The Remarkable Credit Union

Is challenging the status quo the new status quo? Chad Helminak, Director of Programs and Impact at the National Credit Union Foundation, certainly thinks so. He joins The Remarkable Credit Union podcast to talk about how The Foundations' Credit Union Development Education (DE) program has evolved to incorporate sustainability and DEI principles, how the people who lead and work at credit unions a...

We’ve all seen the “Big Check” photos. Credit unions commonly post them to their websites and social media accounts to demonstrate their commitment to the community. While these photos are a nice way to show your members that you’re supporting great causes and local nonprofits, are there more engaging and creative ways to highlight your community partnerships? Ashira Quabili, Marketing Communicati...

It's hard to say if credit unions are "winning" when it comes to financial coaching and education. There are certainly a lot of great resources out there, but are they inspiring behavior change? Are members proactively meeting with financial counselors? Are credit unions tracking not just the products their members are consuming, but also progress toward their financial goals? For most credit unio...

In June of 2020, Netflix announced a $10 million deposit in Hope Credit Union to build economic opportunity in the Black communities that Hope serves. The deposit marked the launch of Hope's Transformational Deposit program, which aims to import $100 million in deposits, allowing both individuals and businesses outside the region to indirectly support a historically underserved population. Today w...

Talk of how to engage Gen Z and Millenials is widespread in the credit union movement, but when it comes to climate change, many credit unions don’t seem to be speaking up. As we hear more and more about divestment from big banks as a strategy for pursuing climate justice, it seems that credit unions could be capitalizing on a significant opportunity. Andrew Bogrand, Communications Director for&nb...

If credit unions ever "go down," it won't be on Denise Wymore's watch. As a speaker, consultant, and current marketing manager of QCash, Denise is a fierce advocate for the credit union movement. But like many advocates, she thinks credit unions could be doing more. Denise joins us to address this month's BIG question: What does a “just recovery” look like, and how can credit unions help the commu...

Should credit unions care about medical debt? Can they help alleviate it? George Hofheimer, former EVP of Filene, would answer both questions with a resounding YES. He joins us to talk about why medical debt is such a serious threat to credit union members' financial wellness, where the opportunity lies for credit unions, and what he’s learned by bicycling across America to raise awareness around...

Five years ago, Alabama ONE was not in a "fun place," to say the least. The credit union had been placed into conservatorship, which can sometimes signal the beginning of a slow demise. But this particular story has a happy ending. Marketing Manager Dantrel Robinson joins The Remarkable Credit Union podcast to talk about how Alabama ONE was able to not only survive, but flourish, rebuilding its br...

Is your website environmentally sustainable? Are there gender or racial biases in your AI algorithm that impact your relationship with potential loan applicants or prospective employees? Do you involve all stakeholders in your technology initiatives? If you're not sure about the answers to any or all these questions, you're not alone. Tim Frick, CEO, author, and expert on digital ethics, joins us...

Amber Fielder, VP of Marketing at USE Credit Union and past Board Chair of the Marketing Association of Credit Unions (MAC), joins us to address this month's BIG question: Where should credit union marketers be focusing their efforts in 2021? Amber talks about how the events of the last year have driven more innovation in the loan product space; why product innovation should be everyone’s lane (an...

How can credit union leaders help their teams thrive in 2021? Jimese Harkley, VP of Membership at CUES, joins us to talk about the three key skills that rise to the top in our new unpredictable normal. Of course, most every team member wants to be successful in their job, but team needs go far beyond work hours. How can credit union leaders support women, who have been disproportionately impacted...

It’s safe to say that this year almost nothing has gone according to plan. That’s not to mention that the days are getting shorter, and we’re all confronting the reality of winter in the thick of a pandemic. So, how are you doing? How are your coworkers doing? Is everyone ok? Chances are, everyone is not ok. While we can’t solve our coworkers’ problems (or some of our own problems, for that matter...

