The CUInsight Network

“Stay educated on what’s happening today to anticipate what may happen in the future.” - Brian Keefe

Thank you for tuning in to episode 47 of The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight.com. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest on today’s show is Brian Keefe, Portfolio Presales Consultant at NICE Actimize. Brian begins by sharing his career journey that started in law enforcement and led him to financial services. NICE Actimize brings together fraud analytics and data intelligence and insights on a single cloud-native platform to mitigate fraud and financial crime across financial institutions. The affordable cloud-based solution adds power and security to credit union operations. For over two decades, the team continues to develop new products and solutions that keep financial institutions a step ahead of financial crime.

During our conversation, Brian talks about investing in new solutions to handle faster payments with less risk. He points out the  expectations and importance of instant payments when it comes to meeting the needs of members and prospective members. Brian discusses how NICE Actimize can help credit unions detect and prevent real-time payments fraud. He explores the opportunities to offer the same secure and speedy services as larger financial institutions with the same level of risk mitigation. As we look to the future, Brian shares the importance of staying ahead of the curve when it comes to digital and legacy data and how NICE Actimize plans to continue helping credit unions do so.

As we wrap up the episode, Brian talks about connecting through VR glasses, his favorite podcast genres, and amazing small business owners. Enjoy my conversation with Brian Keefe!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Brian:
Brian Keefe, Portfolio Presales Consultant at NICE Actimize
[email protected]
https://www.niceactimize.com
Brian: LinkedIn
NICE Actimize: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

“Becoming data-driven isn’t just about technology; it’s really about culture change.” - Stef Luck

Thank you for tuning in to episode 46 of The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight.com. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest on today’s show is Stef Luck, Vice President of Sales at Trellance. Stef begins by sharing her career journey that led her to finding a passion in financial services. She shares how every credit union’s data journey is unique and should be determined based on their specific member needs and strategic goals. The team at Trellance delivers a range of analytics, cloud, and talent solutions helping credit unions turn data into insights and take action on those insights to achieve more and improve their member experience. In the big picture, Trellance provides solutions and consulting to guide credit unions in member experience improvements and data migration to cloud-based strategies.

During our conversation, Stef explains why becoming a data-driven credit union includes more than technology. She points out that being data-driven is a way of doing business, and there is no end point as it keeps advancing. Stef gives advice on possible starting points when it comes to evolving for those who rely on legacy data systems and silos. She shares how a credit union’s data journey requires a change in perspective, such as building a professional culture that values data. Stef explains the four data pillars to determine strategies, understand current placement within your data journey and references a recent white paper by Trellance called How to Build Your Data Maturity Action Plan. This white paper helps credit unions plan their data journey by first understanding where they are within the pillars, what their goals are, and specific actions to take in order to reach those goals. As we look to the future, Stef shares how Trellance plans to continue helping credit unions grow through AI, the cloud, and machine learning.

As we wrap up the episode, Stef talks about a recent purchase that she can’t live without, what she enjoys doing in her free time including going to the gym and getting back into playing the piano. She also shares her definition of success. Enjoy my conversation with Stef Luck!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Stef:
Stef Luck, Vice President of Sales at Trellance
[email protected]
https://www.trellance.com
Stef: LinkedIn
Trellance: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook

“Insights are a means to delivering outcomes.” - Mark Leher

Thank you for tuning in to episode 45 of The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight.com. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest on today’s show is Mark Leher, Director of Product Management at Segmint, an Alkami Company. Segmint empowers credit unions to easily understand and utilize data to improve their marketing and strategic decision making. As a team, they help credit unions provide a more meaningful member experience through the insights gained from data. As the industry changes and new trends develop, Segmint equips credit unions with the tools needed to adapt in the future.

During our conversation, Mark discusses how Segmint can help credit unions clarify data so they can better serve members and make informed investments. He mentions how tech investments are evolving from transactional interactions to digital conversations. Mark talks about the value that analytics deliver outside of vanity metrics. He shares use case examples to describe the insights, technology, and data that are bringing valuable outcomes to credit unions. Looking forward, Mark discusses upcoming trends and ways that Segmint, an Alkami Company, plans to continue supporting credit unions in the future.

As we wrap up the episode, Mark shares his wide range of interests, including 90s music, running, and how data analytics translates to sports. Enjoy my conversation with Mark Leher!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Mark:
Mark Leher, Director of Product Management at Segmint an Alkami Company
[email protected]
https://segmint.com
Mark: LinkedIn
Segmint: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook

“The people helping people mantra is real, and you are making a difference.” - Matt Good

Thank you for tuning in to episode 44 of The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight.com. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest on today’s show is Matt Good, Senior Vice President and Director of Regional Partnerships at Elan Credit Card. Elan partners with credit unions to offer a program that provides industry-leading credit card solutions to their members. Credit card usage continues to increase, especially with the world becoming more digital. Elan works to remove all credit risk, compliance risk, and more, allowing credit unions to offer successful solutions while earning risk-free income. 

During our conversation, Matt explains how credit unions and small businesses can team up to serve their community. He speaks to the challenges of the ever changing digital world and how these changes affect operations, causing small businesses to look towards financial institutions for all-in-one service. Matt shares an affordable and multifaceted solution that credit unions can offer to streamline these services and increase revenue. Matt discusses best practices for choosing a merchant services partner along with key considerations to develop a successful partnership.

Tune in to hear how Elan positively impacts communities and includes their credit union partners in doing so. Matt explains the importance of charitable giving and community outreach to members and the potential negative impact if credit unions do not get involved. Looking forward, Matt discusses upcoming trends and ways that Elan plans to continue supporting credit unions in the future.

As we wrap up the episode, Matt shares his admiration for Sparky Anderson, which podcasts he listens to while running, and what he enjoys in his downtime. Enjoy my conversation with Matt Good!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Matt:
Matt Good, Senior Vice President and Director of Regional Partnerships at Elan Credit Card
[email protected]
www.cupartnership.com
Matt: LinkedIn
Elan: LinkedIn | Twitter 

“Focus on who you serve and how you serve them best.” - Philip Paul

Thank you for tuning in to episode 43 of The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight.com. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest today is Philip Paul, CEO at Cotribute. Cotribute is a digital growth platform helping credit unions grow efficiently by acquiring new members while retaining existing ones. Philip shares what inspired him to address business concerns through technology. Cotribute helps credit unions achieve operationally efficient growth using analytics, templates, and automations.

During our conversation, Philip talks about success through a thoughtful operational strategy. He shares insights on the reach, scale, and efficiency of digital member experiences. The team at Cotribute focuses on helping credit unions thrive and improve member services with automation and optimization. Philip explains the benefits of expanding digital channels for credit unions. He shares how credit unions can provide the right offerings, to the right members, at the right time in a way that’s meaningful without losing human interaction that is so valued by members. Philip shares his vision when it comes to emerging trends in financial services and Cotribute’s role in supporting credit unions.

As we wrap up the episode, Philip shares which Apple products he uses most, which podcast he listens to daily, and which sports he follows. Enjoy my conversation with Philip Paul!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Philip:
Philip Paul, CEO at Cotribute
[email protected]
https://www.cotribute.com   
Philip: LinkedIn
Cotribute: LinkedIn | Twitter

“This is a tough time to predict, but a better time to prepare.” - Bill Gould

Thank you for tuning in to episode 42 of The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight.com. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest today is Bill Gould, Executive Vice President at Securian Financial. For over 60 years, Securian Financial operates as a mutual holding company that provides a range of financial products and services. The team helps credit unions provide protection and products to members. Together, they create a partnership that improves the experience of both the members and the staff.

In this conversation, Bill and I talk about credit union partnerships that help financial service teams embrace innovation. Bill shares his insights on where fintechs can fit in and create opportunities for credit unions. We discuss the importance of maintaining engagement with employees, and Bill shares two key fundamentals that he looks for when adding to his team. Bill also explains new trends emerging in the financial service industry and how Securian plans to innovate to meet those needs.

As we wrap up the episode, Bill talks about his father’s entrepreneurial grit, his family-time hobbies, and his book choices. Enjoy my conversation with Bill Gould!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Bill:
Bill Gould, Executive Vice President at Securian Financial
[email protected]
https://www.securian.com/ 
Bill: LinkedIn
Securian Financial: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube

“Get engaged and stay engaged.” - Greg Mesack

Thank you for tuning in to episode 41 of The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight.com. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest today is Greg Mesack, SVP of Government Affairs at NAFCU. The team at NAFCU advocates for credit unions nationwide by interacting with government officials and policymakers allowing credit unions to continue serving their members. Through financial advocacy, NAFCU helps protect members from financial institutions that may not have consumers’ best interest at heart. NAFCU is committed to representing, assisting, educating and defending our member credit unions to help them grow, and help grow the industry as well.

In this conversation, Greg and I talk about how credit unions are critical in this current economic state and what NAFCU is doing to protect them. Along the way, Greg discusses the Credit Card Competition Act of 2022 (CCCA), the battle between banks and retailers, rapid consolidation, and inflation. He explains how these pull resources from economically-distressed areas, especially rural and inner city communities. Greg speaks passionately about financial advocacy, and he shares how people can get involved.

As we wrap up the episode, Greg talks about Tom Brady, his hack for keeping up with sports, and the product he can’t live without. Enjoy my conversation with Greg Mesack!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Greg:
Greg Mesack, SVP of Government Affairs at NAFCU
[email protected]
https://www.nafcu.org/
Greg: LinkedIn | Twitter
NAFCU: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube

“Don’t be hesitant about entering the faster payments arena.” - Mark Majeske

Thank you for tuning in to episode 40 of The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight.com. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest today is Mark Majeske, SVP of Faster Payments at Alacriti. The team at Alacriti helps credit unions identify needs of the market, so they can stay on the edge of innovation and time their actions right for members. Credit unions large and small, can participate and compete in the marketplace, especially faster payments. Alacriti partners with credit unions to not only assess market needs but also bring connectivity to various payment rails as well.

In this conversation, Mark and I discuss the hurdles of faster payments and the new expectations it creates in business. He discusses the ease of integration and implementation of a new payment rail into a current core system. Mark talks about payment rail options, and the importance of understanding what members want when it comes to those options to create an easy experience for all. Mark discusses factors that need to be considered when it comes to fraud, along with a hybrid system to protect faster payments against fraud. 

Tune in to hear what new trends are expected to emerge in financial services as well as what’s in store for the future at Alacriti. He emphasizes the importance of member centric applications and cryptocurrency. Ultimately, Alacriti is a partner for credit unions that gives members the experience they want and expect.

As we wrap up the episode, Mark talks about his favorite music from the 70s & 80s, how he defines success, and what he enjoys doing at his lake house. Enjoy my conversation with Mark Majeske!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Mark:
Mark Majeske, SVP of Faster Payments at Alacriti
[email protected]
https://www.alacriti.com     
Mark: LinkedIn
Alacriti: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

“Credit unions are relevant, I just think we can do a better job of making sure the market knows that.” - Roger Willey

Thank you for tuning in to episode 39 of The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight.com. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest today is Roger Willey, Chief Revenue Officer at VisiFI. With four decades of experience, VisiFI is a technology provider and CUSO supporting approximately 120 credit unions. Roger began his career when consumer behavior was a rising topic, and has since seen it become a critical business objective. He considers himself a business growth strategist that uses data to help credit unions grow their market share. The core mission at VisiFI is to help credit unions embrace technology and create a digital environment to lead and expand the relationship with their members into easy to use and seamless experiences.

In this episode, Roger discusses the necessary measures credit unions must take to adapt to new trends, support longevity, and connect with members. He talks about opportunities to develop data, intelligence, and member service. Listen to Roger share his thoughts on the unique leverage credit unions have over big banks and how credit unions can adapt to market changes and grow within different environments.

Tune in to hear how you can use the value proposition of credit unions as a competitive advantage and why this message needs to be shared with consumers worldwide. Roger explains how complexity in credit union models adds cost and risk. We discuss VisiFI’s plans on innovating for the future to meet various needs of clients and members. Roger believes the methodology for business growth does not change; but the market, products, and the unique value proposition do change, requiring credit unions to be more agile. Ultimately, Roger encourages listeners to embrace storytelling and find ways to adapt in this digital landscape. 

As we wrap up the episode, Roger talks about a recent purchase he can’t live without, the Rolling Stones, and traveling with his wife as empty nesters. Enjoy my conversation with Roger Willey!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Roger:
Roger Willey, Chief Revenue Officer at VisiFI
[email protected]
https://visifi.com/   
Roger: LinkedIn
VisiFI: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube

“There’s a totally different way of doing business right now, and you’ve got to embrace that.” - Bo McDonald

Thank you for tuning in to episode 38 of The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight.com. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest today is Bo McDonald, President at Your Marketing Co. The core mission at Your Marketing Co. (YMC) is to help credit unions strategize and uncover unique opportunities. The YMC team finds niches within the credit unions they work with to focus marketing efforts on ideal members. Bo also shares the one rule he gives credit unions on the first day of working together that is necessary for continued growth. YMC offers strategic planning, branding, and marketing for credit unions that seek innovation, relevancy, and growth. 

In this episode, Bo speaks about taking the necessary measures to refine or revamp a credit union’s brand. He expresses the importance of being intentional and asking questions to gain perspective when creating a marketing plan and making changes. Listen to Bo share key insights about the future of financial services when it comes to the member experience and redefining what marketing is.  

Tune in to hear how you can ask more precise questions of your members and staff to solve the actual problem and improve marketing results going forward. According to Bo, marketing is constantly changing and will continue to change from what is trending right now. He discusses the value in providing ease in services, evaluating marketing plans regularly, and inspiring change.

As we wrap up the episode, Bo talks about antique rocking chairs, his favorite radio station that brings him joy, and one of his favorite books that he even shares with clients. Enjoy my conversation with Bo McDonald!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Bo:
Bo McDonald, President at Your Marketing Co.
[email protected]
https://yourmarketing.co   
Bo: LinkedIn | Twitter
Your Marketing Co.: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram