The CUInsight Network

“Serve your members while also maintaining and monitoring your loan portfolio.” - Dan Price

Thank you for tuning in to episode 37 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 Dan Price, President at 2020 Analytics. Dan was a guest on the podcast last year and in this episode we dive right into the state of the economy, CECL, and rising interest rates. Dan shares insights on how credit unions and members are affected by these factors along with inflation and housing affordability. He believes credit unions are well positioned to help borrowers in this economy as well as continue building trusting relationships. The team at 2020 Analytics aims to help credit unions grow assets, improve returns, and save time. Dan shares his specialized insight of data management and algorithms for credit unions in this period of economic uncertainty.

In this episode, Dan speaks about the power of data and properly managing a diversified portfolio. Learn how data tracks the ripple effect of economic setbacks, such as the correlation between interest rates, unemployment, and delinquency. Dan explains that credit unions have the ability to be flexible when it comes to member purchasing power. He offers suggestions that maintain high-quality member service and also keep the pipeline open. 

Tune in to hear how 2020 Analytics plans to innovate for the future. Listeners will hear Dan emphasize the importance of using data to focus on creating convenience for borrowers. He also shares his thoughts on trends around risk management, member experience, and how credit unions can prosper in a bull market.

As we wrap up the episode, Dan gives a huge shout out to his children, shares what he enjoys about Spotify’s algorithm, and explains how he handles work-life integration. Enjoy my conversation with Dan Price!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Dan:
Dan Price, President at 2020 Analytics
[email protected]
https://ttadata.com/   
Dan: LinkedIn | 2020 Analytics: LinkedIn  

“We have to be careful to not be chasing the shiny object.” - Doug Burke

Thank you for tuning in to episode 36 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 Doug Burke, CEO at Aux. Aux is a CUSO that started as a shared branching network and has since expanded their services based on feedback from clients. Now, Aux offers a robust suite of credit union back-office services, such as accounting, compliance, and data analytics. Aux is committed to helping credit unions, specifically small- and medium-sized credit unions survive and thrive.

Doug started his career in the credit union industry over 30 years ago. In this episode, he explains how Aux takes the “people helping people” philosophy a step further as the ones helping credit unions so they are more equipped to help their members. Aux supports small and medium credit unions by taking on back-office tasks so their teams can focus on strategic growth.

Tune in to hear Doug speak about the growing team at Aux and how they maintain company culture in the midst of major shifts. He explains their team dynamics as a fully remote organization and how they stay connected. Doug emphasizes how their remote structure allows for increased talent pools and greater accessibility for their credit union clients. He shares his thoughts on how to keep team members motivated and emotionally healthy in a remote environment. During our conversation, you’ll also hear about trends for the future and how Aux plans to innovate to stay ahead of these challenges and meet the needs of credit unions and their members.

As we wrap up the episode, Doug shares his travel “must have” item, the nuclear shadow of Rocky Flats, and cycling with his son. Enjoy my conversation with Doug Burke!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Doug:
Doug Burke, CEO at Aux
[email protected]
https://auxteam.com 
LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook

“When you look at the underlying  data, you are able to tell a better economic story of members.” - Pankaj Jain

Thank you for tuning in to episode 35 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 Pankaj Jain, President and Co-Founder at Scienaptic AI. Pankaj shares his story and the experiences that inspired him to develop this technology and create Scienaptic AI, an AI-powered instant loan decision-making platform. We talk about how the Scienaptic team helps credit unions leverage data to better understand the background of each member, allowing credit unions to approve more loans while minimizing risk.

In this episode, Pankaj shares how Scienaptic supports underwriting efforts through alternative credit scoring and the positive impact it can have on ROI. In an effort to change the narrative of, “Every person is a risk,” Pankaj shares his vision of credit unions moving toward an “Every person gets credit” narrative. We discuss the impact Scienaptic can have on product offerings, loan processes, and the overall digital member experience.

