Counting Change

In this episode of Counting Change, hosts Arjun Sahgal and Rachel Reid discuss the intersection of community finance and technology with Marc Rehberger, SVP, Sr. Managing Director, and Head of Tech Enabled Banking at Customers Bank. The episode explores the importance of customer experience in community banks, the unique insights community banks have into their local customers, and how they can co...

In this episode of Counting Change, hosts Arjun Sahgal and Rachel Reid discuss member experience with Matt Fehrmann, Chief Information Officer at Kohler Credit Union. The conversation covers Matt's journey into the community banking sector, the critical role of fintech in driving innovation, and the importance of enhancing member experience through digital transformation and personalization. The e...

In this episode of Counting Change , hosts Arjun Sahgal and Rachel Reid discuss the integration of FinTech solutions and credit unions with Michael Abraham, Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) at Great Lakes Credit Union. The episode explores the intersection of fintech and credit unions, discussing how fintechs can enhance member experiences, level the playing field against larger institutions, and the...

In this episode of Counting Change, hosts Arjun Sahgal and Rachel Reid discuss the significance of cultural alignment in credit unions with Chris Parker, CEO of Lighthouse Credit Union. Chris shares his unique journey into the credit union space and the importance of fostering a strong organizational culture. The conversation also touches on how credit unions can align their growth with community...

In this episode of Counting Change, host Arjun Sahgal and Rachel Reid discuss the evolving landscape of FinTech with Tara Schultz, emphasizing the importance of partnerships between traditional financial institutions and FinTech companies. Tara shares her journey in the industry, the challenges faced in forming these partnerships, and how they can enhance customer experience. The conversation also...

In this episode of Counting Change, hosts Arjun Sahgal and Rachel Reid discuss innovation and the credit union extinction with Shirley Senn, Chief Consulting Officer at CU Strategic Planning. In this engaging conversation, Arjun and Shirley discuss the unique position of credit unions in fostering community engagement and inclusion. They explore the importance of technology and innovation in drivi...

In this episode of Counting Change, hosts Arjun Sahgal and Rachel Reid discuss open banking with guests Alex Johnson and Jason Henrichs. Alex and Jason are both hosts on leading fintech podcasts, with Alex being the host and founder of Fintech Takes whilst Jason is a co-host at Breaking Banks. Jason is additionally the CEO of Alloy Labs Alliance. The conversation covers the evolution of open banki...

In this episode of Counting Change, host Arjun Sahgal and designer Rachel Reid engage with Kevin Porter, CEO of DxO Advisors, to discuss the evolving landscape of credit unions and their technology needs. The conversation covers the importance of modernization, the challenges credit unions face in upgrading their technology, and the key trends shaping the future of financial services. Kevin emphas...

In this episode of Counting Change , hosts ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Arjun Sahgal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rachel Reid⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are joined by DJ Seeterlin, Chief Innovation & Strategy Officer of Chesapeake Bank . DJ discusses the vital role of innovation in community banking. The episode explores the key innovations that have emerged in recent years, and how community banks can leverage technology to enhance customer...

In this episode of Counting Change , hosts ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Arjun Sahgal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rachel Reid⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are joined by ⁠⁠Santo Cannone⁠⁠ , a board chair at Tampa Bay Wave and a board member and strategic advisor for several firms. Santo discusses core banking and the perceived lack of innovation in it. He explores the functions of core banking systems, the barriers to innovation created by outd...

In this episode of Counting Change , hosts ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Arjun Sahgal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rachel Reid⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are joined by Sarah Howell, Senior Director of Digital Partnerships at Visa. Sarah discusses the supply chain of financial services and its significance in the banking industry. She explains that the traditional supply chain in financial services is owned by banks, but with the emergence of fintechs...

In this episode of Counting Change , hosts ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Arjun Sahgal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rachel Reid⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are joined by Joseph Mancini, Chief Operating Officer at BankProv. Joseph discusses how innovation can boost efficiency whilst preserving customer experience. The challenges financial institutions face in balancing innovation and customer service, recent innovations in the financial services industry, a...

In this special bonus episode of Counting Change , hosts ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Arjun Sahgal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rachel Reid⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are joined by Robert Davis, President and CEO of The Bridge Companies LLC and also one of Ascent's advisors. With the Federal Open Market Committee decisions happening during recording, Counting Change delves into what the impact on the mortgage lending industry could be. The conversat...

