience with seamless digital and in-person strategies
• Cross-selling and financial literacy services

The rising interest rate environment of the first half of 2023 have many fearful recession is on the horizon, but, simultaneously, there are some indicators that inflation is beginning to subside. Curt Long, Chief Economist and Vice President of Research at NAFCU, shares his expectations for the auto and housing markets as well as key economic signals to watch for,

Join us as we discuss:

• Possible deflation ahead for auto and housing
• The Federal Reserve’s approach and the FIA-FIT
• Predictions and how to prepare for what is yet to come

Want to learn more about how Upstart partners with banks? Check out this case study mentioned in the episode.