FIsionaries: Recent Episodes
Evergreen Podcasts
The FIsionaries Podcast, sponsored by Alkami Technology Inc., shines a light on financial institutions (FIs) at the bleeding edge of digital transformation. The podcast, hosted by Jim Marous, features banks and credit unions sharing lessons learned from their digital transformation journeys as well as insights from fintech partners and other industry thought leaders. Each episode will provide regional and community banks and credit unions with insights, tips and tricks to elevate their digital banking game.
In today's episode of the FIsionaries Podcast, we have the privilege of sitting down with Mark Hufnagel, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Corning Credit Union. Join us as we delve into the remarkable journey that has led Corning Credit Union to achieve recognition as one of the best credit unions in New York state. Discover the strategies, values, and innovations that set this institution apart and continue to shape its future success. Also, get a taste of Corning's approach to using technology to better serve members and stand out in a competitive landscape.
Digital banking transformation is most successful when it combines internal and external execution. This includes a focus on digital banking transformation, innovation, and strategic investments. Michigan State University Federal Credit Union has grown consistently over the past 5 years, reaching $7.5 billion in assets. They have done this with strong leadership and a continued investments in modern fintech solutions through a wholly owned credit union service organization, Reseda. My guest on the FIsionaries podcast is April Clobes, President and CEO of the Reseda Group and MSUFCU. We discuss the strategic advantage of investing in new technologies and fintech solutions that can be deployed internally and sold to other credit unions.
Growing from $2.5 billion to over $4 billion in the past five years, the Biloxi-based Keesler Federal Credit Union has become one of the largest credit unions in the United States. With 39 locations across three states and three in the United Kingdom, the credit union has 280,000 members. What sets Keesler FCU apart is not just their exceptional growth, but their ability to anticipate industry trends. Their unwavering commitment to innovation, combined with a commitment to members and the community, has earned them national recognition. My guest on the FIsionaries podcast is Jason MacDonald, SVP & Chief Information Officer, Keesler Federal Credit Union. We discuss many of the ways Keesler Federal Credit Union has achieved growth while not sacrificing personalized service.
Whether a customer wants to do banking in-person or online, the need for multilingual service is more important than ever. Thankfully, with today’s translation technologies and AI-powered multilingual chatbots, language barriers aren’t insurmountable. Unitus Community Credit Union, headquartered in Oregon, has made a commitment to providing inclusive financial services. This includes supporting a bilingual positioning at every touchpoint. The credit union’s website is already available in dual languages, a bilingual chatbot has just been introduced, and more efforts are underway. My guest on the FIsionaries podcast is Corlinda Wooden, SVP/Chief Retail Officer at Unitus Community Credit Union. We discuss how committing to embrace underserve communities has resulted in historically high growth and higher customer satisfaction ratings.
Differentiation in the banking industry is not easy. Especially for a credit union with $400 million in assets and only 5 branches. cPort Credit Union, headquartered in Portland Maine, has found that providing advanced digital services and serving the community in unique ways is the key to building a strong brand, supporting a powerful culture, and delivering continued growth. My guest on the FIsionaries podcast is Ashley Simmons, Director of Digital Experience at cPort Credit Union. We discuss how cPort uses five core values as a guide to stand out in a crowded marketplace.
In the past, the ability to be on the cutting edge of innovation and digital transformation was only possible for organizations with the most assets and deepest pockets. PeoplesChoice Credit Union has dispelled that myth, by rethinking traditional business models – continually creating new products, services and ways to better serve the community. My guest on the FIsionaries podcast is Luke Labbe, President of the $325 million PeoplesChoice Credit Union in Maine. We discuss how PeoplesChoice continues to invest in digital technology and their employees to provide better member experiences, higher returns, lower loan rates and fewer fees for its members.