The Credit Union Policy Podcast

Join NAFCU President & CEO Dan Berger, ahead of the transformation to America’s Credit Unions, as he looks back on his time at NAFCU, the moments that shaped his experience, and lessons learned during his tenure. 

  

Key Takeaways: 

Gain valuable insights into important qualities of a strong credit union leader; 

Learn about the biggest risk areas facing credit unions in the years to come; and 

Reminisce with Dan Berger as he prepares to leave the helm of NAFCU. 

 

 

Dan Berger first joined NAFCU in 2006 and helped turn the association into the premiere advocate for the credit union industry. Since becoming president and CEO in 2013, Berger, who is also an author, economist, and one of Washington's top lobbyists, is credited with bringing national attention to key policy issues, while ensuring NAFCU's members meet policymakers at the highest levels of government.

 

A well-known figure with political and financial press, Berger has been listed as one of the most influential lobbyists in Washington by The Hill newsp

Join NCUA Vice Chairman Kyle Hauptman for a deep dive into field of membership, including a recent proposed rule regarding survivorship, the federal charter versus state charters, digital banking and FOM, and how innovation may drive further changes to FOM. 

  

Key Takeaways: 

Hear an update on the NCUA’s recent rulemaking to revise the Chartering and Field of Membership Manual; 

Learn about Vice Chairman Hauptman’s perspectives on ensuring the federal charter keeps pace with state chartering rules; and 

Understand how the agency is thinking about innovation and helping credit unions to attract younger members. 

 

  

Kyle S. Hauptman was nominated to serve on the NCUA Board on June 15, 2020. The U.S. Senate confirmed him on December 2, 2020, and he was sworn in as a member of the NCUA Board on December 14, 2020. The NCUA Board approved his designation as Vice Chairman of the NCUA on December 18, 2020. Prior to his join

Join Brian Lauer, partner with the law firm of Messick Lauer & Smith P.C. and General Counsel to the National Association of Credit Union Service Organizations (NACUSO), for a deep dive into the National Credit Union Administration’s (NCUA) recent final rule on financial innovation. This rule revised Parts 701 and 714 of the NCUA’s regulations regarding the purchase of loan participations and the purchase, sale, and pledge of eligible obligations and other loans. The final rule offered greater flexibility for federally insured credit unions to take advantage of new technology partnerships with fintechs. NAFCU has strongly supported more opportunities for credit unions to develop strategic partnerships to provide more and improved products and services to members. 

 

Key Takeaways: 

Understand what the rule does and does not do, the impetus behind the rule, and what it could mean for your credit union; 

Hear expert analysis on the rule’s underwriting requirements and how that fits with the use of automated technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning; and 

Learn about additional potential ar

Join Jason Cave, Deputy Director and Head of Fintech Strategy at the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), for a discussion of the agency’s recent Velocity TechSprint, the focus of the Office of Financial Technology, and trends in the use of technology in the mortgage lending and servicing space. 

  

Key Takeaways: 

Hear about the outcomes of the FHFA’s recent TechSprint, which focused on the impacts of data digitization in mortgage lending. 

Learn about the changing mortgage market, including the increasing role of non-depository institutions. 

Discover perspectives on the continued evolution of the mortgage market as more technology is incorporated.

Join Jennifer Mascott, Assistant Professor of Law and Co-Director of The C. Boyden Gray Center for the Study of the Administrative State at the George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School, to breakdown the oral argument before the Supreme Court in the case of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau v. Community Financial Services Association of America. The Court heard arguments regarding the Constitutionality of the CFPB’s funding structure. Hear insights about the most relevant arguments and questions from both parties and the Justices.   

 

Key Takeaways:  

Learn about the most critical issues for the Court to resolve in this important case. 

Understand the nuances of the challenge regarding the Appropriations Clause of the U.S. Constitution. 

Discover expert insights on what we can glean from the Justices’ questions and parties’ arguments. 

 

 

Jennifer Mascott is Assistant Professor of Law and Co-Director of The C. Boyden Gray Center for the Study of the Administrative State at the Antonin Scalia Law School. Professor Mascott writes in the areas of administrative and constitutional law and the separation of powers, and she serves as a Supreme Court contributor for NBC News. Read full bio.

Join Charlotte Nemec, President and CEO of Canopy Credit Union in Spokane, Washington, and recent winner of NAFCU’s CEO of the Year award, for a discussion about women in leadership. Learn about some of the challenges Nemec has encountered and how she’s found inspiration and balance in her leadership journey. 

 

Key Takeaways:  

Hear about Nemec’s experience and leadership trajectory in the credit union industry. 

Dive into the unique challenges that women in leadership face, especially those at a smaller credit union. 

Discover key insights for successful leadership strategies. 

