Behind the Vault

What happens when a century-old community bank embraces fintech innovation? In this episode of Behind the Vault, Peter Stenehjem fourth-generation CEO of First International Bank & Trust, shares their journey of growth and transformation. Key topics from our conversation: Leading a 115-year-old family-owned bank Balancing tradition with innovation Strategic expansion through acquisitions Movin...

When Seattle Bank couldn't find the right solution for asset growth, they built one themselves. In this episode of Behind the Vault, CEO John Blizzard shares how they created CD Valet, a marketplace helping community banks compete for deposits nationwide. Key topics from our conversation: How Seattle Bank identified the CD marketplace gap Building and scaling a fintech solution as a community bank...

When called upon to transform an organization, it's often a delicate and ever-changing balancing act. This requires delivering outcomes that not just meet expectations but will win in the market and operate within the realities of the institution's resources and capabilities. In this episode, we sit down with Kevin Miller, CEO of Travis Credit Union, to discuss their journey of such an effort. Kev...

Being led by the needs of your customers and members is a given. Being confident of what those needs are is another matter. And making big bets on things like your digital experience is increasingly becoming make or break for an institution's relevance. Addition Financial's COO Kevin Dougherty shares how their team turned member insights into actionable requirements, avoiding costly missteps and b...

How is fintech changing financial regulation, and what does it mean for your institution? In this episode of Behind the Vault, Jim McCarthy draws on his unique experience as a founding CFPB member and former FDIC regulator to help us understand where consumer financial regulation is headed. Key topics from our conversation: Evolution of consumer financial regulation Using sentiment data to predict...

In this episode, we dive deep with Sandy Spring Bank's Chief Digital Officer Chris Orr and Director of Omni-Channel Strategy Jeff Weidley as they share their journey of leading digital transformation at a $14B institution. Through their unique paired leadership approach, Chris and Jeff reveal how they've orchestrated comprehensive changes in digital banking capabilities while maintaining focus on...

Financial institutions worldwide will spend over $9 billion on digital banking solutions this year, yet more than half of these initiatives fail to meet expectations. In this episode of Behind the Vault, we explore why this happens and how community banks and credit unions can build better digital experiences through design thinking. Key topics from our conversation: Why digital transformation oft...

In this episode, we hear from Jody Guetter, Chief Marketing Officer at Nymbus, about the lessons learned in consumer engagement from a career in consumer brand marketing, community banking, and fintech. Jody shares insights on the evolution of marketing roles in community banking, the importance of data-driven strategies for growth, and the often missed uses of technology in marketing. She delves...

In this episode of Behind the Vault, we hear from Randell Leach, CEO of Beneficial State Bank. Beneficial State Bank is proving that banks can be profitable and purposeful. It has grown into a $1.5 billion CDFI while staying disciplined in the business it pursues and avoids and focused on accessibility to underserved communities in the US Northwest. Key highlights from our conversation: How Benefi...

In this episode, Mike Daum, Chief Marketing Officer of Golden 1 Credit Union, shares his fresh perspective on driving change at one of America's largest credit unions. As a recent addition to the $20B+ institution, Mike offers unique insights on modernizing a 91-year-old organization while preserving its core values. Key topics from our conversation: Transitioning from traditional banks to the cre...

In this episode of Behind the Vault, Phil Suckow, VP of Innovation at IncredibleBank, challenges that assumption by sharing how a 60-year-old Wisconsin community bank transformed itself into a digital banking pioneer. Key highlights from our conversation: IncredibleBank's journey from traditional community bank to digital innovator Building and launching digital brands without massive development...

In this episode of Behind the Vault, we hear from Ben Maxim, the Chief Innovation Officer of Michigan State University Federal Credit Union. While every innovation discussion inevitably touches AI, we hear Ben's perspective on the misses and hits the CU, and its wholly owned CUSO, The Reseda Group, has had to get real returns from AI in its operations. Key highlights from our conversation: The rea...

In this episode of Behind the Vault, we look at the inside vs. outside innovation options with Ted Coy, founder of Valiify, a CUSO dedicated to serving smaller banks and credit unions. Ted's journey from Alabama Credit Union to entrepreneurship offers a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities in this often overlooked sector. Major points from the episode: Ted's career path and the e...

In this episode of Behind the Vault, we explore the complex world of open banking with Lisa Arthur, US Director and Global Chief Marketing Officer for Sensedia. As regulatory pressures mount and consumer expectations evolve, understanding the impacts of open banking is crucial for community financial institutions. Key highlights from our conversation: Decoding open banking and its impact on commun...

In this episode of Behind the Vault, we sit down with Kevin Brauer, CEO of Affinity Federal Credit Union, to explore innovative strategies for deepening member relationships and community engagement in the financial sector. Key highlights from our conversation: Kevin's journey to becoming CEO and taking over when his predecessor was in the role for 27 years The credit union's wellbeing program and...

In this episode of Behind the Vault, we explore the world of credit union and bank mergers with industry expert Michael Bell of law firm Honigman. M&A remains high on the list of growth (and exit) strategies for both banks and credit unions, and Michael shares his perspective and experience on what good deals look like and what a successful buyer and seller. Key topics covered in our discussio...

In this episode of Behind the Vault, we explore the crucial intersection of architectural design and customer experience in community banking. Our guest, Diana Melichar, owner and principal of Melichar Architects, shares her expertise creating spaces that build trust and enhance customer relationships. Key topics covered in this 25-minute conversation: -How thoughtful design influences customer tr...

In this episode of the Behind the Vault podcast, we explore the intersection of creativity and finance with Jonathan Taylor, MBA , CEO of CU Sol , a Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO). JT shares his journey from the world of media, music, and arts, the impact on credit union innovation, and the unlikely partnership that led to CU Sol's creation. Key highlights from our discussion: JT's uniqu...

In an era where fintech startups often dominate headlines, Vantage West Credit Union proves that established financial institutions can innovate too. Their new digital brand, HUSTL, is reimagining financial services for freelancers and gig workers. In this episode of Behind the Vault, we speak with Rob Hoyle, CIO of Vantage West Credit Union, about the journey of creating HUSTL. This conversation...

In this episode, we hear the story of the turnaround of a 100+ year-old institution with Dave Lamb, Chairman, President, and CEO of Michigan's Oxford Bank. Dave shares his background and how it prepared him for his role in leading a struggling community bank, operating under a consent decree, into a growing and thriving institution. The Oxford Bank story demonstrates the overwhelming importance of...

Join us for a special conversation with James Robert Lay, founder and CEO of the Digital Growth Institute and author of Banking on Digital Growth and Banking on Change . In this episode, James Robert shares: * Why consumer behavior is driving financial services transformation * The importance of continuous reinvention in the face of exponential change * How to overcome resistance to change within...

In this episode, Andrew Sagliocca, CEO of Esquire Bank, shares the unique journey of building a specialized bank focused on serving a narrowly defined customer. Andrew shares the challenges and strategies involved in differentiating their unique offerings and go-to-market strategy, including overcoming regulatory hurdles to develop tailored technology solutions. He provides insights into the bank'...

Orange County's Credit Union is much more than the municipality of its namesake. In the past five years, the Credit Union has undertaken a growth strategy, vastly expanding its Southern California presence and adopting a nationwide membership field for its digital banking channels. Kathy Jumper, President and CEO, shares with us the approach they are taking and how her wide and varied background i...

Join us for a masterclass in innovation with April Clobes, CEO of Michigan State University Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU). In this episode, April reveals: * MSUFCU's journey from buying fintech solutions to creating their own * The secret sauce behind their successful fintech acquisitions * How they formed Reseda Group, a credit union service organization (CUSO), to sell solutions to other institu...

When big regional banks stumbled last year, many customers were left out in the cold. In this episode, we talk with DJ Kurtze, SVP and San Francisco Bay Area Regional President for Five Star Bank, about how Five Star is stepping in to fill that gap. DJ shares his firsthand experience of customer dissatisfaction and the Sacramento bank's strategic move into the Bay Area. Discover how their relation...