Grow Your Credit Union

Your apps are better, your processes smoother, your metrics stronger. But as members go increasingly digital, are you accidentally engineering yourself out of their lives? In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union, host Joshua Barclay and co-host Becky Reed welcome Tim Schmitt , Chief Experience Officer at PFP Services , to explore why the biggest member experience mistake might be hiding in plain...

Read the full show notes and full transcript on growyourcreditunion.com   When conditions get unpredictable, staying boring can be the boldest move if it's part of a broader strategy. In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union, host Joshua Barclay and co-host Becky Reed are joined by Kevin Dougherty , COO at Addition Financial Credit Union , to break down how his team is adapting, from strengthenin...

Note: At the time of recording, Pam Cohen held the position of Chief Administrative Officer at Affinity Federal Credit Union. She has since transitioned to the role of Chief Operating Officer. All links and a full transcript can be found on growyourcreditunion.com. Some credit unions are waiting years to fix broken tech stacks. Others are launching AI tools in a weekend and proving that speed isn'...

Some credit union leaders still treat the NCUA like an adversary—or an oracle. But the truth is, regulators are paying attention, especially when the feedback is thoughtful, specific, and backed by real solutions. In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union , host Joshua Barclay  and co-host Becky Reed are joined by guest Elizabeth Eurgubian , former Director of External Affairs and Policy Advisor t...

Some credit union leaders are building small business programs, investing in community growth, and doing the hard work. Others are still hiding behind "we can't"—and it might be costing the industry its future. In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union, host Joshua Barclay is joined by co-host Becky Reed and guest John Holt, CEO of Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union, to talk about the controversy...

Check out the post for this episode of Grow Your Credit Union. In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union, host Joshua Barclay is joined by co-host James McBride , CEO, Connects Federal Credit Union and guest Michael Powers , CEO of Garden Savings Federal Credit Union . Together, they discuss the following: Which regulations do the most harm,  How to make financial advice stick digitally, and  How...

Credit unions talk about being community-focused. But what if real connection meant showing up in the moments that matter, like when someone's buying groceries? In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union, host Joshua Barclay is joined by co-host Becky Reed and guest Jennifer Borowy , President and CEO of Michigan First Credit Union to talk about how mentorship can accelerate leadership, what lesson...

Too often, payday lenders are easier to find than a credit union. What if we flipped that script and brought financial services straight to the communities being exploited? In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union, host Joshua Barclay is joined by co-host Becky Reed and guest Michael Crowl , President and CEO of University Federal Credit Union to talk about: How UFCU is beating industry trends wi...

Live from NACUSO Reimagine in Las Vegas, this episode tackles one of the most disruptive weeks in credit union oversight, offering a real-time gut check on leadership, advocacy, and opportunity in a time of uncertainty. In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union, host Joshua Barclay is joined by co-host Becky Reed and guest Dan Daggett, Chief Strategy Officer at Credit Unions First, to talk about t...

In a time when speed matters and trust is everything, the right partnership can be the difference between steady growth and a breakout year. In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union, host Joshua Barclay and co-host Becky Reed and guest Mike Valentine, President and CEO of Baxter Credit Union, to talk about the power of partnerships, why branch expansion still matters, and how vendors can break th...

Credit unions have long been risk-averse by design, but today's environment is pushing the industry to think less about what's safe and more about what's best for the member. That shift, from compliance-first to consumer-centric, is reshaping everything from governance to payments to technology strategy. In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union , host Joshua Barclay is joined by guest co-host Sta...

With policymakers revisiting the debate over credit unions' tax exemption, what's at stake for the industry? And if the exemption were to disappear, would it really be as damaging as some fear? In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union, host Joshua Barclay and co-host Becky Reed welcome Michael Goad, President and CEO of Dow Credit Union, to discuss why credit unions are buying banks, the impacts...

Revenue isn't the goal. It's the proof that a credit union is delivering real value to its members. But in a rapidly changing landscape, how do credit unions continue to raise the bar on member experience while staying true to their mission? In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union , host Joshua Barclay and co-host Becky Reed welcome Stacy Armijo, Chief Experience Officer at Amplify Credit Union...

In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union , host Joshua Barclay and co-host Becky Reed welcome Jim Ahrens , Chief Value Officer at PFP Services , to dive deeper into the challenges and strategies behind effective outbound marketing. Picking up from Episode 27, we talk about where outreach efforts still fall short, how credit unions can shift toward a true service-driven culture, and which metrics...

What happens when you mix tech innovation, multigenerational teams, and key performance metrics? You get a conversation credit union leaders can't afford to miss. Recorded Live at the FUEL Future Summit 2025 in Detroit, Michigan, host Joshua Barclay and guest co-host Elizabeth Osborne , COO, Great Lakes Credit Union welcome special guest Shawn Premer , Chief Human Resources Officer at Consumers Cr...

In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union , host Joshua Barclay and co-host Becky Reed welcome Bill Snider, Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer at Clearview Federal Credit Union , to discuss three timely topics shaping the future of credit unions. The Struggles of Digital Literacy Are tech-savvy team members getting harder to find? Despite living in a high-tech era, Bill believes digital literacy...

Are Credit Unions Missing the Mark on Branding? In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union , host Joshua Barclay and co-host Becky Reed welcome Bethany Dutcher, VP of Marketing at Members First Credit Union , to explore three critical topics that could shape the way your credit union presents itself to the world. Five Brand Killers Discover why a lack of ownership, consistency, storytelling, real d...

Are Credit Unions Undervaluing Outreach? In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union , host Joshua Barclay and guest co-host James McBride, CEO of CONNECTS Federal Credit Union, welcome David Sussman, CEO of PFP Services, to explore strategies for more meaningful member engagement and sustainable growth. Together, they tackle three key areas: Build Trust Before You Call: Discover how a thoughtful, t...

AI promises big changes, but are credit unions buying into misconceptions that could hold them back? In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union , host Joshua Barclay and guest co-host Elizabeth Osborne , COO, Great Lakes Credit Union are joined by April Clobes , President and CEO, MSU Federal Credit Union to tackle three timely topics: The Three Lies of AI : Common misconceptions about AI in the cr...

Is the Auto Loan Market Breaking Credit Unions? With auto loan portfolios declining at record rates, credit unions are facing tough questions about their reliance on this market. Rising interest rates, changing consumer behaviors, and the younger generation's shift away from car ownership are reshaping strategies. From HELOCs to small business loans, discover how credit unions are adapting to fill...

Are credit unions ready to leave remote work behind? Corporate CEOs are making bold moves, with 80% planning full-time office returns in the next three years. For credit unions, the decision isn't just about where employees work—it's about maintaining culture, collaboration, and member service. But as leaders wrestle with workforce strategies, bigger shifts are looming. A planned merger between Fi...

In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union , hosts Joshua Barclay and Becky Reed welcome on guest Matthew Fehrmann , CIO of Kohler Credit Union to talk about these three topics. Core System Challenges : Addressing prevalent dissatisfaction with core systems in the credit union section by exploring the considerations between opting for a complete core conversion versus optimizing existing systems to...

In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union , hosts Joshua Barclay and Becky Reed welcome Mina Worthington , President and CEO of Solarity Credit Union , to explore the future path for credit unions. They discuss the potential of embracing small business community banking, the importance of reinforcing the cooperative difference, and how credit unions can remain relevant and successful in a rapidly...

With credit unions managing an average of 182 vendors per week, ensuring alignment between all partners can be a daunting task. But what if getting all your vendors in the same room could unlock new opportunities for strategic growth? In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union, Joshua Barclay and guest co-host Mike McWethy , EVP of Texans Credit Union welcome on Tansley Stearns , President and CEO...

Are you facing the challenge of building the right team to drive your credit union forward? Many leaders grapple with whether to hire specialists with deep expertise or passionate generalists who bring versatility. In an industry that's rapidly evolving, how do you assemble a team that's both agile and aligned with your vision? In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union , Joshua Barclay and guest c...