The Allied Angle

Financial institutions have been wrestling with integration challenges for decades — legacy cores, fragmented data, and costly point-to-point connections that slow everything down. But AI is starting to change the equation. In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Jon Fancey, Chief Technology Officer at PortX, sits down to dig into what the integration problem really looks like on the ground, wher...

If your credit union is offering a 401(k), you're already familiar with the administrative weight that comes with it — the compliance, the fiduciary responsibilities, the vendors you're managing. But there's a newer plan structure that's been quietly gaining traction, and it might change how you think about all of that. In this episode, we're joined by Bob Edgar from The Standard and Morgan Steves...

How do you know if a partnership is actually driving growth — or just adding complexity? In this episode of The Allied Angle, Mark Bugalski , Allied's Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer, breaks down what makes a strategic partnership a true force multiplier for banks and credit unions — and what makes it a distraction. Mark shares the framework Allied uses to evaluate every partners...

Credit unions have a built-in advantage that most financial brands spend years trying to earn — member trust. But trust alone isn't a strategy. In this episode of the Allied Angle, Dawn Goldbacher, GVP and Head of Market Strategy and Growth at Franklin Madison joins the show to explore what "member-first" really looks like in practice. Whether you're leading strategy at a credit union, bank, or af...

Credit scores like FICO have been the backbone of lending decisions for decades — but in today’s volatile environment, lenders are finding that a score alone can’t fully explain borrower behavior or forecast what comes next. In this episode of The Allied Angle, Jack Imes (Allied Solutions) and Dr. Joseph Breeden (Deep Future Analytics) break down where traditional scoring falls short — and what le...

In this episode of The Allied Angle, Allied Solutions CEO Pete Hilger reflects on a year that tested financial institutions on every front — from market volatility and elevated fraud losses to regulatory pressure and shifting member expectations. Pete shares candid insights on what 2025 revealed about risk management, leadership, and organizational resilience, and why incremental change is no long...

Fraud didn’t just grow in 2025 — it evolved. In this recap special, The Allied Angle revisits the top fraud conversations of 2025. We connect the big picture (third-party vs first-party vs synthetic) to ground-level fixes: stopping account takeover, hardening card channels, eliminating terminal fallback, and turning security awareness into behavior change. You’ll hear from fraud experts Patrick To...

Younger members expect speed, transparency, and personalization — and credit unions can deliver without chasing every shiny tool. In this episode, Allied's SVP Strategic Initiatives Charlie Peterson joins us to unpack innovation, “The Pizza Effect," and more.   In this episode:   1:01 – Get to know Charlie. 4:02 – Who’s actually walking through the digital and branch doors of credit unions today?...

 In this episode of The Allied Angle, we take an inside look at how executive benefit programs are helping credit unions strengthen leadership continuity, retention, and long-term stability. Joining us are H. David Wright, Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer, and Matt Morris, VP of Client Relations at TriscendNP, a firm specializing in executive benefit solutions for nonprofit organizations.  Dave...

On this episode of The Allied Angle, Zach Douglass, Director of Bond & Risk Management at Allied Solutions, joins the show to talk about the five loss trends hitting credit unions now. We cover what’s shifted in the last 6–12 months, early warning indicators, fast-acting controls, and the 30–60 day moves that actually reduce exposure.   00:35  Get to know Zach. 03:16  Top 5 loss trends: high f...

In this episode of The Allied Angle, Jeff Marsh, President at Millennium Capital and Recovery Corporation, joins the show to talk about the evolving world of asset recovery. Jeff discusses how lenders can navigate today’s challenges in skip tracing and repossession, the role of technology and compliance, and how Millennium’s award-winning approach helps clients recover assets with transparency and...

How effective is your security awareness training? In this episode of The Allied Angle, Josh Gideon, author and Director, Cyber Risk Management at Allied, joins us to unpack what most financial institutions get wrong about awareness programs and what to do instead. Drawing on decades of experience and research, Josh shares why traditional training falls short, how psychological safety and human be...

In this special Intern Edition of The Allied Angle, we hand the mic to three members of Gen Z — and Allied’s summer internship program — for an honest, unfiltered, and deeply human conversation about how their generation is navigating life, money, and digital fatigue.   Tune in as Kira Right, Alli Johnson, and Eli VanHaaren share their perspectives on what Gen Z needs from financial institutions,...

