Today’s credit unions are faced with a balancing act. On one side is the high-touch, member-focused, “people helping people” ethos. On the other side is the need to embrace digital, with all its benefits and all its shortcomings. In this episode of the Digital Banking podcast, host Josh DeTar, welcomed Brian Alfano, the COO of Oregon Community Credit Union. They discussed how core values can guide you in the right direction, why credit unions need to put their members first, and how you can leve...
Feb 18, 2022•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 36
Digital tools are increasingly critical to any community financial; institution’s marketing program. However, with so many options literally at one’s fingertips, it can be difficult to create a cohesive, effective digital marketing strategy. That said, the starting point is always a careful consideration of the institution’s culture. In this episode of the Digital Banking podcast, host Josh DeTar welcomed Kristin Harrison, the Director of Business Development at Web Strategies. The two discussed...
Feb 04, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 35
While most new credit union members are middle-aged men and women, credit unions, like so many other organizations, want to pursue the millennial market. That apparent disconnect creates quite a challenge for growth-minded credit unions. In the latest episode of the Digital Banking Podcast, host Josh DeTar welcomes Michael Murdoch, the marketing manager at Wauna Credit Union. The two get into what credit unions should do to attract younger members, why credit union executives should include thei...
Jan 21, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 34
Technology is constantly changing, so what constitutes good due diligence today may not be good enough tomorrow. Many FIs neglect the importance of doing proper due diligence based on current technbology in order to find a vendor that best meets their current and future needs. In this episode of the Digital Banking Podcast, we heard from Shaun Murray, CEO of Enhanced Software Products, Inc. Shaun and our host Josh DeTar discussed the importance of practicing due diligence when choosing a new dig...
Jan 07, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 33
Customers expect perfection from financial institutions. And when money and personal information are at stake, there's nothing unusual about that expectation. But striving for perfection and being perfect are not the same thing. Companies that strive for perfection in banking actually strive for constant improvement. In this episode of the Digital Banking Podcast, our host Josh DeTar welcomed Joel Morehouse, a Strategic Solutions Project Manager at DaLand CUSO. They got into the concept of imper...
Dec 10, 2021•53 min•Ep. 32
Credit unions use technology and a personalized approach to ensure the best member experience. Even with this winning combination, it’s still a challenge to stand out in a market where major banks dominate. In this episode of the Digital Banking Podcast, host Josh DeTar welcomed Shannon Ellis-Brock, the COO at Puget Sound Cooperative Credit Union. Shannon and Josh discussed why innovation and development are such powerful ideas in their industry, how satisfied employees lead to happy members, an...
Nov 26, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 31
For financial institutions to evolve and improve member experiences, it’s important to introduce new technologies. However, it’s important to consider new technologies from a strategic perspective as well. Too often, FIs jump to implement the latest new feature. And organizations chase after new “shiny objects” hoping to meet the requirements of members. In the rush, FIs fail to negotiate contracts effectively and potentially cost their organizations millions of dollars during the course of a co...
Nov 12, 2021•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 30
Geoff Knapp, Chief Growth Officer at Allied Payment Network, argues that community FIs are hanging onto a life ring, fighting for their lives in the golden age of opportunity. In this episode of the Digital Banking Podcast, host Josh DeTar sits down with Geoff to talk about how younger clients are disrupting the banking industry by opting for megabanks for traditional banking needs because of their digital presence, and choosing fintech for niche services. Geoff says community FIs need to niche ...
Oct 29, 2021•53 min•Ep. 29
Our guest, Dion Lisle, bills himself as the Rosetta Stone between FinTechs and Legacy FIs. He says FinTechs and banks operate at different speeds, and like gears, they need a transmission or a translation to be able to work together effectively. In this episode, he talks with host Josh DeTar about some of the current challenges community FIs face and what's at stake if they fail to listen to their customers more closely in the coming years.
Oct 15, 2021•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 28
There was a time when most banking business was conducted at the branch. The interaction with the same people week after week made for a warm, personal experience. Thanks to technology, we wait longer to use the ATM so that we don't have to talk to anyone. As a result, that warm, personal experience is at risk of going the way of the dodo bird. Joel Schwartz, Founder and co-CEO of DoubleCheck Solutions LLC, joins our host Josh DeTar to discuss how fintech and digitized banking can actually make ...
Oct 01, 2021•48 min•Ep. 27
Shondell Varcianna is a resourceful and creative woman who keeps pace with the latest developments in the world of content marketing. Shondell is the CEO and founder at Varci Media. Her job consists of helping financial institutions succeed with their blog posts and all forms of content marketing. Shondell truly believes in the power of content. She suggests a holistic marketing approach to get in front of ideal customers, whether it is through Facebook Ads, PPC, or Google. In this episode of th...
Sep 17, 2021•53 min•Ep. 26
In this episode of the Digital Banking podcast, you'll get to hear from Trey Maust, the Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Oregon City, Ore.-based Lewis & Clark Bank. Trey brings over 25 years of banking experience to the table, having served as CEO and Director at several leading financial institutions. Josh DeTar, host of the Digital Banking Podcast, and Trey Maust discuss the benefits of community financial institutions (CFIs) and their role in the future of banking. Trey's passion for ...
Sep 03, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 25
In this episode of the Digital Banking Podcast, host Josh DeTar and SVP/VP of Operations Tracey Miller of Pioneer Federal Credit Union discuss a wide range of hot credit union topics. Tracey has a lot of experience in fintech and explains how important it is to be honest with both team members and external partners. Creating stable and sincere relationships can help any business to grow. If the foundation is strong, everyone around you will prosper and achieve their goals. Tracey points out the ...
Aug 20, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Laura Thompson is a retired SVP/CIO at the famous Orange County's Credit Union. She inherited her passion for credit unions from her family, who have been involved with credit unions for decades. For her, credit unions, or careers in general, aren't only about getting promotions and earning more money. They’re about broadening knowledge and fostering mutual respect among members and colleagues, no matter what industry they belong to. According to Laura, knowledge is a never-ending journey that i...
Aug 06, 2021•54 min•Ep. 23
Eric Isham is a founder and CEO of OMNICOMMANDER, a company dedicated to helping credit unions grow by using well-thought-out SEO and marketing strategies. Based on his experience with credit unions, Eric claims that they do a terrible job of branding and marketing. How does that affect their overall performance and success? Eric sees marketing as an essential tool for growth. However, marketing is only part of the answer. Credit union executives need to communicate well with their employees, me...
Jul 23, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 22
In this episode of the Digital Banking Podcast, Josh DeTar discusses the impact of digitalization on the financial industry with his guest Brenda DiMuro, Regional Sales Manager at CO-OP Financial Services. Not only do Brenda and her team at CO-OP service at least 50% of credit unions across the country, but they're also currently working to enable Zelle for them. Due to its endorsement/adoption by major banks like Bank of America, Chase and Wells Fargo, Zelle is rapidly becoming the de facto sta...
Jul 09, 2021•45 min•Ep. 21
In this episode of the Digital Banking podcast, Josh DeTar talks to Dennis Griesgraber, Chief Technology Officer at United Educators Credit Union. In this conversation, the two focus on the benefit of small credit unions and the importance of delivering a superior, member-centric experience to the credit union community in our technology-driven society. Dennis speaks about the role of technology in enhancing the member experience. He sees that, even though we are surrounded by technology, member...
Jun 25, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 20
Gideon Taub, founder of Pinkaloo, is on a mission to democratize philanthropy.He says that while there's been a lot of innovation to help charities raise money, there hasn't necessarily been a lot of focus on how donors manage all of their giving. He also says giving has been siloed and isolated and explained why people should be more proactive in their giving. Pinkaloo seeks to change that. Gideon and host Josh DeTar discuss the virtual community and the importance of investing in digital banki...
Jun 11, 2021•50 min•Ep. 19
In this episode of the Digital Banking Podcast, Josh DeTar talks with Mark Sommer, COO at $70M ProMedica Federal Credit Union, based in Toledo, Ohio. They discuss actual a wide range of topics in the credit union environment, including the pandemic-driven society surrounded by the power of technology. How can small credit unions leverage technology to improve their services? Mark talks about the advantages and disadvantages of a digital environment, where non-face-to-face contacts affect the rel...
May 27, 2021•54 min•Ep. 18
In this episode of the Digital Banking podcast, you get to hear from Adrian Quince, Assistant Manager for technology at Redwood Credit Union. RCU is a trusted and community-focused credit union that offers banking services to over 300,000 members. Adrian joins our host Josh DeTar to discuss the power of technology in helping their members achieve their financial goals. What's one of the most significant value propositions that credit unions bring to the table? According to Adrian, it's the perso...