We all have our own money story. Many of our financial habits, as well as the beliefs and emotions we have around money, are inherited from our parents and the communities in which we were raised. Most of us would benefit from both discovering and reshaping our money stories, but will a website of videos and articles truly prompt behavior change? Georgia Lee Hussey, a sculptor and writer turned we...

We could all use a little more kindness right now. In a world that has become increasingly polarized and prone to hysteria, one simple act of kindness can go a long way. On this episode, we're joined by two guests from the Minnesota Credit Union Network, President & CEO Mark Cummins and Director of Engagement Ben Hering, to talk about CU Forward, a statewide day of kindness that is strengtheni...

In this month's episode, we're excited to explore how your credit union can measure its impact in a meaningful way, and how doing so can help you win over new members and gain more loyalty from existing members. We recorded this conversation back in early March, about a week before our world as we knew it was turned upside down by COVID-19. While we’ve been focusing on more urgent issues over the...

By now you've probably heard of the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), but if you're not based in California, you may not be paying much attention... yet. Ben Herman, CEO of MadFish Digital, joins us to talk about how the CCPA is setting a precedent for a wave of similar regulations that will keep growing in strength and complexity, much like ADA. He discusses the specific steps credit unions...

In today's "new normal," what should credit unions be doing differently?   Gigi Hyland, Executive Director of the National Credit Union Foundation, joins us to share stories about putting empathy into action, explain how new member habits are changing the credit union business model, and what she would do if she was chartering a new credit union today.

Innovation is often born out of crisis. After all, when everything is running smoothly, there isn't much need to think differently. But are credit unions only reacting to the crisis at hand, or are they taking the opportunity to step back and "dream bigger?" Jon Jeffreys, President and CEO of Callahan & Associates, joins us to talk about why it's more important than ever to try new things, why...

In the coming months, as we shift from crisis mode to our "new normal," companies will no doubt be hungry to start selling again. But what about our appetite as consumers? Becky Smith, Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer of State Employees' Credit Union (SECU), joins us to talk about how her team is focusing its marketing efforts during this time of need. She shares what they are doing to help...

During times of crisis, credit unions must walk together with their members. But how? Jim Morrell, CEO of Peninsula Community FCU, joins us to talk about how to go to your core by putting your mission statement front and center, how to care for the short- and long-term financial health of your members, and how to reach members who won’t reach out to you for help.

Credit unions, like many businesses, are currently facing a lot of unknowns. It's not always clear what to do, or how to go about doing it. Luckily, George Hofheimer, Executive Vice President of Research and Development at Filene, is here to help. He joins our podcast to talk about the number one thing that credit unions should be focused on right now, innovation opportunities in the current envir...

We are living in fast-changing and uncertain times. Right now, more than ever, your members are seeking support and reassurance. So, how should credit unions proceed? Casey Boggs, President of ReputationUS, shares his experiences on how to manage a Black Swan crisis, why consumers are even more scared about their finances than their health, and the worst thing an organization can do in a crisis.

We think of finance as a science, not an art. But the truth is, when it comes to our personal finances, money is about so much more than numbers. National financial wellness expert Manisha Thakor joins us to talk about how our emotions affect our financial decisions, what we can learn about finance from Weight Watchers, and how credit unions can leverage our emotional connection to money to build...

Why is it important for credit unions to adopt a multicultural marketing strategy? Perhaps more importantly, what does that even mean? Edgar Hernandez, Senior Multicultural Strategy Manager at CUNA Mutual Group, is well equipped to answer these questions. He joins the podcast to talk about what credit unions are doing well when it comes to multicultural marketing; how to use data to better serve d...

It it time for us to open our eyes to a credit union? Turns out, our eyes may already be open, but we're not seeing the full picture.  Teresa Freeborn, CEO and President of Xceed Financial Credit Union and a Board Member of the Credit Union National Association (CUNA), joins us to talk about CUNA's Open Your Eyes campaign, including what it hopes to accomplish and why the campaign can’t be a...