Allied Solutions’ Nikki Warner sits down with Jeff Kennedy, David Tuyo, and Steve O’Connell to explore strategies for attracting and engaging Gen Z members. From digital-first experiences to employee-driven community impact, and from authentic storytelling to trusted partnerships, these leaders share how they’re evolving to meet changing member expectations — without losing sight of the credit uni...

In this episode, Gabe Krajicek from Kasasa joins us to share how community-based financial institutions can grow, stay relevant, and keep a local-first mindset—no matter their size. We cover game-changing products like the Take-Back Loan, ways to boost engagement with innovative checking accounts, and how thoughtful product design can provide stability in uncertain times. Plus, Gabe offers practic...

In this episode of Client Voices, we explore the rising risks and evolving realities of auto lending in today’s credit union landscape. Joined by Dona Svehla (GTE Financial), Jose Iregui (CUautoFi), and Allied Solutions’ Jack Imes and Anne Holtzman, the conversation dives deep into: 🚗 The impact of extended loan terms and declining vehicle values 📉 Managing rising delinquencies and record-high d...

In this episode, The Allied Angle sits down with Rick Hughes, Senior Vice President, Program Division, from Equity Protection Powered by NFP to explore the latest trends and growth opportunities in home equity lending. Rick discusses how flexible underwriting, embedded loss protection, and member-friendly pricing empower lenders to expand responsibly, attract new borrowers, and demonstrate sound r...

In this episode of Client Voices: Weathering Financial Storms, Allied Solutions' Mark Rodriguez sits down with three seasoned credit union executives, Allan Prindle (Power Financial Credit Union), Brian Best (GTE Financial), and Mike Miller (iThink Financial), to discuss how they’re navigating today’s most pressing financial challenges. From rising delinquencies and risk management strategies to t...

In this episode of Client Voices, three credit union leaders — Jason Osterhage (Everwise CU), Mike Wilson (Members 1st FCU), and Steve Collins (Fort Financial FCU) — join Allied’s Bill Sarsfield to discuss how they’re navigating digital transformation while staying rooted in their mission. From AI adoption to strategic partnerships and mobile-first implementation, hear how these leaders are turnin...

Join Allied’s Vice President, Strategic Partnerships Randy Salser and Chief Client Lending Consultant Jack Imes as they unpack the latest lending and deposit trends shaping today’s credit unions and banks. From the current state of the industry and asset‐quality challenges to proven growth tactics, product diversification, targeted marketing, and technology enablement — you’ll hear practical strat...

On this episode of The Allied Angle, Allied’s Anne Holtzman, SVP of Client Experiences and Risk Management Services, and Cindy Bryant, SVP of Client Sales and Support demystify CPI. Together they unpack today’s regulatory spotlight, shifting lender and borrower expectations, and the tension between profit and purpose.      :47   Get to know Anne and Cindy.  7:55  The current state of CPI and how i...

In this episode, we explore how artificial intelligence (AI) and user experience (UX) design are reshaping the future of financial institutions. Guests Brett Mitchell and Barrett Crites from Allied Solutions share how AI is moving beyond automation to build trust, enhance personalization, and deliver human-centered experiences. From virtual assistants to ethical design, we dive into the strategies...

Credit unions are facing rising fraud, liability, and insurance costs, prompting carriers to tighten underwriting, raise rates, and limit coverage – all while balancing member convenience with stronger risk controls. This episode explores the key threats driving these changes, how insurers are responding, and what credit unions can do to protect themselves and their members.    0:39  – Get to know...

Fraud is a team sport and a growing concern in auto lending. Join James Maguire, Senior Director of Marketing at Experian Automotive; Suzi Straffon, Director Finance Company Markets at Allied Solutions; and John Denison, Senior Vice President Sales Enablement Operations at Allied Solutions, as they dig into why collaboration is key when it comes to fighting fraud.    00:49 Get to know John, Suzi,...

Season three of The Allied Angle kicks off with Allied Solutions' CEO Pete Hilger. Pete shares 2024’s challenges, Allied's key accomplishments, and insights into navigating 2025’s evolving financial landscape - including AI, compliance, and innovation.   00:51  Reintroducing Pete Hilger.  04:02 Navigating the highs and lows Allied and other financial institutions faced in 2024. 06:19 The biggest a...