Shows
Talking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreEDITION 36: The Future of Credit Unions: Growth, Youth, and Digital DemandsSend us a textThe credit union landscape is transforming rapidly across Ireland and Britain. Fresh legislation has created unprecedented opportunities for innovation – yet significant hurdles remain.How can credit unions balance digital transformation with their co-operative ethos? What strategies will attract younger members while serving existing ones? These questions took centre stage at the recent Swoboda Research Conference in Dublin, where experts shared insights and solutions.American credit union strategist George Hofheimer cut through the noise with straightforward advice: focus on "the boring stuff" – prioritising lending, optimising capital, aggressive expense management, and favou...2025-06-0825 minTalking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreEDITION 35: How credit unions can navigate the AI revolution – Top tips from the expertsSend us a textArtificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming financial services, with 75% of firms in Great Britain and 54% in Ireland already adopting the technology. For credit unions, this presents both opportunities and challenges as they seek to harness AI while staying true to their co-operative values and member-centric mission.In this podcast episode, Anca explores the role of AI in the credit union sector with four expert guests. David Fagleman, Co-founder and Director of Enryo Consulting, shares insights from his recent Swoboda Research Centre paper on AI. With a background in banking policy and...2025-04-1343 minTalking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreMergers, CUSOs and CollaborationSend us a textCollaboration and mergers within the credit union sector may become more prevalent in future as credit unions in Ireland and Great Britain are navigating the challenges of maintaining their local identity while achieving economies of scale. This podcast, with expert commentary from Nick Money of the Swoboda Research Centre and Paul Norgrove, CEO of Serve and Protect Credit Union and Ronaldo Hardy from the USA association NACUSO, tackles the strategic decisions credit unions are facing as growth and efficiencies become needed. The guests share their perspectives on the importance of understanding member needs...2024-12-1129 minTalking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreCredit Unions are ethical...aren't they?Send us a textCan credit unions truly be the gold standard of ethical finance? Join our enlightening exchange with ethics-man Barry Clavin, as we scrutinize whether these institutions are walking the talk of their cooperative principles. We traverse the complex terrain of credit union ethics, addressing their genuine commitment to these values, and the potential benefits of adopting a unified ethical identity. Are there any lessons to be learnt from landmark policy of the Cooperative Bank. Barry sheds light on the strategic advantages such alignment could offer, setting credit unions apart in a financial...2024-04-2426 minTalking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreHuman touch versus Digital Banking for Credit Unions?Send us a textListen to a conversation with George Hofheimer, the advisor and author of "Banking on the Human Scale." As we navigate the challenges that credit unions face in the digital era, George illuminates the path ahead, offering strategic insight into blending technological investments with the human service that defines credit unions. The traditional face-to-face service is not lost, but rather enhanced as George makes a compelling case for a harmonious merge of the old and the new. This conversation is an essential precursor to the upcoming Manchester Swoboda Credit Union Conference, in...2023-10-0314 minTalking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreEDITION 31 - Are credit union members rate tarts?Send us a textSeveral responses to this question by credit union leaders:*Rate tart is a term used in banking to describe someone who transfers balances repeatedly, chasing the best possible interest rates on savings. David McAuley, CEO, Donore CU, Ireland " Are our members 'rate tarts'* and leave the credit union, if we pay insufficient dividend? Our members in the main are not big savers. So, while there will be one or two members disgruntled with no dividend and they do tend to be in the “old...2023-07-2426 minTalking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreEDITION 30 - SWOBODA RESEARCH CENTRE - SPRING 2023 UPDATESend us a textPaul Jones and Nick Money update us on the wide list of projects, papers and conferences coming up in the next 12 months at the Swoboda Research Centre.Hear about:New credit union lending projectsSustainable credit unionsUpdates on the Governance ManualNew faces at SwobodaJonathon Moore's views on credit unionsTalking Credit Unions is a regular podcast dedicated to informing credit union practitioners, leaders, and opinion formers on a variety of industry topics. The podcast is sponsored by the Swoboda Research Centre.2023-02-2823 minTalking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreEDITION 29 Employee Salary Advance Schemes are here to stay?Send us a textThis podcast captures the views of some financial services industry commentators on the merits and drawbacks of ESAS (Employee Salary Advance Schemes).Guests on this podcast are:Matt Bland, CEO Co-op Credit Union, UKEmily Trant, head of Impact & Inclusion, WagestreamLindsay Melvin, CEO FlexiwageErik Porter, Wellbeing expertHow a Employee Salary Advance Scheme works:Specialist scheme operators, which are usually unregulated businesses, often provide the product as part of a 'wellbeing package' to help employees with financial management. Some offer employees an app based platform...2022-10-1727 min