ACUMA ONpoint

What if the next big shift in financial regulation is just around the corner? Join ACUMA President Peter Benjamin as he sits down with Zach Pfister, Policy Director at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP, to navigate the complex policy landscape shaping the credit union mortgage industry. Together, they unravel the intricacies of Washington, D.C.’s current political climate, including the short-l...

Join us as we explore the challenges and triumphs of 2024 in the latest episode of the ONpoint Podcast. You'll hear about the remarkable achievements of Team ACUMA, the hurdles we've overcome — and how we turned skepticism into thriving participation at our events. Get ready for insights into our educational initiatives and upcoming in-person events in Pensacola, FL; Savannah, GA; Seattl...

Witness the unfolding dynamics of the credit union mortgage industry as we unravel the potential shifts under a new administration. With expert guidance from policy advisor Annmarie Conboy-DePasquale, we venture into the anticipated changes at pivotal regulatory bodies like the CFPB and FHFA. This episode promises to equip you with a deeper understanding of how new leadership appointments might re...

What impact do credit unions have in the mortgage industry, and how can they foster collaboration and leadership? Our latest episode of the ACUMA ONpoint podcast promises to enlighten you with insights from Magda DeMauro, AVP of Mortgage Services and Underwriting at Fairwinds Credit Union. Magda's leadership within Florida's credit union mortgage sector offers a compelling look at how cr...

What if the key to becoming a leader in the credit union mortgage industry lies in overcoming self-doubt? Join us as we sit down with Nicole Poole, Vice President of Residential Lending at The Police Credit Union, who shares her inspiring journey and the leadership qualities that shaped her career. Nicole's sales mindset and unwavering dedication to member service offer a fresh perspective on...

Leah Dempsey and Zach Pfister from Brownstein Hyatt Farber and Schreck, both join us to dissect the high-stakes world of housing policy as voters head to the polls. Learn what's at stake with tax credits for first-time homebuyers and strategies to reduce regulatory burdens, particularly how these proposals might reshape the credit union mortgage industry. Join Leah and Zach, along with ACUMA...

Get ready to unlock the secrets of the credit union mortgage industry with our special guest, Elizabeth Million, Senior Vice President of Lending at Elevations Credit Union. Join us as Elizabeth shares her incredible journey from a real estate appraiser to a leading figure in the industry, providing invaluable insights into overcoming career obstacles and the significance of a member-focused appro...

 Ever wondered what industry leaders are saying about the future of mortgages and economic challenges? Join Peter Benjamin in this lively episode of the ONpoint Podcast as we broadcast live from the 2024 Make Your Mark annual conference in Las Vegas. We sit down with Margaret Greczek, SVP, Head of Mortgage with Polish and Slavic Federal Credit Union, and Matt Baker, Regional Manager with Navy Fede...

Congress is back from its 5-week summer recess, and its only job is to continue funding the government. Simple as that sounds, it’s made more complex by the contentious presidential election currently galloping toward its November finish line. How that budget will be cast is the topic of this edition of ACUMA’s ONPoint Podcast. Zach Pfister, Policy Director with Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, ha...

The most effective people live and communicate their own truths, allowing them to share their journeys in meaningful ways with those they want most to influence. Former Top 100 collegiate athlete and motivational speaker Darryll Stinson knows that’s true from personal experience. His life included a few dark moments until he finally understood how minor tweaks can have major impacts on himself and...

Credit unions succeed as member-driven alternatives to transactional for-profit institutions that simply build their mortgage loan portfolios on the backs of their borrowers. We need to continue fulfilling that role while increasingly cultivating more and better service capabilities. Mortgage insurance is one of the more important arrows in the mortgage loan quiver. According to Michael McDermott,...

The dog days of summer, when Congress is absent, usually slow down when it comes to rulemaking. This year the upcoming presidential election has further diffused issues. But according to Leah Dempsey, shareholder with Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, there are things to watch, including possible rulemaking affecting the way AI can be deployed in reaching out to consumers, and what remains on tap o...

Credit unions were founded to help people, not to make money for shareholders, and that creed still drives the industry today. In this episode of the ONpoint Podcast, the fourth in this summer’s MI mini-series, ACUMA President Peter Benjamin, CMB, shares thoughts with Ralph Remy, Senior Director for Client Digital Experience for National Mortgage Insurance Corp. They discuss how credit unions can...

Credit unions’ core strength has always been helping people address their financial issues. However, other stereotypes regarding size and service limitations must change for the member-owned financial services industry to grow, according to Peter Hurst, SVP of Regional Accounts with Enact Mortgage Insurance, and guest on the latest ACUMA ONpoint Podcast, part of the summer MI mini-series. Hurst an...

Temperatures have risen in late June and all of July, and chaos ensues in our Nation’s Capital. It’s anyone’s guess what will happen next, according to Zach Pfister, Policy Director for Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLC. Speaking with ACUMA President Peter Benjamin, CMB, in the latest OnPoint Podcast “Policy Series” episode, Pfister sheds light on the continuing junk fee debate and participants’...

Credit unions have inherent advantages in helping members master the mortgage loan process. That’s a given. However, in today’s purchase market, it will also take foresight, planning, and a deliberate effort to reach those members first, according to Chris Perry, VP of Sales and National CU Manager at MGIC. Chris and ACUMA President Peter Benjamin put their heads together in this OnPoint Podcast,...

Do you want to know what’s percolating for ACUMA this year? Tune into the latest ACUMA ONpoint Podcast featuring ACUMA’s staff of crack professionals – who grill President Peter Benjamin, CMB, about the association’s future while sampling an array of hot sauces with “tots and tenders.” Recorded at ACUMA’s recent Denver Workshop, the crew gets into serious discussion, not to mention laughs, trivia,...

In the current legislative/regulatory environment, junk fees are a popular talking point, especially in light of an imminent and disruptive presidential election. But such fees originated generally to protect both consumers AND lenders. In a time of a polarized, often inactive Congress, regulators have begun painting everything with the junk-fees brush, and that sets a dangerous precedent. Join AC...

Credit unions’ ability to meet their “people helping people” mandate improves when those CUs embrace their traditional methodologies, augment them with new technologies, and wrap mortgage insurance into the mix to extend their reach and serve even more members. That’s the message of this ACUMA ONpoint podcast, the first in a new mini-series devoted to Mortgage Insurance. Ira Oskowsky, VP of Sales...

As a credit union leader, are you cultivating, educating, and enhancing the value your young professionals bring? Staff members with the courage to step forward, ask questions, and, most importantly, find answers through their peers will benefit personally and professionally. That’s the purpose of ACUMA’s Young Professionals Network, led by ACUMA Associate Director of Events & Member Relations...

Live from the Denver FOCALpoint Workshop, Peter Benjamin, President of ACUMA, sat down with two of our attendees, Brittany Breakiron from ENT Credit Union and Andrew Martin from Canvas Credit Union, to discuss the high points of day one and what they are looking forward to the most from day two. They are sending the message that credit union professionals must do a better job putting themselves ou...

Artificial intelligence has exploded across the landscape, with little understanding of its ramifications and even less guidance by regulatory agencies. Credit unions may run the risk of violating consumer protection laws, but no one seems sure, and that’s dangerous for both lenders and borrowers alike. In this edition of ACUMA’s ONpoint Podcast series, Zach Pfister, Policy Director with Brownstei...

The only constant is change, as the saying goes. However, the mere thought of change creates a fear of the unknown in many, even though failure to change often means the end of even the most successful enterprises. Daisy Romo, Ph. D., Executive Vice President for On Tap Credit Union, has studied change and has learned that the more we think we know, the less likely we are to change. As she tells A...

We all like to be with – and do business with – people we like, who share our values and interests, and who see as many benefits in knowing us as we see in them. That’s a simple concept but a difficult practice for many of us. Josh Tindel, SVP of Sales for Atlas Title Company, has mastered this talent through concerted effort. Where to start? Put yourself out there and get to know others on their...

Community is not just a word the credit union industry throws around. It is the central embodiment of why credit unions exist. ACUMA President Peter Benjamin had the opportunity to catch up with some first-time attendees on this episode of the ONpoint Podcast. The networking, the community, the engagement, and the welcoming environment were all highlights to our attendees and guests on this specia...