Human x AI: Unscripted

AI is changing everything. But what if its biggest impact isn’t replacing humans, but redefining what truly matters? In this episode of Human x AI, Charles Frederickson, CEO of Stanwood Area Federal Credit Union, shares a grounded and inspiring perspective shaped by decades in the industry. He’s seen transformation before, but nothing like this. Charlie doesn’t just talk about the potential of AI;...

AI isn’t replacing humans. It’s revealing what makes us human. In this deeply personal episode of Human x AI, Shirley Senn (Chief Community Development & Impact Officer at New Orleans Firemen’s FCU) shares a perspective shaped by 34+ years in credit unions, and a life moment that changed everything. From starting her career in the early ’90s, when technology was barely part of the equation, to...

Kevin Cole, CEO of Mid Oregon Credit Union, is refreshingly honest about where he stands and what finally moved the needle. In this episode, recorded live at GAC 2026 in Washington, DC, Ashish sits down with Kevin, a 28-year credit union veteran who went from predatory lending to purposeful banking and never looked back. They get into what it really looks like to deploy AI inside a credit union, w...

What if AI's greatest gift to community banking was more time for the human moments that actually matter? In this episode, Ashish sits down with Dan Apfel, CEO of Genesee Co-op Federal Credit Union in Rochester, New York, a CDFI credit union built on one simple belief: everyone deserves access to a fair and equitable financial system. Dan is warm, opinionated, and full of hope for what AI can...

What does it mean to serve people who run into burning buildings when everyone else runs out? In this episode, recorded live at GAC 2026 in Washington, DC, Ashish sits down with Jeffrey Staw, Chief Information and Innovation Officer at Firefighters First Credit Union, for a conversation that's equal parts mission-driven and forward-thinking. Firefighters First isn't your typical credit uni...

Most leaders talk about AI adoption. Krassi Kassabov, Chief Strategy Officer at Lake Trust Credit Union, actually stopped a team meeting, dedicated an hour to fear, and asked everyone: what scares you about this? What he heard and how he responded, is a blueprint for any leader navigating the human side of AI.In this conversation with Ashish Garg, Krassi gets into the real mechanics of how Lake Tr...

What happens when AI meets one of the most human, emotionally charged parts of finance - collections? In this episode of Human by AI, Ashish Garg sits down with Matt Stegall (Assistant Vice President of Member Solutions & Advocacy at Vantage Credit Union) to unpack the real story behind AI in collections. From personal credit mistakes that leave lasting scars to the role of empathy in moments...

What does it look like when a credit union doubles in size, and doubles down on its people at the same time? Jesus Garcia, Chief Experience Officer at OceanAir Federal Credit Union in Oxnard, California, has a front-row seat to that story. In this episode of Human x AI, Ashish Garg sits down with Jesus to explore how OceanAir is deploying AI — starting with an Employee Assist tool that acts as an...

What happens when a credit union CEO has done nearly every job in the building, from teller to IT director to the corner office? You get a perspective on AI that's equal parts grounded, optimistic, and deeply human. In this episode of Human x AI, Ashish Garg sits down with Casey Bacon, CEO of Statewide Credit Union in Mississippi, who has spent 35+ years building his way up from the ground flo...

What if the biggest thing holding your organization back from AI isn't the technology, it's the fear of getting it wrong? In this episode of Human x AI with Ashish Garg, we sit down with Justin, Chief Technology Officer at First New York Federal Credit Union, a nearly 90-year-old institution rooted in educators, families, and community trust in Albany, NY. Justin shares how his credit union is tak...

What if AI isn’t here to replace people, but to completely change how work gets done? In this episode of Human x AI, Mike McWethy (EVP, Texans Credit Union) breaks down what’s actually happening as AI enters the workplace. Tasks that once took 30 minutes now take seconds. AI is stepping in to handle repetitive, low-value work, freeing teams to focus on what truly matters. Not more tasks. Not more...

Artificial Intelligence is getting smarter every day. But what happens when machines can think faster than humans? In this episode of Human x AI, David Woodruff, CEO of APL Federal Credit Union, shares a powerful perspective: AI won’t replace humanity, it will reveal what truly makes us human. From automation in credit unions to the future of work, David explains how AI should handle the mundane t...

Is AI a technology story or a workforce revolution? In this episode of Human x AI, Eltropy CEO Ashish Garg sits down with Rob Hoyle, Chief People & Technology Officer at Vantage West CU, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the way credit unions work, hire, and serve members. Rob brings a rare perspective, leading both technology and people strategy, to unpack what AI really mea...

Jared Freeman, President & CEO of OnPath CU shares a practical and human-centered approach to AI. In this candid conversation, he reveals how AI is helping his team at OnPath Credit Union anticipate member needs, streamline processes, and enhance relationships—without replacing humans. Learn how Jared balances rapid growth, board expectations, and emerging technology, while keeping empathy, cu...

What does real leadership look like in the age of AI? Dan Sutton, President & CEO of Kemba Credit Union, makes it clear: “Not on my watch.” No employee at Kemba will lose their job to AI.In this candid Human x AI conversation, Dan shares his 26-year journey from the lowest-ranking member of the accounting department to CEO — and why he believes AI should remove the mundane, not the meaningful....

Vyjayanthi Vadrevu, founder of Incluya and applied cultural anthropologist, explores a powerful question: Can AI truly understand humans? She explains why today’s AI systems often reflect a narrow, Western-centric perspective — and why financial “peace” means very different things across cultures. From her background in anthropology and innovation at Capital One to building an AI company focused o...

From launching credit score education products to building AI learning programs that take employees from “AI Cadet” to “AI Wizard,” Bhavna, Chief Digital Officer at Baxter Credit Union, shares how BCU is embracing innovation with intention. With one in five members logging into mobile banking daily, digital engagement is strong, yet branch and phone interactions still drive higher trust and NPS. W...

In this episode of Human x AI, we sit down with Bob Morgan, CIO at PrimeWay FCU, a trailblazing innovator in the credit union movement. From onboarding Eltropy early to shaping AI adoption at Primeway FCU, Bob shares his practical approach: start small, learn with what you know, and embrace AI without fear. He reveals how AI can handle the repetitive tasks, compliance, paperwork, even fraud detect...

What happens when a self-described AI “outlier” leads finance at a community institution? Michael Cruz, CFO of Seattle Credit Union, explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping financial services, without replacing the human heart. From using ChatGPT to model financial scenarios and remodel his home to experimenting with AI copilots for internal knowledge systems and underwriting, Michael sh...

Barb Lowman, President of CUNA Strategic Services, shares why understanding AI before jumping in is critical for credit unions, boards, and employees alike. From early education with boards to guiding institutions on automating mundane tasks and enabling self-service for members, Barbara shows how AI can amplify human potential rather than replace it. Along the way, she shares fun personal stories...

Kent Lugrand, President & CEO of InTouch Credit Union, calls himself an AI “tweener” — not a skeptic, not a zealot, but a leader leaning in with intention. In this compelling episode of Human x AI, Kent shares how AI is transforming decision-making, accelerating operations, and unlocking new capacity across his 70,000-member credit union. Tasks that once consumed hours now take seconds, creati...

Sundeep Kapur, Founder of Digital Credence believes AI in credit unions doesn’t need to be intimidating, it just needs to be useful. As a founder and a technology educator working with multiple credit unions at once, Sundeep compares AI to GPS: you may know the route, but AI helps you find the better one. From smarter chatbots and call monitoring to biometric authentication and emerging neurosymbo...

What happens when AI stops assisting, and starts acting? Brad Bergmooser, President & CEO of Financial Plus Credit Union, delivers a bold take on the next frontier: agentic AI. From automating routine calls to reimagining loan decisions, Brad explains how AI should amplify human expertise, not replace it. He tackles employee fears, unionized workforces, and the cultural shifts ahead, urging cr...

Aaron Smith, CRO of Gestalt, is an AI super-believer who built his own investing app without writing code, but he’s also the first to say there are moments when only a human will do. In this conversation, Aaron reveals why frustration is the trigger point for human intervention, why data organization is the real bottleneck, and why credit unions must move faster than ever. He warns that technology...

AI can handle repetitive tasks, speed up processes, and answer routine questions, but it can’t replicate human intuition, empathy, or the ability to see a member as a person. In this episode of Human by AI, Sound Credit Union President & CEO Don Clark shares how they’re leveraging AI tools like Octobot to assist employees, not replace them, and how human touch remains at the heart of member ex...