America's Credit Unions

Credit unions need a sustainable approach to growing deposits. One component of that is the use of high-yield accounts, says Alisha Crafton, chief growth officer at Kasasa . In this episode, sponsored by Kasasa, Crafton examines the company’s use of data and analytics, industry trends, the concept of “phantom growth,” deposit growth strategies, and more.

Housing finance and affordable housing take center stage on this week’s episode , sponsored by the Council of Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLB). Ryan Donovan, president/CEO at the council, updates listeners on a recent report from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and discusses how FHLBs support mortgage financing, the council’s Affordable Housing Program, success stories from this program, a...

Join Michael Bell from Honigman LLP for an exciting discussion about growth planning. Mr. Bell provides a glimpse of his practice helping credit unions navigate the world of mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Bell shares his expertise regarding strategic planning and growth, key considerations for the merger process, and perspectives on field of membership and chartering.     Key Takeaways:   Recognize...

Succession planning is about strategic oversight and ensuring your organization is relevant and future-focused. In this episode of the podcast , Susan Mitchell, CEO of Mitchell Stankovic and Associates , talks about the importance of having an organization-wide succession plan, why taking a forward-focused approach is critical, how succession planning fits into the credit union’s strategic plan, a...

Credit unions have a renewed focus on fostering member’s financial health and, increasingly, those efforts are digital and mobile-first, says Nicole Harper, director of corporate strategy at Jack Henry . In this episode of the podcast , sponsored by Jack Henry, Harper examines credit unions’ role in fostering financial health, financial wellness trends, available mobile-first resources, challenges...

Brian Fassett, Advantis Credit Union ’s director of learning and development joins today’s episode of the America’s Credit Union podcast to share how the $2 billion asset credit union in Portland, Ore., goes about finding and developing prospective leaders within the organization. Jon Sexton, senior vice president of Culture and Leadership Development at Vibrant Credit Union, will follow with a de...

Join this panel discussion with Meredith Fuchs, General Counsel at Plaid, and Ben Maxim, Chief Digital Strategy and Information Officer at Michigan State University Federal Credit Union, highlighting initial takeaways from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s proposed rulemaking to establish open banking and implement section 1033 of the Dodd-Frank Act. Fuchs and Maxim cover the benefits and...

Credit unions deliver billions of dollars in financial benefits to both members and nonmembers—and now we can prove it. The Credit Union Impact Dashboard from America’s Credit Unions provides an easy, interactive way to demonstrate how credit unions outperform their peers. It updates in real time to tell the credit union story, measure their transformative power, and showcase how they outperform o...

Find the first crop of stories from America’s Credit Unions’ 2024 Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC) on last week’s podcast, where credit union leaders discussed small credit unions, member service, fintech, advocacy, and more. We’re back at it this week with America’s Credit Unions’ Samira Salem, Northwest Community Credit Union’s Jose Garcia, Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions’ Mike Reute...

Highlights from the 2024 Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC) Conversations with some of the more than 6,000 credit union leaders who attended the year's premier advocacy event.

During March, people celebrate Women’s History Month, reflecting on the courage of women from past generations and celebrating how their efforts molded women into who they are today. In this episode, Melanie Kennedy, president/CEO at Southwest Financial Federal Credit Union in Farmers Branch, Texas, talks about Women’s History Month, women who have inspired her, her role as a leader, advice for th...

Following the formation of America’s Credit Unions , the American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL) has redefined its mission to focus on three pillars, according to Brad Miller, AACUL president, and Pat Conway, AACUL chair and president/CEO at the CrossState Credit Union Association .  Those pillars are connecting with the new national trade association, serving as a voice for credit un...

The credit union movement is preparing for its annual trip to Washington, D.C. The 2024 Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC), scheduled for March 3-7, will look a bit different, however. What can attendees expect from the first GAC under the banner of America’s Credit Unions ? A revamped, reenergized feel, according to America’s Credit Unions’ chief association services officer Todd Spiczenski. S...

