The CUInsight Network

“We’re standing shoulder-to-shoulder with credit unions.” - John Cassidy

Thank you for tuning in to episode 27 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 John Cassidy, Director of Credit Union System Relations at CUNA Mutual Group. CUNA Mutual Group built an ecosystem designed to help credit unions succeed, and their strategy is designed on the belief that a brighter financial future should be accessible to everyone. They have a strong commitment to making financial products easier to own through simple and affordable solutions, helping credit unions meet their members’ needs. CUNA Mutual is there for credit unions and their members in the moments that matter. 

John is especially proud of CUNA Mutual’s relationships with credit unions and the overall system and the ways CUNA Mutual demonstrates that they are truly a partner with credit unions. CUNA Mutual Group builds, buys, and partners with others to provide capabilities that credit unions need. He shares that CUNA Mutual Group has donated millions to programs and campaigns that are important for the credit union mission, including the Credit Union Awareness Program, the Bridge the Gap Campaign, and Financial Well-being for All, among others. 

John expresses his thoughts on how credit unions can meet the diverse needs of consumers and especially the importance of serving multicultural consumers. He advocates for investment in diversity, equity, and inclusion and shares both CUNA Mutual’s stance as well as other notable programs moving the industry forward here. Listen as John talks about the Multicultural Center of Excellence, the growing CDFI fund, and political advocacy work.

In our rapid-fire questions, John shares which genres of music he listens to these days, his favorite toothbrush, and the sport he coaches. You’ll also hear about the leader he thinks of when he hears the word “success.” Enjoy my conversation with John Cassidy!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with John:
John Cassidy, Director of Credit Union System Relations at CUNA Mutual Group
[email protected]
https://www.cunamutual.com/
LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube   

“Each day there are people working to make a difference.” - Jack Lynch

Thank you for tuning in to episode 26 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 Jack Lynch, Chief Risk Officer at PSCU and President at TriVerity. PSCU is the nation’s premiere credit union organization (CUSO) that evolved from being a payment processor to being an end-to-end financial technology provider. They currently offer a full range of services such as risk management, data analytics, digital banking, contact center services and more. TriVerity is a PSCU company working as a full-service collection agency managing non-performing and charged-off loans with a comprehensive menu of third-party collection services.

During this conversation, Jack talks about the focus on helping credit unions digitally transform and serve the evolving needs of their members. Fraud attempts are on the rise after the pandemic sparked an increase of digital transactions. Jack explains ways that leveraging third-party CUSOs can help credit unions address the significant fraud challenges that consumers face. We chat about how credit unions can educate their communities and the best approach for credit unions of all asset sizes to protect their members.

Jack talks too about the sophistication of new fraud attempts, and the need for sophisticated tools to help fight these attempts. He shares his insights on risk tolerance, contactless cards, and data analytics. Gain insight on building an integrated, multi-layer approach of fraud management to become a more seamless, easy-to-use, and protected financial institution. By working together with CUSOs like PSCU, credit unions can address financial crimes in this digital world.

In our rapid-fire questions, Jack talks about a guitar model he can’t get enough of, his thoughts on George Washington, and his interest in the oboe. Enjoy my conversation with Jack Lynch!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Jack:
Jack Lynch, Chief Risk Officer at PSCU and President at TriVerity
[email protected]
https://www.pscu.com/ 
https://www.triverity.com/ 
LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook   

“There’s still a lot of room for credit unions to make meaningful partnerships in their communities.” - Sam Brownell

Thank you for tuning in to episode 25 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 Sam Brownell, Founder & CEO at CUCollaborate. CUCollaborate is a consulting, software development, and digital marketing company that helps credit unions grow. Their consulting services range from field of membership expansion to branch strategy to low income designation strategy. Everything CUCollaborate does is with the goal of helping credit unions grow and succeed in making community impact.

Sam shares that when he thinks of defining success for credit unions, quantifying impact for members and communities is top of mind. He explains that when credit unions frame their thinking around maximizing impact and better members’ lives, it’s easy to justify the need for growth. 

We chat about field of membership expansion opportunities and best practices. Sam gives background on key considerations credit unions should keep in mind for entering new markets. In this conversation, we also discuss the concept of de novo credit unions, lending to underserved consumers, and CUCollaborate’s focus when it comes to innovating for the future.

In our rapid-fire questions, Sam shares the NFL player who comes to mind when he hears of the word success, his attempts to disconnect from technology, and more. Enjoy my conversation with Sam Brownell!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Sam:
Sam Brownell, Founder & CEO at CUCollaborate
[email protected]
www.cucollaborate.com
LinkedIn | Twitter   

“Don’t underestimate the value of the human touch.” - Jeff Keltner

Thank you for tuning in to episode 24 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 Jeff Keltner, SVP of Business Development at Upstart. Upstart is a leading artificial intelligence (AI) lending platform designed to improve access to affordable credit while reducing the risk and costs of lending for their lender partners. They leverage AI to empower credit unions to an inclusive, frictionless member experience in lending.

Jeff shares that more people are creditworthy than we think. Artificial intelligence and machine learning can help a lender understand who is truly creditworthy and how much risk a loan actually represents. Upstart enables financial institutions to use AI in lending with over 800 different variables, both traditional and non-traditional (including occupation, field of work, and stability of income, for example), in their underwriting process, better understanding those in the subprime pool and identifying hidden prime borrowers. This process improves funding rates and reduces friction for borrowers in all demographics. 

We chat about inclusive lending and the mission of credit unions to serve the consumer, not just maximize profits. Jeff explains the importance of an transformed digital experience for each lending product, and the need to optimize the whole process from end-to-end rather than digitizing a legacy experience. He believes the financial institutions that will win are those that can leverage artificial intelligence technology and digital transformation, while still providing the human touch where needed. 

In our rapid-fire questions, we learn a hobby Jeff has picked up, a book he recommends, and the beverage he’s been enjoying recently. Tune in to hear his perspective on work success and family success, and much more. Enjoy my conversation with Jeff Keltner!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Jeff:
Jeff Keltner, SVP of Business Development at Upstart
[email protected]
www.upstart.com
LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter  

“Staying relevant means being reflective of the communities credit unions serve.” - Oscar Porras

Thank you for tuning in to episode 23 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 Oscar Porras, Senior Consultant of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Humanidei. At Humanidei, the team helps credit unions build capacity for becoming more inclusive organizations. Oscar says he saw a huge need for a more diverse workforce and leadership team when he realized he was one of the few bilingual employees at his credit union. He is driven to help credit unions better reflect the communities they serve at all levels of the organization.

During our discussion, Oscar explains that diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy ultimately helps credit unions better serve their members and become the employer of choice for talented mission-driven people. Diverse teams attract a wider range of talent into the company that contribute to a new pool of ideas, strategies, and solutions.

Listen as Oscar gives his thoughts on winning the war for talent, building a great team with diverse leadership, and better understanding marginalized communities. He dives into his tips for retaining talent by developing a path for employees. Oscar mentions that finding the right people is critical for credit unions, as people are the driving force behind technology, trends, member service, and more. 

Tune in to hear about the recent purchase Oscar can’t live without, the people he thinks of when he hears the word “success,” and the ways he spends his time out of the office. Enjoy my conversation with Oscar Porras!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Oscar:
Oscar Porras, Senior Consultant of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Humanidei
[email protected]
www.humanidei.com
LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter  

“We speak military.” - Tony Hernandez

Thank you for tuning in to episode 22 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 Hernandez, President & CEO of the Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC). The Defense Credit Union Council is a trade association of credit unions who serve military members and veterans, and any credit union can join. Tony personally understands the unique financial circumstances impacting military personnel and veterans, having started his own career in the military. Tony says his team are representatives for military and veteran interests in the credit unions and communities they serve. He shares that DCUC’s efforts advocate for our military and veterans, especially in financial services.

In our conversation, Tony discusses financial services trends on military bases. He also shares about DCUC’s political advocacy efforts and related legislation including the Veterans and Consumers Fair Credit Act, Military Lending Act, Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, and more. He explains why knowledge around these topics are beneficial for credit unions seeking to reach the military and veterans. As Tony says, the Defense Credit Union Council has first-hand experience in dealing with specific concerns related to professionals in the military and veterans.

Tony is also a huge advocate of honoring veterans. He talks about his own views related to showing empathy and gratitude for those who served this country. Tony shares details about his team working on a project of appreciation for veterans this year. Be sure to check out the episode to learn about a surprising recent purchase Tony can’t live without, the person he thinks of when he hears the word “success,” and more. Enjoy my conversation with Tony Hernandez!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Tony:
Tony Hernandez, President & CEO of the Defense Credit Union Council
[email protected]
https://www.dcuc.org/   
LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter 

“Use your data every day in your decision-making.” - Dan Price

Thank you for tuning in to episode 21 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 of 2020 Analytics. From a young age, Dan’s collection of interests always seemed to move him towards the credit union space. In fact, he comes from a family of accountants, which made the transition to financial services easy. During this conversation, he provides powerful insight on topics he already enjoys discussing: tech, data, and growing the credit union. Listen as Dan describes the ways his team at 2020 Analytics works on end-to-end loan portfolio analysis.