In this episode of Counting Change , hosts ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Arjun Sahgal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rachel Reid⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are joined by Elizabeth Osborne, Chief Operations Officer at Great Lakes Credit Union. Elizabeth discusses the pros and cons of FI consolidations. The conversation dives into the motivations behind consolidation, the cultural differences between institutions, the pain points of consolidation, and strategies...

In this episode of Counting Change , hosts ⁠⁠⁠⁠Arjun Sahgal⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Rachel Reid⁠⁠⁠⁠ are joined by Melissa Pomeroy, EVP, Chief Operating Officer at Cooperative Credit Union Association. Melissa discusses the importance of collaboration between credit unions (CUs) and fintechs. The conversation dives into the benefits of collaboration for both CUs and fintechs, the challenges of breaking into th...

In this episode of Counting Change , hosts ⁠⁠⁠Arjun Sahgal⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠Rachel Reid⁠⁠⁠ are joined by Rob Johnson, Chief Audit Officer at MSU Federal Credit Union Rob shares insights on how the audit process has transformed over the years, particularly with the integration of technology, and discusses the importance of maintaining a balance between regulatory compliance and innovation. The conversatio...

In this episode of Counting Change , hosts ⁠⁠Arjun Sahgal⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Rachel Reid⁠⁠ are joined by the president and CEO of California Credit Union, ⁠⁠ Steve O'Connell . Steve shares his insights about creating a culture within a team that allows both the institution and the team members to grow. The conversation explores California Credit Union's expansion and its impact on their culture, how...

In this episode of Counting Change , hosts ⁠Arjun Sahgal⁠ and ⁠Rachel Reid⁠ are joined by FinTech veteran ⁠Bryan Claggett⁠ . In part 2 of the Bryan Claggett episode, Claggett dives more in depth about the new expectations consumers have of banking and how the digital experience must be driven by customer centricity. Whether you’re a banking professional or a FinTech enthusiast, this episode offers...

In this episode of Counting Change , hosts Arjun Sahgal and Rachel Reid are joined by FinTech veteran Bryan Claggett . Dive into Bryan’s journey from the 1980s banking sector to the forefront of digital banking and FinTech innovation. Explore the transformative power of the internet in banking, the challenges and opportunities facing modern banks and credit unions, and the importance of adapting t...

Join us on today's episode of Counting Change as we delve into Greg Mitchell's fascinating background and how he went from the Coast Guard to First Tech Fed CU. The conversation covers topics related to creating a culture of empowerment, aligning team goals with institutional objectives, and balancing autonomy with accountability. It also delves into the impact of empowerment on decision-m...

In this insightful episode of "Counting Change," we are joined by special guest Theron McCollough, Managing Director at Citizens Private Bank. Theron brings a wealth of experience from his impressive career in banking and finance, including his time at First Republic Bank, and as the founder and CEO of a quantitative portfolio management system. Together, we explore the delicate balance...

In this episode of Counting Change , Arjun Sehgal and Rachel Reid interview Alice Stevens, the VP of consumer lending, product innovation, and credit analytics at VyStar Credit Union. Alice discusses the various applications of AI, such as loan origination and personalized product offerings, and the importance of mitigating bias in AI models. She also touches on the challenges of integrating new s...

On this first bonus episode of Counting Change , we focus in on what Ascent is, interviewing a different member of our team each time to give you a 360° understanding of how Ascent is revolutionising banks and credit unions. This episode, hosts Arjun Sehgal and Rachel Reid are joined by Glenn Fossella , Head of Customer at Ascent, to discuss what Ascent is and how it's innovating the banking e...

In this insightful episode, Trish North, an experienced professional in fintech and financial institutions, discusses the changing landscape of customer success and data analytics. Trish provides a unique 360-degree perspective on the industry, drawing from her rich experience in various roles spanning traditional banking, credit unions, digital banking, and fintech.   Trish converses with hosts A...

In this riveting episode, we dive deep into the world of finance and explore the underdog story of small credit unions versus the corporate giants. Join us as we welcome the insightful Denise Wymore, a beacon of knowledge and experience in the credit union industry, to unravel the importance of these community-centric financial institutions. In an era dominated by mega-banks, small credit unions o...