Tune in to hear Pankaj provide insight on streamlining services to capture opportunities and exceed expectations. He discusses the importance of AI and creating a digital member experience that is easy to use and delivers instant gratification to users, specifically Gen Z. During our conversation, you’ll also learn how Scienaptic innovates to avoid disruption in the financial services industry and how they can add value to credit unions so they can stay ahead of these trends and thrive in the industry as well.

As we wrap up the episode, Pankaj talks about a recent purchase he can’t live without, what he finds inspirational about Elon Musk, and spending time in nature with his family. Enjoy my conversation with Pankaj Jain!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Pankaj:
Pankaj Jain, President and Co-Founder at Scienaptic AI
[email protected]
https://www.scienaptic.ai/
LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

“The more information you can empower employees with, the better the whole organization is.” - Ben Stangland

Thank you for tuning in to episode 34 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 Ben Stangland, President and COO at Strum (previously Weber Marketing Group). After going through brand updates, Strum is now building upon their legacy with their two companies, Strum Agency and Strum Platform. Strum Agency is a full service marketing agency helping credit unions build growth strategies through naming, branding, and marketing. Strum Platform is a financial marketing analytics software that helps credit unions better understand their members through data.

Ben has been with Strum for over twenty years. In this episode, he describes how Strum works with credit unions to help create focus in their growth strategy. He shares the importance of understanding and reaching the credit union’s target member, while staying true to the mission of the organization. Ben puts great emphasis on helping credit unions through the process of renaming and rebranding as they evolve. He discusses the adaptation of machine learning, artificial intelligence, and cloud-based computing. Ben also gives key insights on the significance of sharing data within the organization rather than keeping it siloed. 

Tune in to hear Ben discuss trends that he finds important for the future of the movement and ways credit unions can innovate to meet those needs. Strum helps credit unions utilize the data they already have and supplement it with additional information to gain a better understanding of their members. During our conversation, you’ll also hear more about the rebranding process that Strum went through as they evolved from Weber Marketing Group into the robust organization they are today.

As we wrap up the episode, Ben talks about bullet journaling, jazz music, and spending time with his family. Enjoy my conversation with Ben Stangland!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Ben:
Ben Stangland, President and COO at Strum
[email protected]
https://www.strumagency.com
https://strumplatform.com
LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

“We create a great member experience while achieving compliance goals.” -Tony Repanich

Thank you for tuning in to episode 33 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 Tony Repanich, President and COO at Shield Compliance. Shield Compliance works to transform how credit unions manage risk, comply with regulation, and satisfy growing operational demands associated with serving the legal cannabis market. Shield’s core platform technologies automate the compliance process and give credit unions the structure they need to monitor, measure, and control operations. Their Shield Assure, Shield Engage, and Shield Transact products ensure efficiency and reliability so credit unions can remain compliant while taking risks in a new line of business.

Tony has been in the financial services industry for over two decades. In this episode, he talks  about how Shield Compliance can unlock new business opportunities and add value to credit unions. He discusses the economic advantages of cannabis banking and how they can provide the technology needed to mitigate and manage risk. Tony addresses the concerns facing the cannabis banking industry, including regulatory requirements, risk assessments, and personal viewpoints. 

Tune in to hear Tony discuss ways to satisfy the regulatory and risk side while supporting access to banking for legal enterprises. Tony also shares ways credit unions in areas with legalized cannabis industries can help make their communities safer by providing access to banking for these cash-heavy businesses. During our conversation, you’ll also hear Tony dive into the cannabis banking playbook that he created to help credit unions understand the logistics of this new environment and frame out what they can expect.

