Leaders in Lending

Credit unions promise their members more than a traditional bank, but communicating and marketing your expertise is not always easy in a crowded market. In this episode, Karrie Drobnick , Chief Operati ng Officer at Verve , talks about growing and rebranding their credit union to spur robust growth. She also talks about creating a new personality of the company and then translating that into a bet...

Dave Girouard , Co-Founder & CEO at Upstart , believed that young people were "potential rich yet cash poor"—and that dynamic caused them to make poor financial decisions for themselves and the economy as a whole. There had to be a better way to provide people with affordable access to credit, on reasonable terms, when they needed it. Using AI and machine learning provided that new way forward...

Banks can no longer afford to play it safe when it comes to their digital capabilities. “Safe” is now risky. That’s why, in this episode, Tony Hejna , EVP, Con sumer Bank Chief Credit Officer at KeyBank , joins the show to share the secrets behind moving fast (without breaking things) and maintaining an edge in a highly regulated and increasingly competitive landscape. Join us as we discuss: - The...

We’ve covered a wide range of topics that are propelling change in the lending space this year- from use of technology to policy recommendations to unexpected changes, our guests didn’t disappoint in the insights and predictions they shared. Despite a difficult macro environment, and among increasingly high interest rates, credit unions grew their memberships proving that lending responsibly and i...

Many credit unions offer traditionally underserved members an advantage in not just banking, but financial planning. One crucial asset they can offer is financial education, providing not only a way to manage their money but also a way to achieve their financial goals. In this episode, Charlotte Nemec, President and CEO of Canopy Credit Union, talks about what community means to a credit union, an...

The car industry has been hit by multiple disruptions in recent years due to the supply chain and the lack of inventory. But people still are buying cars, and they are certainly still applying for auto loans. Adam Brice, SVP of Lending at EFCU Financial, shares his experience in the auto lending space- what the future may look like in auto lending, and also how AI plays into the future of common s...

Delivering the best member service at credit unions was once totally dependent on face-to-face relationships, and while that is still important today, the digital transformation has upended what constitutes personalized service. The balance between a human high-touch level of service and digital ease is now table stakes in lending. Cherly Purrington, Chief Lending Officer at ACFCU, shares her expe...

The lending environment in 2022 is vastly different than it was in 2019 – rising rates and inflation have made lending more expensive for consumers. However, leveraging AI and machine learning can help banks continue to serve their existing customers' borrowing needs as well as acquire new customers. In this episode, Candace Caruso, SVP Chief retail Lending Officer at WSFS Bank, and Ed Walters, VP...

Technology is transforming the banking landscape, but it is cost prohibitive for smaller institutions and can leave out borrowers who need access to capital the most. Recognizing that credit funds opportunity, the movement for inclusive credit is growing thanks to the MoreThanFair initiative that believes technology and data science can make lending more inclusive, transparent and fair. Our guests...

 Technology is transforming the banking landscape, but it is cost prohibitive for smaller institutions and can leave out borrowers who need access to capital the most. Recognizing that credit funds opportunity, the movement for inclusive credit is growing thanks to the More Than Fair initiative that believes technology and data science can make lending more inclusive, transparent and fair. Our gue...

Credit unions can’t be everything to their members, so honing in on the products they specialize in and working with partners for the remaining products makes sense. That is exactly what our guest today, Kayla Selhorst SVP Chief Operating Officer at CME Federal Credit Union, has accomplished — streamlining the lending operations at CME to approve more loans, with less staff. They did this by not o...

Credit unions have a unique advantage helping members access the best possible products through a great member experience. Fintechs have a distinct advantage in cutting edge technology and working with traditional financial partners to level-up their digital experiences. But once a partnership is in place- what makes it work? Our guest today, Jaynel Christensen, Chief Growth Officer at Commonwealt...

Innovation is not just about adoption of technology, it’s also a change in mindset. Especially for some traditional banks that have been operating for over a decade, this mindset shift in the lending space usually involves influencing multiple stakeholders at a financial institution: from credit, risk and regulatory sides of the business. So how do you influence the risk averse and push innovation...

Innovations in fintech have significantly improved the consumer lending process, but the same hasn’t been true for the commercial banking industry. Lending time for middle market businesses can take up to 100 days,nd that lag time to accessing capital can slow a business down incredibly. Fintech has invested less in optimizing the lending market for commercial businesses and Allan Rayson, Chief In...

When members do business at their credit union, their digital preferences aren’t just measured against other experiences in the financial services space — but by bigger retail and entertainment companies. So, credit unions need to keep pace with the technology and provide that ideal member experience. Nicol Matthews, Chief Experi ence Officer, Carlolinas Telco Federal Credit Union, has done just t...

Access to credit is the key to opportunity and upward mobility for millions of Americans, yet less than half of Americans have access to prime credit today. AI and machine learning are helping lenders identify creditworthy borrowers without increasing risk, but some have questions about how these new technologies apply to Fair Lending laws. Annie Delgado, Chief Compliance Officer at Upstart , has...

What is the value of digital assets and how are they used? It’s not an easy question to answer- and it’s not just about cryptocurrency either. Is it possible to leverage digital assets in the lending space? Joe Keller, VP of Digital Assets at Visions FCU, details his experience in the metaverse and what digital assets can be of real value to both lenders and borrowers. Join us as Eric and Joe disc...

In the current economic environment, finding an affordable home has become out of reach for many potential buyers. What if a realistic option was to co-own a home or property- instead of pouring money into your landlord’s mortgage? Underserved homebuyers and renters who can’t afford to buy a home on their own are now multiplying their buying power and making co-ownership a reality. Eric Chebil Fou...

Is the future of everyday transactional banking going to be on the blockchain? Are we closer to bringing traditional currencies into and out of the crypto space for a wider range of banks and customers? Sidney Powell shares his experience running and co-founding Maple Finance- a lending organization bringing capital markets on-chain. Join us as Sidney and Jeff discuss: Building an on-chain credit...

There’s a lot of buzz about the “artificial intelligence revolution” and the impact it’s going to have on businesses as we know it. As AI and machine learning emerge in the consumer lending space, the technology has proven to provide dramatic wins for both lenders and consumers.   This week we are running an older, listener favorite episode featuring Paul Gu, co-founder of Upstart.

Banking has seen some drastic shifts since the global pandemic- from the competition to attract and retain new talent, to meeting the needs of customers facing increasing inflation and uncertainty in this precarious economic climate. From his view over multiple institutions and as a public policy expert, our guest today, Ramon Looby, CEO of the Maryland Bankers Association gives us a nuanced look...

In recent years there has been more reporting and recognition of the racial wealth gap- the large, and growing, gap in the percentage of family wealth in black households, as compared to white households. Banks like Carver State have been operating within the mission to serve the African American community since 1927 and are now leveraging partners to maximize their reach and accessibility. Our gu...

Credit unions are dedicated to not only serving their members’ financial needs, but to helping their members foster long-term, financial wellness. Our guest today, Brian Vannoy, Chief Credit and Risk Officer at Allegacy Federal, describes Allegacy Credit Union’s unique approach to both direct and indirect auto lending as well as personal lending, and how they create opportunities to influence thei...

Digital strategies are not just for deepening relationships with your customers. The digital experience is also a way to refine and improve processes while also building community and trust. Today’s guests Mary Kate Loftus, Executive Vice President, Director of Digital Banking, and Tim Frederick, /EVP, Head of Mortgage Originations at M&T, know that digital touch doesn’t replace a human connection...

Digital advertising is a given for any business in the world today, but how can credit unions connect the right products to their existing members and grow their member base? By increasing and honing their digital engagement tactics. Today’s guest Michael Hostetler, VP of Marketing at Crane Credit Union, shares how his credit union leverages data to thoughtfully market relevant products to members...