 

Charlotte Nemec began her career in the credit union industry in 1995 and currently serves as President/CEO of Canopy Credit Union (Spokane, WA). Nemec is passionate about the success of her team, Canopy’s members and the community. Canopy is a designated Community Development Financial Institution that strives to create a happier and healthier community through financial inclusion. Nemec is well known in the credit union community for her insightful, authentic approach to leadership and was named NAFCU CEO of the Year in 2023. She is supported by her husband, daughter and the team at Canopy Credit Union.

Join Victor Cardwell, Principal and Chairman at the law firm of Woods Rogers Vandeventer Black PLC, as he discusses top labor and employment law issues your credit union should be aware of. Cardwell dives into unionization efforts, leave and flexible work policies, the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, and what you should know about affirmative action plan requirements from the Department of Labor.   

  

Key Takeaways:  

Understand the basics of unionization efforts, meeting employees’ needs, and how flexible work policies can impact your ability to attract and retain talent. 

Dive into the importance of DEI in recruitment and retention, the hiring process, and succession planning. 

Learn about the Department of Labor’s rules regarding affirmative action programs and why your credit union must have one in place. 

 

 

Victor Cardwell is co-chair of Woods Rogers Vandeventer Black’s (WRVB) Labor & Employment practice group, as well as a Principal and Chairman of the WRVB Board of Directors. He practices labor and employment law throughout the U.S., focusing on diversity, the Fair Labor Standards Act, labor/management relations, and workplace violence. Victor has significant experience before state and federal courts and administrative agencies. He offers counsel and training to executives and human resources managers on a wide range of employer concerns: harassment, sexual orientation and gender identity issues, retaliation, discrimination, wage and hour compliance, health and disability, discipline, discharge, and more. Additionally, Victor is the Immediate Past President of the Virginia Bar Association and serves on the Virginia State Bar’s Board of Governors for its Diversity Conference. He was named to the Roanoke Law Foundation Fellows Program in 2018. Learn more ab

Join VantageScore’s Senior Vice President of Industry & Government Relations for a discussion about credit scores, the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) initiative to validate and incorporate new credit score models and credit report requirements into the housing finance market, and what to expect from this shift.     

 

Key Takeaways:  

Discover the history of introducing alternative credit score models and credit report requirements into the housing finance market and the FHFA’s rulemaking. 

Understand the potential benefits and concerns of these new credit score and credit report requirements. 

Learn about the implementation timeline for these changes and strategies to help your credit union prepare. 

 

 

Anthony Hutchinson is the Senior Vice President of Industry and Government Relations at VantageScore. He has helped shape public policies critical to the housing industry, including the Dodd-Frank Financial Reform Law, and the subsequent Qualified Mortgage (QM) and Qualified Residential Mortgage (QRM) rulings, which ensured that homeownership remained affordable and accessible for all qualified homebuyers. Learn more about Anthony.

Join Jim Nussle, President & CEO of the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) for this special edition episode diving into the proposed CUNA-NAFCU merger and Nussle’s vision for America’s Credit Unions under his leadership. Also hear Nussle’s perspective on key policy topics including legislative and regulatory threats to non-interest income, issues related to liquidity and interest rate risk, as well as how credit unions should be thinking about climate-change risk.   

 

Key Takeaways:  

Learn more about the proposed CUNA-NAFCU merger and the benefits of the associations merging. 

Hear about Nussle’s vision for the new merged association—America’s Credit Unions – under his leadership as President and CEO. 

Dive into policy issues including interchange fees, “junk fees”, liquidity and interest rate risk, and climate-related risk. 

 

Jim Nussle has served as President and CEO of the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) since 2014, where he leads the organization’s advocacy efforts on behalf of credit unions and their 137 million members. Nussle served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1991-2007 as a Representative from the State of Iowa. From 2001-2006, he served as chairman of the House Budget Committee. In 2007, President George W. Bush nominated him as the 36th director of Office of Management and Budget. Nussle and his wife, Karen, live in Wisconsin and have two adult children.

Join Carrie Hunt, President and CEO of the Virginia Credit Union League, for a discussion about state versus federal advocacy and policy priorities from state regulators and lawmakers versus the federal level. Dive into specific issue areas including data privacy and data security, employment law concerns, and litigation trends. 

 

Key Takeaways:  

Learn the biggest differences between advocating on the state level versus federal level. 

Hear about the latest litigation trends on the state level and how these issues may work their way up through the federal court system. 

Compare the top issues for state regulators and lawmakers versus federal regulators and lawmakers. 

  

 

Carrie Hunt is a longtime advocate for credit unions and a lifelong member. She leads the Virginia Credit Union League's efforts to promote credit union success through advocacy, business forward solutions and collaboration. Carrie believes that credit unions provide the absolute best in financial services and works with the team at the league to help credit unions help their members. Goal-oriented and results-focused, she is passionate about credit union success. Learn more about Carrie.