As we wrap up the episode, Tony talks about the magic of Starbucks, his go-to podcast, and his favorite Peloton instructor. Enjoy my conversation with Tony Repanich!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Tony:
Tony Repanich, President and COO at Shield Compliance
[email protected]
www.shieldbanking.com     
LinkedIn | Facebook

“A great member experience is going to be holistic and involve everyone.” - Taylor Wells

Thank you for tuning in to episode 32 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 Taylor Wells, Experience Director at On the Mark Strategies. The core mission at On the Mark Strategies is to guide credit unions in their strategic planning, branding, and building their member experience so they can succeed. The team has many years of credit union experience and truly believes in helping credit unions thrive in a competitive environment. On The Mark Strategies differentiates itself through its  core values, the three E’s: Engage, Educate, Entertain. 

In this episode, Taylor discusses the significance of the member experience and how On The Mark Strategies can help credit unions create a customized, authentic, and consistent experience for both employees and members.  Taylor shares the ways his team works with credit unions to understand and improve their member experience across multiple channels. He explains that the team starts with data collection and demographic work to understand the current state of the member experience and hosts multi-day workshops for the credit union team to recreate their ideal member experience. 

During our conversation, Taylor speaks to the disconnect between front and back-office employees and ways to generate buy-in from all levels of the organization.  He also shares the effects hiring, growth, and retention can have on the member experience. Taylor recommends credit unions also look outside of the industry to bring in new talent, while not overlooking ways they can promote from within.  To maximize ROI and brand impact, Taylor advises credit unions to align their community involvement and charitable donations with their brand values and target audiences.  As we wrap up the conversation, Taylor calls out the importance of actionable strategic plans, organizational health, effective marketing, and more.

Tune in to hear Taylor talk about his growing hat collection, his favorite Michael Jordan quote, and the book he recommends everyone read. Enjoy my conversation with Taylor Wells!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Taylor:
Taylor Wells, Experience Director at On the Mark Strategies
[email protected]
https://www.markarnold.com   
LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter 

“Disruption comes in all shapes and sizes.” - Dania Buchanan

Thank you for tuning in to episode 31 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 Dania Buchanan, the President at SmartVault. The core mission at SmartVault is providing businesses with a central document destination that enables the adoption of a fully digital, fully automated document workflow. The SmartVault system is also highly secure and supports regulatory compliance mandates. They focus on reducing or eliminating routine and repetitive tasks associated with document workflows, serving small and mid-sized businesses like credit unions.

While she originally wanted to be a journalist, in this episode Dania discusses the inspiration that led to founding SmartVault and taking on the role as President. She shares that product disruption is exciting to her, as her team turns traditional document management on its head. We explore ways that integrating document management into the apps and workflows credit unions are already using can make them more competitive.

Dania always works to create a culture where staff can do the best and most vibrant work of their careers. Throughout the episode, we talk through the needs of employees to be able to collaborate whether working from the office, at home, or in a hybrid of the two. Dania expresses how important community service is to her as a leader and how she intentionally builds structures for her whole team to participate. As technology continues to evolve, Dania recommends building the foundation first and leveraging incremental change instead of trying to redo everything at once.

As we wrap up the episode, Dania shares a favorite beverage, her go-to podcasts, and the person she thinks of first when she hears the word “success.” Enjoy my conversation with Dania Buchanan!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Dania:
Dania Buchanan, President at SmartVault
[email protected]
https://www.smartvault.com/
LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

“Being reactive is no longer an option if you want to remain relevant.” - Kent Zimmer

Thank you for tuning in to episode 30 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 Kent Zimmer, CEO at CU NextGen. CU NextGen is the CUSO dedicated to bringing next-generation technology to credit unions, helping them improve the service delivered to their members, the daily experiences of their staff members, and the efficiency of their operations. CU NextGen is a partnership between Members Development Company, a consortium of nearly 70 large and future-focused credit unions, and ClaySys Technologies, a technology company with leading products in the no-code application development, robotic process automation (RPA), and artificial intelligence spaces.

During our conversation, Kent emphasizes that expectations for ease-of-use and digital experience are constantly evolving. Kent and I discuss how CU NextGen gives credit unions the tools they need for digital transformation, and provides them the flexibility to quickly customize the member experience. Kent shares his thoughts on credit unions being more proactive in customizing the member experience and embracing digital transformation, instead of being reactive to changes. He is excited for the future and for new challenges in creating a better member experience on behalf of credit unions.

