Grow Your Credit Union

AI promises big changes, but are credit unions buying into misconceptions that could hold them back? In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union , host Joshua Barclay and guest co-host Elizabeth Osborne , COO, Great Lakes Credit Union are joined by April Clobes , President and CEO, MSU Federal Credit Union to tackle three timely topics: The Three Lies of AI : Common misconceptions about AI in the cr...

Is the Auto Loan Market Breaking Credit Unions? With auto loan portfolios declining at record rates, credit unions are facing tough questions about their reliance on this market. Rising interest rates, changing consumer behaviors, and the younger generation's shift away from car ownership are reshaping strategies. From HELOCs to small business loans, discover how credit unions are adapting to fill...

Are credit unions ready to leave remote work behind? Corporate CEOs are making bold moves, with 80% planning full-time office returns in the next three years. For credit unions, the decision isn't just about where employees work—it's about maintaining culture, collaboration, and member service. But as leaders wrestle with workforce strategies, bigger shifts are looming. A planned merger between Fi...

In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union , hosts Joshua Barclay and Becky Reed welcome on guest Matthew Fehrmann , CIO of Kohler Credit Union to talk about these three topics. Core System Challenges : Addressing prevalent dissatisfaction with core systems in the credit union section by exploring the considerations between opting for a complete core conversion versus optimizing existing systems to...

In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union , hosts Joshua Barclay and Becky Reed welcome Mina Worthington , President and CEO of Solarity Credit Union , to explore the future path for credit unions. They discuss the potential of embracing small business community banking, the importance of reinforcing the cooperative difference, and how credit unions can remain relevant and successful in a rapidly...

With credit unions managing an average of 182 vendors per week, ensuring alignment between all partners can be a daunting task. But what if getting all your vendors in the same room could unlock new opportunities for strategic growth? In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union, Joshua Barclay and guest co-host Mike McWethy , EVP of Texans Credit Union welcome on Tansley Stearns , President and CEO...

Are you facing the challenge of building the right team to drive your credit union forward? Many leaders grapple with whether to hire specialists with deep expertise or passionate generalists who bring versatility. In an industry that's rapidly evolving, how do you assemble a team that's both agile and aligned with your vision? In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union , Joshua Barclay and guest c...

You want your credit union to be data-driven, but are you asking the right questions to get there? Many credit union leaders have access to endless amounts of data but struggle to translate that into real business impact. Dashboards look great, but how do you use them to move the needle on what truly matters? In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union , Joshua Barclay and Becky Reed  welcome on spo...

With growing scrutiny on financial institutions, forced-place collateral protection insurance (CPI) has become a significant pain point for both members and credit unions. Hidden costs from CPI can lead to inflated loan payments, causing financial strain on members and, in extreme cases, vehicle repossessions. So, how can credit unions protect their members from these pitfalls while maintaining th...

With operational costs rising—up nearly 6% over the past year—credit unions face the ongoing challenge of maintaining the efficiency needed to stay competitive. How can your credit union effectively transform increasing operational expenses into opportunities for improvement through team empowerment and technology adoption?  In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union, Joshua Barclay and Becky Reed...

A significant gap exists between executives' perception of how much they trust their employees and how trusted employees actually feel. We can bridge this gap by fostering a trust-based environment which involves encouraging mistakes as learning opportunities and ensuring clear communication and follow-through on employee contributions. Could this forward-thinking approach also lead to growth? In...

Credit unions often remain stuck in traditional ways of thinking, slowing down their ability to innovate and keep up with modern financial expectations. They need to break away from old habits and start thinking like modern, agile organizations to better serve their members in today's fast-paced financial landscape. Are we ready to stop thinking like credit unions and shift into a different mindse...

Credit unions continue to chase outdated goals, aiming to be the primary financial institution for their members despite changing market dynamics. Is the quest to be a primary financial institution still relevant in today's diverse financial services market? How can Credit Unions adapt rather than trying to be everything to everyone? In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union, hosts Joshua Barclay...

Charter changes can be a game-changer for credit unions, opening new avenues for growth and member engagement. However, navigating the process isn't always straightforward. When the NCUA rejects your submission, it can feel like a significant setback. So, what steps can you take to effectively respond and turn the situation around? In this episode of 'Grow Your Credit Union,' hosts Joshua Barkley...

Are Credit Union events a waste of time, money, and effort? We don't believe so, provided that you have a strategy in place to maximize your networking and learning opportunities. Just how much value can you unlock with the right approach? In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union, hosts  Joshua Barclay  and  Becky Reed  welcome  John Salgado , EVP/CIO, DuGood Federal Credit Union to discuss how t...

The failure of Credit Unions is not a sudden occurrence, but rather a gradual process that starts from the top down. Why aren't leaders who are ineffective or complacent held unaccountable for their poor performance? It's time we serve our members better by removing those obstacles to credit union growth. In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union, hosts  Joshua Barclay  and  Becky Reed  welcome Ja...

For credit unions with assets under $100 million, women hold 53% of CEO positions. Yet, as we look at larger credit unions, with assets over $100 million, this percentage drops to just 23%. What is the driving force behind this phenomenon, and what can we do to level the playing field? In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union, hosts Joshua Barclay and Becky Reed welcome Linda White , Executive Di...

Verifying the identity of your members in digital transactions can be challenging. Fraudsters are becoming increasingly sophisticated and persistent in their methods. What does it take to effectively safeguard your credit union and members from fraud? In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union, hosts Joshua Barclay and Becky Reed welcome Hailey Windham , former Financial Crimes Program Manager at S...

Strong employee retention is a hallmark of a thriving company culture. Fostering transparency, collaboration, and a sense of community can keep staff loyalty strong for decades. How can leaders replicate this success in their own organizations by building more than just a workplace, but a community? In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union, hosts Joshua Barclay and Becky Reed welcome Marji Hughes...

Innovation often comes with some disagreement. It's crucial to have employees who can voice alternative, and potentially better, ideas. But how can you best show your team vulnerability and instill in them the confidence to express dissent? In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union, hosts Joshua Barclay and Becky Reed welcome Mike McWethy ,  Executive Vice President, Texans Credit Union to talk ab...

If you are looking for members with high deposit value and aren't rate sensitive when borrowing, then you should be prioritizing your retiring members. That's the message that our sponsored guest Rhian Horgan, President and CEO, Silvur, wants you to hear. In this episode, we discuss why retirees are often underserved and provide a contemporary blueprint for helping your members retire with peace o...

When it comes to attracting new members, it is crucial to understand that the process's speed and ease often hold a higher appeal than the actual products and services being offered. Potential members are looking for financial institutions that can provide them with smooth, hassle-free experiences. They want to be onboarded quickly and without any unnecessary complications, outweighing the value t...

Credit Unions exist to serve members in ways that go far beyond what banks can offer. That's the message we should be getting out to the public. But, is that the message the board wants to hear? In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union, hosts Joshua Barclay and Becky Reed welcome on Kelly Botti , the President and CEO of TruMark Financial Credit Union .  Here are the topics for this episode:  Str...

Members really only want to go to your branch when they have an issue. Is your frontline equipped enough to handle the challenge? In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union , hosts Joshua Barclay and Becky Reed , bring on Darlene Hilton , the VP of Lending at Lone Star Credit Union to share her wisdom across a variety of topics including: Personal north star metrics The real reason members come to...

Today our guest is Doug Duong, Board Chairman of Pasadena Federal Credit Union. The main discussions include the impact of the changing economy on credit unions, the significance, selection, and efficiency of board directors, the importance of succession planning among CEOs, and the responsibility of credit unions in promoting financial literacy among its members.   List of Resources Where Investo...