To improve operations, Dan emphasizes that credit unions need a better grip on the power of data. Our conversation is an exchange of insight on credit unions reviewing their ability to grow a loan portfolio, where to grow the portfolio, and ways to target and identify members. Dan shares his thoughts on how credit unions can make loan products available across different sets of members. Of course, this naturally leads the conversation into the topic of what credit unions should know about mitigating concentration risk. 

Credit unions can use the power of data to stay ahead of the rapidly changing financial services landscape. With great data management, credit unions can properly respond to the shifting expectations of members. Tune in to hear more about who Dan thinks of when he hears the word “success,” his hobbies, and more. Enjoy my conversation with Dan Price!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

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

“Taking action on data is critical.” - Lesley DeCator

Thank you for tuning in to episode 20 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 Lesley DeCator, Senior Director for PaymentsEdge Marketing and Advisory at FIS. As we open the episode, Lesley shares her career path and her transition to the credit union industry. She discusses how her team is able to distill data into manageable and actionable reports for credit unions, who can  use it to ensure their products and services are meeting members’ needs. 

Lesley believes credit unions must continuously improve their service, focus on flexibility and speed, and future-proof their business model to stay relevant and competitive. She encourages leaders to implement data-based strategies and shares insights from her experiences in mergers and acquisitions.

During our rapid fire questions, we learn that Lesley enjoys reading, training horses, and yoga when not in the office. We chat about her most recent pandemic purchase and who she thinks of when she hears the word “success.” Enjoy my conversation with Lesley DeCator! 

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Lesley:
Lesley DeCator, Senior Director for PaymentsEdge Marketing and Advisory at FIS
[email protected]   
https://www.fisglobal.com
LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook 

“Invest in your people.” - Christopher Stevenson

Thank you for tuning in to episode 19 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 Christopher Stevenson, Chief Learning Officer at CUES. Christopher shares with us the importance of high quality professional education and its role in providing development for credit union leaders. We walk through his career journey in education before joining CUES and the leadership lessons he has learned along the way. 

We start the show by discussing how education can position executives and board members to make the best decisions in leading their credit union forward. Christopher believes that excellence sets the bar for everything that we do in the industry. He shares that one of the greatest challenges executives face is providing enough time for their staff to participate in ongoing professional development, but that there are a number of ways to mitigate this.

As global pandemic causes major shifts in the financial services industry, Christopher shares how CUES has transformed their learning communities and discovered ways to provide opportunities and resources differently. We chat about new program offerings and ways leaders can use these tools to invest in and successfully develop their employees. 

As we close the show, we learn that Christopher is an avid reader and values his time out of the office with family. He shares some of his favorite music,  and the person he thinks of when he hears the word “success.” Christopher encourages leaders to continuously invest in their teams and build the success of their organizations together. Enjoy my conversation with Christopher Stevenson!  

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Christopher:
Christopher Stevenson, Chief Learning Officer at CUES
[email protected]
www.cues.org
LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram 

“Credit unions are not just in the community, they are a part of it!” - Seth Brickman

Thank you for tuning in to episode 18 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 Seth Brickman, CEO of QCash Financial CUSO. We walk through his career journey from the military to building high tech software and everything in between. Seth shares tips on maintaining relevance, improving member relationships during times of transitions, and creating space for innovation.  

Seth discusses the use of relational underwriting instead of a credit score. Changing the focus allows credit unions to build relationships and embrace financial inclusion. Seth reveals that this approach also keeps members away from predatory lenders. He shares that more vulnerable populations, like minorities and women, are exposed to predatory lending practices at a higher rate and the statistic that over 40% of Americans are not financially equipped to handle a $400 emergency. 

Innovation and member acquisition are two major goals Seth believes are at the forefront of the credit union industry. He shares that in order to accomplish these goals successfully, leaders must serve the underserved and create solutions that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. Maintaining relevance in a saturated financial services market means continuing to cultivate member relationships  and finding opportunities to say “yes.”

As we close the show, Seth encourages leaders to listen to members and their needs. He believes this is one of the best ways to retain membership and improve their experience. We learn that Seth enjoys exercising as a tool to stay energized and focused. Listen in to find out who he thinks of when he hears the word “success” and his favorite Spotify playlists. Enjoy my conversation with Seth Brickman!   

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Seth:
Seth Brickman, CEO of QCash Financial CUSO
[email protected]
www.qcashfinancial.com
Twitter | LinkedIn