During our rapid fire questions, Kent talks about owning a Tesla, winning gold at the pickleball nationals, and his go-to music choices. Listen in as Kent talks about why his idea of success comes from mentors instead of celebrities, and what book he recommends. Enjoy my conversation with Kent Zimmer!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Kent:
Kent Zimmer, CEO at CU NextGen
[email protected]
https://cunextgen.com/ 
LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

“Without credible data, you only have an opinion.” - Ryan Housefield

Thank you for tuning in to episode 29 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 Ryan Housefield, SVP of Sales at Marquis. Marquis delivers four key components of a successful data analytics, marketing automation, and CRM strategy for credit unions to build personalized relationships with members. Ryan believes credible data sources are key, and that the credit union industry can leverage that data to provide better marketing and member experience. 

During our conversation, Ryan shares the importance of taking action on data. He chats about how data is an evolution rather than a revolution, and that finding and maintaining good data is never complete. He explains that relationships and personal connections are key to a credit union’s competitive advantage, and that Marquis enables their clients to deliver on those promises. Treating each member as an individual instead of a number is something Ryan believes sets credit unions apart. 

Ryan and I discuss creating more awareness to make sure that credit unions aren’t a “best kept secret.” He shares that once someone knows about and joins the credit union, we need to continue the education throughout the whole member journey. Overall Ryan sees a high-tech and high-touch emphasis emerging for credit unions, including both the technology tools they need to succeed as well as the relationship focus with each member. He encourages credit unions to use data, not just for data’s sake, but to improve member lives. 

During our rapid fire questions, Ryan talks about podcasts, country music, and his daughters. Listen in as Ryan talks about what he wanted to be growing up, the recent purchase he can’t live without, and one of his favorite books. Enjoy my conversation with Ryan Housefield!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Ryan:
Ryan Housefield, SVP of Sales at Marquis
[email protected]
https://gomarquis.com
LinkedIn | Twitter 

“We were created because people in credit unions wanted to help grow the global credit union system.” - Mike Reuter

Thank you for tuning in to episode 28 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 Mike Reuter, the Executive Director of the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions (WFCU), which is the engagement and fundraising arm of the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU). Mike shares that while the Worldwide Foundation focused primarily on disaster relief at its inception, over the years it has grown and today supports the Global Women’s Leadership Network (GWLN), World Council Young Credit Union Professionals (WYCUP) program, and much more. 

The Worldwide Foundation offers what Mike describes as an à la carte menu of global credit union engagement experiences and programs from which both credit unions and individuals can select. Mike also describes the significant work the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions is doing to support Ukraine’s credit unions in the midst of the humanitarian crisis there. During the conversation, Mike provides details on their Ukrainian Credit Union Displacement Fund, which raised over $150,000 in its first 10 days, and their Ukrainian Taskforce in partnership with WOCCU and global partners. For credit unions that want to be involved in supporting Ukraine and its credit union system, Mike recommends a charitable donation to the Ukrainian Credit Union Displacement Fund.

As a global credit union first responder, Mike and the Worldwide Foundation support the humanitarian side during a crisis, such as the one in Ukraine, in terms of relief needs for members and citizens. WFCU also provides support for the recovery phase of a disaster, helping the credit union system rebuild, accelerate digitization, and refresh their strategic direction. Mike explains that the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions is an industry leader in marshaling volunteer resources, thought leadership, and travel to countries recovering from disaster to chart a stronger and more sustainable future together.

During our rapid fire questions, Mike shares that growing up, he wanted to be an American History professor. Listen in to hear who he thinks of first when he hears the word “success,” the book he loves to gift, and the decade of music he listens to on repeat. Enjoy my conversation with Mike Reuter!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Mike:
Mike Reuter, Executive Director at Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions (WFCU)
[email protected]
https://www.doglobalgood.org/
LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook