Credit Union Conversations

Episode Summary What does it take to build a deeply rooted financial institution in a tight-knit community? Host Mark Ritter sits down with Katey Cross, Director of Community Outreach, and Lisa Reinhart, Director of Business Development and Services at Erie Federal Credit Union. Celebrating its 90th anniversary, the institution has grown to over 82,000 members and $800 million in assets across Nor...

Episode Summary Hidden 401(k) fees and overlooked retirement plan structures quietly drain significant wealth from employees over the course of their careers. Host Mark Ritter sits down with forensic retirement consultant Paul Sippil to unpack the surprising realities of public 401(k) tax forms, asset-based fee models, and the accountability gaps facing employers and plan participants alike. The c...

How can credit unions improve their marketing and attract new members? Start with a clear brand story, explain the value of member ownership, and deliver an experience that matches the promise. Mark Ritter welcomes Josh Belhumeur, CEO and Chief Narrative Strategist at BRINK, to explore why credit union marketing often plays it safe and what it takes to stand out. Josh shares the thinking behind ca...

How can a mid-sized credit union grow its lending program while maintaining personal relationships with its members? Tony LaRussa explains how AOD Federal Credit Union combines community involvement, digital banking, and strategic partnerships to expand its lending capabilities without losing its local focus. Tony, Chief Lending Officer at AOD Federal Credit Union, joins Mark Ritter to share his n...

What do the latest business lending trends reveal about the health of the credit union industry? Business loan volume and deposits are growing, but rising delinquencies, regulatory uncertainty, and third-party vendor risk demand closer attention from credit union leaders. In this solo episode of Credit Union Conversations , Mark Ritter shares his perspective on the current state of credit union bu...

Is this episode with Kirk Drake real or AI-generated? It is real, but the conversation reveals how quickly artificial intelligence is transforming credit unions, CUSOs, fintech partnerships, business lending, and the future of work. Kirk Drake, founder and CEO of CU 2.0, joins Credit Union Conversations host and MBFS CEO Mark Ritter to discuss how credit unions can move beyond experimenting with C...

Why do 77% of borrowers say loan payment protection provides meaningful financial security, while only 22% have purchased it? According to Alexia Johnson of Securian Financial, the biggest barrier is not a lack of need. It is a lack of trust, understanding, and relevant education during the lending process. Alexia joins Credit Union Conversations host and MBFS CEO Mark Ritter to discuss Securian F...

How can credit unions use AI and digital lending tools without losing the human relationships that set them apart? Al Gregory, Chief Lending Officer at Securityplus Federal Credit Union, joins Mark Ritter to explain why technology should support, not replace, experienced judgment in commercial lending. Al shares his path from bank teller to CUSO CEO and credit union lending executive, along with t...

This one starts as a lending podcast and ends as a full-blown rock history lesson. After Ed Marra briefly recaps his professional start in paralegal studies and early commercial lending work, Mark Ritter lets him run with his true passion, classic rock, growing up on The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and Johnny Cash, then building a career performing Buddy Holly tributes with the blessing of Buddy Holly'...

Mark Ritter sits down with Eben Sheaffer on Credit Union Conversations, talking credit union lending. Eben shares his journey from Wall Street finance to CDFI leadership, explaining how working capital financing and adaptive reuse lending are reshaping underserved communities across the country. From a groundbreaking securitization in equipment financing to revitalizing Detroit through impact-driv...

What happens when a mid-sized credit union outgrows its comfort zone? Andrew Wilson of Navigator Credit Union joins host Mark Ritter to unpack the strategy behind explosive net income growth, a booming mortgage lending portfolio, and a scrappy new commercial lending division built almost from scratch. Wilson gets candid about surviving NCUA Exams, building trust with regulators, and why CUSO partn...

From bartending in Estes Park to golf lessons to running a multimillion-dollar CUSO, Michael Nagl's story proves that the best leaders take unexpected roads. He and Mark Ritter dig into mortgage-lending boom-and-bust cycles, why member service still beats automation, and how a niche auto-leasing program now serves credit unions nationwide. They also swap stories about golf at altitude and Estes Pa...

