Shows
Talking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreEDITION 37: What’s in a name? Why some credit unions are rebranding as community banksSend us a textSwoboda Research Centre's recent paper on credit unions VS community banks explores whether the ads and marketing slogans make banks and credit unions indistinguishable from each other.We sit down with marketing strategist Daniella Russo from MP&Co Marketing Strategists to unpack the everyday language problem: how do you cut through misconceptions and make the benefits obvious? Daniela shares where values help and where they get in the way, why digital design equals brand trust, and how an audit-first approach avoids costly missteps. Then, we go inside a full r...
2025-10-1034 minTalking 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 minTalking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreEDITION 28 Credit Unions - did they survive the pandemic?Send us a textThe past two years has been the ultimate stress test for the financial, operational, competitive, and cultural resiliency of credit unions. Leaders have greater depth of insight into the risks facing their credit union and can now better plan for and address those risks, allowing the organisation to focus primarily on longer-term opportunities.Some credit unions are only now emerging from the lockdown to seek new members in a tremendously competitive and digital world. The economic challenges of the past two years have amplified the essential role credit unions can play...
2022-03-3120 minTalking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreEDITION 26 - MEMBER GAMBLING AND VULNERABILITYSend us a textThis summer saw the publication 'Gambling, Vulnerability and FCA Compliance' (How financial services firms can achieve the best outcomes for vulnerable customers who gamble), by Sharon Collard and Katie Cross at the Bristol University Personal Finance Research Centre. Credit unions are seeing increased levels of gambling activity on members accounts, especially since the pandemic. Many credit unions can conduct more forensic assessment of members accounts following the uptake in use of 'open banking'. This has contributed to a rising concern that gambling is causing harm to members and their fa...
2021-10-1151 minTalking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreEDITION 27 - Save & Sound Project - UpdateSend us a textThe Save and Sound project is now looking further afield for more credit union memories. The project wants to make sure that the efforts of people who worked to set up and run credit unions in the early days of the movement are not forgotten. The history of British credit unions is a diverse and inspiring one and the project wants to hear from anyone who was involved with a credit union in whatever way. Anyone with any information about early credit unions is encouraged to get in touch. By collecting and...
2021-09-0918 minTalking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreEDITION 25 - Do credit unions alleviate poverty?Send us a textThe purpose of credit unions is obvious, isn’t it? Well, isn’t it?One of the perceptions about credit unions is that they ‘alleviate poverty’ and I guess many within the Irish & UK credit union movement will accept that perception. I suspect that banks are not perceived as alleviating poverty, by the general public or even bank workers. So, do credit unions alleviate poverty?I spoke to three well known experienced credit union people; Paul Jones, Eileen Halligan & Des Morrisey and put this question to them. I started...
2021-07-0623 minTalking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreEDITION 23 - More Fintech Solutions? CUAppsSend us a textThis is podcast is where I look at another mobile 'app' being currently used by some credit unions.In this edition I talk with the enthusiastic Karen Bennett, CEO of the Merseyside based Enterprise Credit Union, about its fairly recent take up member mobile ‘app’ CUApps. Firstly, I spoke with the two young Scots tech entrepreneurs, Declan McGallagy and Jack Alison who founded CU Apps over eight years ago. They tell me how they specialise in premium mobile app and chatbot develo...
2021-05-3123 minTalking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreEDITION 22 - Fintech Solutions? - NIVOSend us a textI’ve decided to have a closer look at the world of credit union ‘apps’ or Fintech, as some call it. Many of you are aware that a tsunami of helpful apps has arrived at the door of credit unions in the last few years and in many cases transformed how members interact or communicate with their credit union. Some credit unions have willingly adopted the apps available, and some are still considering. Perhaps there is still a little suspicion of earlier tech failures in the Irish & British credit union movements over the years...
2021-05-1924 minTalking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreCredit Union Development Educator Events; are they magic? EDITION 21Send us a textI've always been amazed at the passion and support for this unique form of credit union education that has seen over 4,500 credit union employees, volunteers, directors and supporters attending over the years. The EU version has been running several years, with events usually based in the UK. The US version, of the DE event, has been around for almost 40 years. The main purpose of the DE programmes is to "..... is to help established and emerging leaders within the credit union movement understand and leverage credit unions’ unique business model to serve memb...
2021-03-1922 minTalking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreSir Douglas Flint on Just Finance Foundation and credit union board rooms - EDITION 20Send us a textThis is an interviewed with Sir Douglas Flint who is chair of Standard Life Aberdeen, IP Group, the Corporate board of Cancer Research UK and is a trustee of the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. He was previously Group Chairman of HSBC Holdings and he has held other roles, notably as a non-executive director of BP.Clearly, Sir Douglas has many years of experience of board rooms of successful businesses and his Chairmanship of the Just Finance Foundation has placed him in close proximity to credit unions. So...
2021-03-1214 minTalking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreNotice: CFCFE CONFERENCE MARCH 29th 2021Send us a textBooking is now open for our first CFCFE conference of the year, on Monday 29th March.Towards New Business Models: great speakers and plenty of group discussion, looking at the 2021 and future external operating context, the importance of building a business model on a clear and agreed purpose, and credit union leader experience of making mergers work.Join other credit union leaders, directors, suppliers, regulators and policymakers for stimulating ideas and to share your own views, with plenty of opportunities for interaction. Book your place
2021-03-0511 minTalking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreMy first year as a credit union CEO - Matt Bland - EDITION 18Send us a textEarly last year I interviewed Matt Bland, of the Manchester based Co-op Credit Union, as he began his debut year in charge (2020). This is interview asks Matt how was his first year?After making the interesting swop from being a policy and regulation specialist, at the trade body ABCUL back in 2020, Matt embarked on turning the sleeping giant of the Co-op Credit Union (CCU) into a more nimble and ambitious outfit. Matt was selected for the job from an impressive batch of applicants but no matter how much the CCU directors t...
2021-02-2319 minTalking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreCredit Union Mergers - A strategic opportunity? EDITION 17Send us a textAn interview with Robert Kelly CEO at ABCUL (Assoc. of British Credit Unions Ltd). I was really interested in the news that ABCUL are to launch a Strategic Merger Taskforce. Robert Kelly, CEO at ABCUL, once again appears to tackle subjects that appear sometimes to be difficult to deal with but nevertheless are really of the moment. Credit Union mergers, or transfer of engagements, in the past have typically been a way of saving a struggling credit union from failure, by being absorbed into a healthier partner. However, could...
2021-02-0220 minTalking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreTime for a New Credit Union Core Computer System? EDITION 16Send us a textOver the last few years, the importance of flexible, efficient and modern technology has risen up the agenda for many credit unions. 2020 has made this even more pronounced, as the ability of organisation to serve members effectively while staff are remote from members (and each other) has been given a severe test. Sometimes credit unions come to the conclusion that their strategy cannot be delivered with the constraints of their current core processing and accounting system. But replacing this component of the business is daunting and can be compared to major surgery – expensive, pa...
2021-01-0824 minTalking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreDiversity in the Credit Union Boardroom - EDITION 15Send us a textWhat a year for this agenda. First came shock; and then came shows of support. But they’re only worth a penny if we do not move to meaningful action and concrete change. Change you can see. Change you can measure. And change that makes a material difference to people’s lives. To achieve that, we can’t just speak about one aspect of diversity and inclusion without also understanding the importance of all others, and how they intersect to make up someone’s experiences. But following the killing of George Floyd, much of the p...
2020-12-0329 min
Talking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreAudio of CFCFE's measuring Social Impact of Credit Unions Seminar 25th Nov 2020 - EDITION 14Send us a textCFCFE have released a report from Dr Olive McCarthy of the Centre for Co-operative Studies at Cork University Business School (and CFCFE’s Advisory Board) on credit union perceptions of the opportunities and challenges for measuring and reporting on social impact – what CFCFE calls ‘the credit union difference’.Olive spoke to staff from 23 credit unions and 11 stakeholder to gather insights into what organisations see as the opportunities and barriers in relation to evaluating systematically the contributions credit unions make to their members’ and communities’ wellbeing. Credit Unions and Social Impact Measurement...
2020-11-261h 01Talking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreInterest rate caps with Dr Olive McCarthy - EDITION 13Send us a textOlive McCarthy is an active member of St. Michael's Credit Union, Cork, Ireland. She receives research funding from a wide array of external sources, including government bodies, NGOs and sectoral organisations. She is a member of the Credit Union Advisory Committee, appointed by the Irish Minister for Finance.The cost of accessing small personal loans can be eye-wateringly high for those who need it most. Take the UK, where a £200 loan from Provident Personal Credit over 13 weeks costs £86 in interest. That’s an equivalent APR of a whopping 1,557.7%.These offe...
2020-11-1323 minTalking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreWhy bother with International credit union projects? EDITION 12Send us a textI have heard, in the past, the critics state that involvement of employees, or directors, in credit union international projects can be expensive and/or the benefits are not too tangible. So, I decided capture the views of some well respected voices and seek out an answer to my question. Why bother with international credit union projects?International credit union projects are not always what I expected and perhaps they are occasionally fruitful in ways I did not foresee. The benefits are occasionally inspiring and profound. The drawbacks can...
2020-10-0919 minTalking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreConference Round Up - EDITION 11Send us a textA brief round-up on CFCFE, ABCUL and World Council of Credit Unions conferences.Talking 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.
2020-10-0610 minTalking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreCFCFE CREDIT UNION CONFERENCE TRAILER - 22nd September 2020 - Dublin & On Line!Send us a textCredit Union Conference: Planning for the New Normal 10.00am-3.30pm, Tuesday 22 September 2020, Clayton Liffey Valley Hotel and live online Presented by the Centre for Community Finance Europe, in collaboration with Liverpool John Moores University. What is the issue? Enough has been written about the COVID-19 crisis for us all to know the outlines of the impact – the economy significantly depressed, unemployment forecast to climb fast and our members and communities’ financial and general well-being under pressure. The morning session will help credit unions look ahead, by p...
2020-08-2710 minTalking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreEDITION 9 - Human Resources Specialists - Luxury or Necessity?Send us a textThis edition asks how prepared are our credit unions for the possible employment issues that the pandemic has forced onto their businesses? Some of the changes may be positive and some may be relatively painless. However, changing a workforce to suit the new circumstances, or restructuring as it is called, is always a challenge and there are clearly good ways to do it and pitfalls to avoid. In this podcast we will hear from credit union leaders, professionals and practitioners that have experienced considerable workforce change in their credit union careers.
2020-08-1918 minTalking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreEDITION 8 - Payroll Deduction Member RecruitmentSend us a textThis edition is about member recruitment via payroll deduction. How British and Irish credit unions, and others, have managed their journey into member recruitment via the route of employer participation. I have some excellent guests on the podcast and my gratitude goes out to them for giving up their valuable time freely in the middle of this pandemic. We will hear from: Billy Doyle CEO Dundalk CU in IrelandLuke Mellard, Business Development Manager at the company Salary FinanceCarol McHarg CEO 1st Alliance CU in Ayrshire ScotlandAnn Hickey CEO East Sussex CU...
2020-07-2832 minTalking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreEDITION 7 - COVID 19 The Irish Credit Union ResponseSend us a textThis edition provides a snap shot of two Irish credit unions and their immediate actions taken to help credit union members, staff and communities in response to the COVID-19 crisis in March and April 2020. These actions demonstrate and exemplify the ‘credit union difference’. The COVID-19 health crisis has meant extraordinary operational and commercial challenges to credit unions. This podcast refers to the CFCFE report that in turn refers solely to credit unions in the Republic of Ireland; CFCFE has published separately on the actions taken by British credit unions, along with the podcast EDIT...
