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Sean VanHandel: The CIO Strategy Transforming Member Experience
What does it actually take to modernize a $4.1 billion credit union without breaking everything in the process?
In this episode of the Outlier Podcast, host Anurag Mukherjee sits down with Sean VanHandel, Chief Information Officer of CoVantage Credit Union based in Antigo, Wisconsin. Sean brings nearly three decades of technology experience spanning healthcare, manufacturing, and financial services — and he doesn't hold back.
From wrapping a 40-year-old legacy core with a modern API strategy, to deploying AI agents, to building a real-time Member 360 — Sean walks us through how CoVantage is quietly building one of the most forward-thinking technology stacks in the credit union space.
But what really stands out? His refreshingly honest take on data governance. Before you let AI anywhere near your data, you better make sure it's clean, classified, and governed. As Sean puts it — bad data in, bad data out.
In This Episode You'll Hear:
🔹 Why CoVantage chose to "wrap the core" instead of replacing it🔹 How they built a data warehouse and API strategy from the ground up🔹 What a real Member 360 looks like — and why most credit unions aren't there yet🔹 Sean's take on AI agents, Foundry, and where AI actually creates efficiency🔹 Why data governance is everyone's responsibility — not just IT's🔹 How CoVantage plans to open 75-90% of accounts digitally within two years🔹 What stable coins and the Genius Act mean for credit unions right now🔹 The leadership philosophy behind balancing innovation and operational discipline
Who This Episode Is For:This conversation is for credit union executives, fintech leaders, CIOs, CTOs, data practitioners, and anyone navigating digital transformation inside a traditional financial institution. Whether you're just starting your AI journey or deep in core modernization, Sean's insights are grounded, practical, and immediately actionable.
About Sean VanHandel:Sean VanHandel is the Chief Information Officer at CoVantage Credit Union, a $4.1 billion member-owned financial institution in Antigo, Wisconsin. With nearly three decades in technology — including infrastructure, information security, and enterprise IT leadership across healthcare and manufacturing — Sean has been leading technology strategy at CoVantage for over six years.
About CoVantage Credit Union:CoVantage Credit Union is a member-owned financial institution serving communities across northern Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula with over $4.1 billion in assets.
About the Outlier Podcast:The Outlier Podcast features candid, unfiltered conversations with technology and business leaders across the credit union and financial services industry. No buzzwords. No fluff. Just real talk about what it takes to lead in a rapidly changing world.
Follow the Outlier Podcast on Spotify to never miss an episode.New episodes drop weekly.
Keywords:Sean VanHandel, CoVantage Credit Union, credit union technology, CIO podcast, AI in banking, data governance, core modernization, digital transformation, member experience, fintech, credit union leadership, API strategy, artificial intelligence, community banking, Outlier Podcast
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By TheOutlier PodcastWhat does it actually take to modernize a $4.1 billion credit union without breaking everything in the process?
In this episode of the Outlier Podcast, host Anurag Mukherjee sits down with Sean VanHandel, Chief Information Officer of CoVantage Credit Union based in Antigo, Wisconsin. Sean brings nearly three decades of technology experience spanning healthcare, manufacturing, and financial services — and he doesn't hold back.
From wrapping a 40-year-old legacy core with a modern API strategy, to deploying AI agents, to building a real-time Member 360 — Sean walks us through how CoVantage is quietly building one of the most forward-thinking technology stacks in the credit union space.
But what really stands out? His refreshingly honest take on data governance. Before you let AI anywhere near your data, you better make sure it's clean, classified, and governed. As Sean puts it — bad data in, bad data out.
In This Episode You'll Hear:
🔹 Why CoVantage chose to "wrap the core" instead of replacing it🔹 How they built a data warehouse and API strategy from the ground up🔹 What a real Member 360 looks like — and why most credit unions aren't there yet🔹 Sean's take on AI agents, Foundry, and where AI actually creates efficiency🔹 Why data governance is everyone's responsibility — not just IT's🔹 How CoVantage plans to open 75-90% of accounts digitally within two years🔹 What stable coins and the Genius Act mean for credit unions right now🔹 The leadership philosophy behind balancing innovation and operational discipline
Who This Episode Is For:This conversation is for credit union executives, fintech leaders, CIOs, CTOs, data practitioners, and anyone navigating digital transformation inside a traditional financial institution. Whether you're just starting your AI journey or deep in core modernization, Sean's insights are grounded, practical, and immediately actionable.
About Sean VanHandel:Sean VanHandel is the Chief Information Officer at CoVantage Credit Union, a $4.1 billion member-owned financial institution in Antigo, Wisconsin. With nearly three decades in technology — including infrastructure, information security, and enterprise IT leadership across healthcare and manufacturing — Sean has been leading technology strategy at CoVantage for over six years.
About CoVantage Credit Union:CoVantage Credit Union is a member-owned financial institution serving communities across northern Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula with over $4.1 billion in assets.
About the Outlier Podcast:The Outlier Podcast features candid, unfiltered conversations with technology and business leaders across the credit union and financial services industry. No buzzwords. No fluff. Just real talk about what it takes to lead in a rapidly changing world.
Follow the Outlier Podcast on Spotify to never miss an episode.New episodes drop weekly.
Keywords:Sean VanHandel, CoVantage Credit Union, credit union technology, CIO podcast, AI in banking, data governance, core modernization, digital transformation, member experience, fintech, credit union leadership, API strategy, artificial intelligence, community banking, Outlier Podcast