America's Credit Unions

n more ordinary times, mergers and acquisitions are huge undertakings for credit unions. They’re both challenging and exciting. Those characteristics haven’t changed as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) but the pandemic-driven digital transformation that has occurred adds a new layer of complexity and consideration to the process. This episode of the CUNA News Podcast features Carrie Stapp, s...

Stronger credit unions make stronger communities. As the country recovers from the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, there has perhaps been no better time to remind consumers and lawmakers of this fact. The most effective way to convey the message is through stories of economic prosperity, community support, and financial well-being. To facilitate meaningful storytelling, America’s C...

From member service to digital solutions, credit unions have spent the last year adapting to the new reality of living through a pandemic. And now, almost halfway through 2021, it’s becoming clearer which pandemic-related changes are probably here to stay. Consumer payment trends fall into that category. The impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) prompted significant behavioral changes to how, when,...

By day, Nick Etscheid’s job with Amazon Network Services focuses on international businesses. But he wanted to get involved with his local community, make an impact, and gain strategic skills. The 28-year-old found the opportunity to do that on the board of directors at $690 million asset Verity Credit Union in Seattle. He was an associate board member for a year before he was elected to the board...

More than a year into the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, credit unions have learned a great deal from the accelerated adoption of digital channels that occurred. Members are interacting digitally with their credit unions in higher numbers than ever before, and credit unions must practice control and confidence in their risk assessments and abilities to fight financial crime. This episode of the...

Successful marketing and business development increasingly require a strong focus on community service and relationship-building. That’s according to two industry leaders honored during the 2021 CUNA Marketing & Business Development Council Virtual Conference . This episode of the CUNA News Podcast features John Kenjar, the 2021 Marketing Professional of the Year, and Kristin Lleweyln, the 202...

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic demonstrated why it’s critical to bring the human element into human resources (HR). This episode of the CUNA News Podcast features two award-winning HR leaders:  Karen Maxfield , chief HR officer at Commonwealth Credit Union in Frankfort, Ky., and Josh Harden , director of training and resources, at Colorado Credit Union in Littleton, Colo. They discuss the rol...

Achieving a high-performance culture, especially during challenging times, requires employees to be engaged, enabled, and energized. That’s the word from Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton, co-founders of The Culture Works and co-authors of more than a dozen books on leadership , including the best-selling “All In,” “The Carrot Principle,” and “The Best Team Wins.”  In this episode of the CUNA News...

The challenges of social distancing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have launched the contact center to the forefront of credit union member support. The contact center serves as the ideal channel to provide crucial services and personalized assistance to members and businesses dealing with hardships. This episode of the CUNA News Podcast features Terri Panhans, vice president, contact...

The onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has revealed the value of a more personalized consumer experience. Sometimes that experience is created through technology, while at other times, the human touch or empathy makes that point of contact valuable for the consumer. This episode of the CUNA News Podcast, the latest in a series focused on service culture, explores how creating personalize...

Financial institutions covered by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) with deposit insurance are subject to comply with Affirmative Action Program obligations under Executive Order 11246 , the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistant Act (VEVRAA), and Section 503 . With credit unions prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) work, and the Biden-Harris Administration ’s int...

The nature of leadership is changing as cultural and demographic forces transform the workplace. To maximize the potential of their teams, leaders must create more inclusive environments that encourage the expression of different cultures, contexts, and perspectives.  In this episode of the CUNA News Podcast , global workforce expert Dr. Shirley Davis explores how leaders can foster inclusive work...

When Angie Bastian studied the snack aisle in the grocery store, she noticed an important omission: No representation of women except for foods geared toward weight loss. That led to a revelation: The decision to be loud and proud about celebrating the feminine. This episode of the CUNA News Podcast features two keynote speakers from the 2021 CUNA Marketing & Business Development Council Confe...

Cheryl Deborde has served as the Members Choice CEO for five years following a 29-year banking career. From the start, she eschewed advertising for hands-on community involvement.  “I don’t want to spend money on a billboard,’” she says. “We want to make a difference. We support the local sport teams and the area schools with scholarships—that’s our advertising.  “We want to be known for taking ca...

“He gave me a chance.” It’s what Nick Kessenich hopes members will say when asked about the impact he had on their financial lives. It’s also what $28 million asset Members First Credit Union in Madison, Wis., would say if credit unions could talk.  For nearly 40 years, Kessenich led the credit union as it grew from an organization run out of a basement and a briefcase into a community-based credi...

Bill Lawton’s path to credit unions was almost a birthright. His grandfather served as a credit union board member in the 1950s; his mother worked for the Michigan Credit Union League ; and his father, George Lawton, served as manager of Community Financial Credit Union when Bill was growing up.   “It was only as I got a little older that I appreciated the background of those stories,” recalls Law...

In her first credit union job, Val Mindak worked in almost every area of the organization. This paved the way for a career in the movement and sparked Mindak’s passion for community involvement. Today, the president/CEO of $275 million asset Park City Credit Union in Merrill, Wis., says her extensive credit union experience shaped her leadership style. Since Mindak became CEO in 2009, Park City ha...

The events of 2020 have affected consumer behavior in many ways, and the payments landscape is no exception. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has driven significant changes in consumer payment preferences. Through its 2020 Eye on Payments study, PSCU set out to gauge those payment preferences among credit union members and customers of other financial institutions and explore how they have shif...

The past year of living with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has presented many challenges for credit unions. But in the face of difficult times, numerous credit unions have used the modification of in-person operations to reimagine business strategy, product and service delivery, and the member experience. This episode of the CUNA News Podcast features Derek Everett, general manager of credit...

At their very best, credit unions serve at the hearts of their communities. In this podcast, Cathie Mahon, president/CEO of Inclusiv , describes how her organization promotes financial inclusion and builds more inclusive economies through community-owned financial institutions.  Inclusiv is a national network of community development credit unions formed by and for low-income communities to serve...

CUNA News continues pre-conference interviews with some of the speakers addressing the 2021 CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference .  This episode features: Former New Jersey governor and 2016 presidential candidate Chris Christie on the 2020 election and the future of the Republican Party. Former Chicago mayor and former White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel on next steps for the Democratic Party...

As the upcoming generation of consumers enters the financial services marketplace, credit unions should prepare to meet their expectations. Younger generations select financial institutions based on a very different set of criteria than their parents used.  They look for convenient, digital-first, personalized experiences—and they’re willing to walk away if a financial institution doesn’t deliver...

The 2021 CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference is right around the corner. This year’s GAC takes place virtually from Tuesday, March 2, to Thursday, March 4, and, as always, features an unmissable lineup of speakers.  This episode features pre-conference interviews with some of the thought leaders who will share their expertise at GAC: Author, speaker, and social-change agent Kevin Carroll on advan...

It’s been almost a year since the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic triggered nationwide lockdowns, remote work arrangements, and other massive challenges across the country. Through it all, credit unions have adapted and innovated to continue to serve members—but it hasn’t been easy. Fortunately, credit unions don’t have to go it alone. Groups like CUNA Strategic Services (CSS) work wi...

The most impactful moments don’t always appear on a resume or LinkedIn profile. “Sometimes the best things that happen to people to improve their life and to help them make great decisions are those things you would never hear about unless you are willing to deeply ask and get curious,” says Antonio Neves , speaker, author, and host of “The Best Thing” podcast . Neves will be the emcee at the 2021...