2020-06-1134 minTalking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreEDITION 6 - Credit Unions and COVID 19Send us a text A fundamental principle of the credit union sector is ‘people helping people’. The COVID-19 health crisis, with its associated social lockdown and economic shocks, has presented operational and commercial challenges to credit unions that go way beyond previous experience. Credit union members are having to cope with social distancing and sometimes isolation, as well as potentially reduced income or unemployment.In this podcast we hear some of the testimony of those credit unions and the challenges met by British credit unions. CFCFE published a well-received report on the response of British credit...
2020-05-3031 minTalking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreEDITION 5 - Matt Bland interviewSend us a textThis interview gives a good insight into the practical world of 'new' credit unions, Fin Tech, regulation and access to new members featured here.An interview with Matt Bland the new CEO of The Co-op Credit Union based in Manchester UK, “Credit unions are all about solidarity with our colleagues and neighbours in financial matters. Helping one another save and borrow affordably to build our financial resilience. It is a hugely valuable contribution to society and I’m proud of my work in the sector”"I first became a Credit Union...
2020-04-3013 minTalking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreEDITION 4 - Todd Proulx interview on CU core IT systemsSend us a textThis interview took place immediately after Manchester CFCFE Conference in Manchester. At that conference Todd had outlined his extensive experience of IT solutions in the credit union sector in the USA, and his recent engagement with Irish credit unions. Todd noted that core IT system replacement, the focus of his presentation, is a very significant project for credit unions, but because there have been so many of these in the US (over 600 in the last five years) there is now increasing competence at core system conversions. For most core processor businesses, the overwhelming...
2020-03-0113 minTalking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreEDITION 3 Robert Kelly, ABCUL, tells of the journey to dateSend us a textRobert Kelly CEO, of the trade association ABCUL (Association of British Credit Unions Ltd), talks about is first months in the role and the forthcoming national conference in Manchester (March 2020).Talking 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.
2020-02-1710 minTalking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreEDITION 2 CFCFE Conference Manchester February 2020Send us a textI was at CFCFE’s conference in Manchester (17th January) and Drew Povey spoke about leadership in a time of change, and how to show courage; Rob McIntosh explained his vision of digital community, how it can be realised and how it is relevant – critical – to credit unions; Marloes Nicholls summarised the risks and significant opportunities for credit unions from the effective use of open banking; Todd Proulx considered why, when and how to change core IT systems. Delegates said these “really good speakers” were “thought provoking”, “very informative” and “very enjoyable”. Talking Credit Unions...
2020-02-0424 minTalking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreEDITION 1 - Abbie Shelton on CU oral history and Nick Money about CFCFE plans December 2019Send us a textInterview with Abbie Shelton about a Oral History project about the Uk Credit Union movement. Starting with a possible pilot in the north of the country leading to a national roll-out if the project receives the funding. abbieshel@icloud.comA preview of the forthcoming CFCFE Manchester Conference, in January 17th 2020 from an interview by Nick Money. nick@nickmoney.co.ukA run through of some of the topics these podcasts will cover in 2020 by Chris SmithAny feedback on smithowls@gmail.comTalking Credit Unions is a regular podcast dedicated to informing...
2019-12-2220 minTalking Credit Unions from Swoboda Research CentreChris Smith is Talking Credit Unions - PreviewSend us a textDecember 2019 - Preview 2020 PodcastsChris Smith - Talking Credit UnionsInterview with Abbie Shelton about a Oral History project about the Uk Credit Union movement. Starting with a possible pilot in the north of the country leading to a national roll-out if the project receives the funding.A preview of the forthcoming CFCFE Manchester Conference, in January 17th 2020 from an interview by Nick MoneyA run through of some of the topics these podcasts will cover in 2020 by Chris SmithAny feedback on smithowls@gmail.comTalking Credit Unions...
2019-12-1920 min