May 14, 2021•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 17
In this episode of Digital Banking Podcast, Josh DeTar features a conversation with guest - Merle van den Akker. Merle is a Behavioural Science Ph.D. student at the Warwick Business School in England. Merle’s motto is “You are never done learning” and she backs this up as a host the Questioning Behaviour podcast and as a blog writer at Money On The Mind. Merle’s inspiration for all of her work are two big questions: “Why do people spend the money they spend, and why don't people make certain inv...
Apr 30, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Tim VanTassel, a VP of analytics software organization FICO, has rich experience in consulting, financial services, and banking. He’s interested in data and applied analytics, which he finds incredibly important in delivering convenient member experience, especially when it comes to credit unions. In the latest episode of Digital Banking Podcast, he introduces the concept of FICO score, which is another brand of credit score widely used by lenders worldwide, but he also mentions other issues fac...
Apr 16, 2021•44 min•Ep. 15
In this episode of the Digital Banking Podcast, you’ll hear from John San Filippo, the co-founder of Finopotamus. Finopotamus is a digital magazine for credit unions providing the latest fintech news from the industry. John has been in the credit union industry for over 30 years and has fulfilled a range of roles in different organizations. As a proud co-founder of a credit union blog, John now delivers useful tips and tricks to credit unions and technology companies that service credit unions. ...
Apr 02, 2021•53 min•Ep. 14
Collin Campbell is one of the brightest minds when it comes to implementing strategic initiatives focused on Credit Unions, and he has some interesting points of view that are going to shift the way you see the overall member experience. When Collin started his career, it was in digital. Over the years he has found his place in the finance industry where he works as a strategic advisor for credit unions. In 2019, Collin collaborated with other partners and launched Detalus Strategy. In this epis...
Mar 19, 2021•45 min•Ep. 13
In this episode of Digital Banking Podcast, Josh DeTar discusses the development of payment technologies with his guest Mickey Goldwasser, VP of Marketing and Chief of Staff at Payrailz. Having been in the industry since he got out of college, he calls himself a lifelong FinTech. He selflessly shares with us his helpful insights on how to embrace technology and explore artificial intelligence. Mickey's goal at Payrailz is to create a smart payment experience that will satisfy the end customers. ...
Mar 05, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 12
Sahil Pankhaniya and Christian Trummer are two names that you should remember beyond doubt, if you haven't done it already, because of some incredible things that these guys are working on. They're both seniors at the George Washington University , and this is precisely where they first started thinking about Credit Union Initiative . When Sahil first started his studies at the George Washington University, he discovered that his classmates were running credit unions. He also found out that they...
Feb 19, 2021•34 min•Ep. 11
Is it possible to be pandemic-ready before one occurs? It was for Numerica Credit Union. Based in Spokane Valley, Washington, Numerica’s members-first operations had technological solutions in place to build on to better navigate COVID-19’s curveballs — that way, its 150,000 members could worry about one less thing. “Everything we do is all focused on enhancing our member’s lives, helping them fulfill their dreams and building the communities we serve,” says Numerica’s Senior Vice President Info...
Jan 22, 2021•40 min•Ep. 9
Business Data Incorporated (BDI) customer relationship and sales expert, Brian Orta , discusses credit union (CU) industry learnings from the industry's adaptations and needs exposed during the 2020 coronavirus. Orta talks with Digital Banking Podcast Host, Josh DeTar about the unique challenges and opportunities the COVID-19 pandemic has generated for Credit Unions (CUs) to innovate methods for improving their customer and employee experience. Brian provides perspective on the shared circumstan...
Jan 08, 2021•52 min•Ep. 8
Podcast guest Mike Tierney discusses with host Josh DeTar the contrasts between current and former conventional U.S. American financial institution service offerings and personal finance management practices compared with those in other cultures, such as in the Netherlands. Tierney, participating in the interview via international telecom, discusses current and future creative concepts for the development of live and digital interactive programs for educating children and adults in effective per...
Dec 12, 2020•41 min•Ep. 7
Chances are, you’ve heard of Star One Credit Union. It’s one of Silicon Valley’s largest member-owned financial institutions. And because it’s surrounded by the Facebooks, Googles and Apples of this world, it has more than $10 billion in assets with less than 115,000 members. ( Psstt… That’s pretty impressive.) It also has a 90% retention rate, thanks to its efforts to serve its members. ( Psstt… Also pretty impressive.) One of the leading forces behind this customer-centric culture is Margarete...
Nov 20, 2020•48 min•Ep. 6