Community financial institutions are facing stiff competition. How can they outdo their competitors, navigate the changing financial environment, and bring in new deposits? America’s Credit Unions Digital Media Design Specialist Yeekeng Yang welcomed Kasasa CEO Gabe Krajicek on the podcast to answer these questions and more. They discuss challenges facing credit unions, the importance of adapting...

Filene Research Institute’s Racial Economic Equity Incubator seeks to address economic disparities and deliver resources, support, and capital to communities of color. Filene Senior Incubation Manager Horacio Garcia-Korosec stops by the podcast to describe the incubator, credit union participants, and the need to address economic disparities. This Black History Month episode also features two cred...

Fresh off its first-ever economic forecast , America’s Credit Unions’ economics team hopped on the podcast to set the stage for 2024. What do they expect this year? Will the U.S. face a recession? What’s happening in lending? How are credit unions’ balance sheets? Dawit Kebede, Curt Long, Ligia Vado, and Mike Schenk answer those questions and more, with their baseline forecast calling for modest e...

Financial well-being is a hallmark of how credit unions serve their members and communities. In this episode of the podcast , three credit union leaders explain the importance of financial education and how their credit unions improve members’ financial lives. Our financial well-being roundtable hands the microphone to: Chris Wolgamott , director of financial well-being and member experience, $1.9...

Credit unions are committed to serving the needs of their members. But what happens when those needs and expectations change? Evolving with those changes requires modern technology, according to Jack Henry™ President of Credit Union Solutions Shanon McLachlan, who joined the podcast to discuss how credit unions can reimagine the technology ecosystem.

In this episode of the CUNA News Podcast , associate editor Brock Fritz talks to Colleen Desselle and Rachel Bond about their innovative approaches to marketing and business development. While Desselle and Bond hold different roles, they have at least one thing in common: the Marketing & Business Development Council recognized both with top honors this year. Desselle received the 2023 Lifetime...

Women are much more likely to hold the top spot at credit unions than they are at banks, according to “Women in Credit Union Leadership,” a report from CUNA. Two outstanding credit union CEOs join the CUNA News Podcast to talk about women’s leadership: Leigh Brady , CEO at $50 billion asset State Employees Credit Union in Raleigh, N.C. Linda White , executive director at the Credit Union Women’s L...

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) released a report outlining roughly 50 recommendations for the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) System. One recommendation that’s particularly relevant concerns the types of collateral credit unions can pledge when they borrow from FHLBs, says FHLB Council President/CEO Ryan Donovan, who rejoins the CUNA News Podcast. In this episode, sponsored by the FHLB Co...

It’s hard to stay ahead of fraudsters. Credit unions can renew their security measures and fraud education, but fraudsters find a way. Envisant President/CEO Libby Calderone joined the CUNA News Podcast to share how the credit union service organization (CUSO) is helping credit unions through the fraud arms race. Calderone and CUNA Digital Media Design Specialist Yeekeng Yang discuss trending frau...

Bryan Fox and Nate Rupe see a lot of similarities between their time in the U.S. military and credit unions. The former brigadier general and flight paramedic, respectively, join the CUNA News Podcast to discuss those similarities while sharing stories of their service and how credit unions assist veterans. Rupe, an eight-year Army veteran who is now Advia Credit Union’s talent acquisition partner...

What is the Federal Home Loan Bank System? What is the Federal Housing Finance Agency looking for in its review of the system? What will the agency suggest in its impending report? And how can credit union advocacy make a difference? Council of Federal Home Loan Banks President/CEO Ryan Donovan, CUNA’s former chief advocacy officer, rejoins the CUNA News Podcast to answer those questions and more.

What’s the key to successful business development? Forming relationships and “being your most authentic self,” says Bradley Dyer Jr., senior business development officer at $1.4 billion asset Credit Union of America in Wichita, Kan., and a 2023 Credit Union Rock Star. In this episode of the CUNA News Podcast , Dyer Jr. shares his approach to business development and explains his commitment to serv...