Careers in the credit union industry can take unexpected turns, as Kendall Boyle proves in this episode of Credit Union Conversations. From wedding-planning chaos to underwriting spreadsheets, Kendall’s career path is anything but ordinary. Host Mark Ritter chats with the MBFS portfolio analyst about surviving hospitality burnout, thriving in remote work, and finding calm through animal fostering....

What does it take to leave a prestigious law career, join the most hated government program in history, and then launch a fintech startup with no clients, no marketing materials, and no industry relationships? Ian Lampl did exactly that. Host Mark Ritter welcomes Ian, founder and CEO of LoanStreet, to discuss the evolution of loan servicing, commercial lending, and the broader fintech landscape. I...

Are your current vendor relationships helping you solve real problems or just cluttering your technology stack? In this episode, Mark Ritter sits down with Melissa Kopp, Chief Revenue Officer for the League of Credit Unions and its affiliate Leverage, to discuss how credit union fintech partnerships are shifting from standard product pitching to collaborative problem solving. Melissa shares her in...

What does it really take to grow a business lending CUSO in 2026? Mark Ritter and Jeff Lyons pull back the curtain on eight years of organizational evolution, honest reflections on artificial intelligence, and where credit union technology is finally delivering results. From Microsoft Copilot upgrades that went from frustrating to impressive, to AI-assisted hiring wins, to the unfiltered reality o...

Credit union strategy takes center stage as Mark Ritter welcomes industry veteran Jay Murray to Credit Union Conversations. From teller to CEO, Jay's path through corporate credit union leadership shaped decades of collaboration within the credit union sector. He reflects on the financial crisis, regulatory gaps, and how shared services helped small institutions survive and scale. Jay also unpacks...

Is your credit union ready for what is happening in mortgage banking right now? In this episode of Credit Union Conversations, host Mark Ritter sits down with John Giordano of First Heritage Mortgage Services to break down the real state of mortgage rates, housing inventory, and home affordability in 2026. With over 1,800 active pre-approvals on the books and portfolio loans gaining ground, John r...

What does it take to build a thriving credit union business lending program in today's market? Mark Ritter sits down with Joe Hyatt of DFTC to unpack decades of experience in commercial lending, loan underwriting, and portfolio diversity. From navigating NCUA compliance to chasing treasury management goals, they share candid insights on what credit unions are doing right and where they still fall...

What does it take to lead a credit union from the inside out? Maurice Dawkins, CEO of American Spirit Federal Credit Union, built his career on preparation, passion, and people. From growing up in Jamaica to earning an accounting degree in Maine, Maurice never planned to run a credit union, but he proved he was built for it. His philosophy of staff training, member advocacy, and bold community len...

What does it actually take to close the right deal for both the borrower and the credit union? Tom Halliday, head of business lending sales at MBFS, joins host Mark Ritter to answer that question with candor and expertise. From mastering the first-borrower conversation to navigating today's fierce loan-participation marketplace, Tom reveals why the best lenders act as trusted advisors, not order-t...

What happens when a global HR expert falls in love with the credit union movement? Nenuca Syquia, CEO of Boxd, joins Mark Ritter to challenge how credit unions think about leadership development, change management, and staying relevant in a shifting market. With the average credit union member now 53 years old, the urgency to attract younger generations is real. Nenuca brings bold ideas on board d...

In 2025, credit union business lending quietly staged one of its strongest comebacks in years, and Mark Ritter has the numbers to prove it. From a 25% surge in business loan volumes to a 43% jump in participation loans, the recovery exceeded nearly every expectation. But Mark does not stop at the good news. He tackles the slow erosion of community lending, the growing threat of credit union merger...

What does it take to lead a community credit union for over a decade while honoring a 42-year legacy? In this episode of Credit Union Conversations, Mark Ritter talks with Amey Sgrignoli, CEO of Belco Community Credit Union, about navigating executive succession, evolving board governance, and building a standout brand in a competitive market. Amey shares how her roots in business lending shaped h...

Community finance is under pressure. On this episode of Credit Union Conversation, Mark Ritter sits down with Doug Wadsworth to unpack the realities facing small credit unions, including expanding regulatory burdens, rising compliance costs, and growing competition among credit unions. They discuss why credit union advocacy matters, how the cooperative model must evolve, and what practical leaders...