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Kerala Goodkin
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The Daily Whatever
The Daily Whatever, Sept 18: Life After Divorce with Kerala Goodkin
Kerala Goodkin, thanks for trusting us with your first-ever Substack Live appearance—you’re a natural! Discussing divorce isn’t always the most pleasant topic, but together we made it an informative, heartfelt and—dare I say?—fun conversation. Here’s Kerala’s latest essay we discussed today:Please have a read and follow Kerala—her Mom Interrupted publication has such nuanced takes on what it means to parent in 2025.Thanks again, Kerala, and huge thanks to all the Whatevers who delighted us in the chat: Stephanie G Wilson, PhD , Carrie , Christiane mccaf...
2025-09-18
1h 00
The Remarkable Credit Union
People Over Products: Lessons on Creating an Exceptional Member Experience
Last year, credit union members needed more help than ever. Whether they needed help navigating online banking, making a loan payment, accessing a stimulus check, or applying for a PPP Loan, members were overwhelming call centers and online contact forms in search of guidance and support. While credit unions have long prided themselves on building relationships that value people over products, COVID upped the ante for prioritizing member service. Sue Woodard, Chief Customer Officer at Total Expert, joins our podcast this month to tackle this month's BIG question: How has COVID impacted member engagement and c...
2025-07-15
35 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Have Credit Unions Moved the Needle on Financial Inclusion?
A shared commitment to serving the financial needs of the underserved has long distinguished credit unions from other financial institutions. In this episode, we talk to Jules Epstein-Hebert, the Director of Membership, Growth, and Partnership at Inclusiv, a nonprofit that has been championing the cause of financial inclusion for 50 years. We reflect on the movement over the past five decades and tackle this month’s BIG question: How has our economy become more or less inclusive in the 50 years since Inclusiv’s founding, and how has the strategy for closing gaps and removing financial barriers evolv...
2024-04-24
28 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Success, Impact, and Longevity: 3 Key Tips for Credit Union Leaders
This is both an exciting and bittersweet episode. After recording 97 episodes of The Remarkable Credit Union, longtime host and PixelSpoke's founder and former CEO, Cameron Madill, joins as a guest to share his top takeaways from his 20 years leading an impact-focused marketing agency for credit unions. Accompanying him is PixelSpoke's new CEO, Katie Stone, who further expounds on leadership lessons she's learned since joining PixelSpoke and how she hopes to carry them forward in her new role. They also address this month's BIG question: What should credit union leaders focus on to best equip their...
2024-03-25
39 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
The Power of Small: What We Can Learn from Express Credit Union
In a movement where large asset sizes have become a badge of honor, Express Credit Union is proud to be small. They believe that their intimate size affords them the opportunity to truly know their members and to pivot quickly when faced with unexpected challenges. This month, we’re excited to welcome Express Credit Union’s Chief Business Officer, Elizabeth Escobar, to talk about how to meet members where they’re at, what Express has to teach the country’s fourth largest credit union, and how to stay engaged with your members in the long-term. She also...
2024-02-21
32 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Does Your Credit Union Think Like a Brand?
Most credit unions have a set of brand guidelines that include dos and don’ts for their color palettes, logos, images, graphics, and copy. But do guidelines like these truly capture the essence of your brand? Allison Netzer, Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer at Nymbus and co-author of Think Like a Brand, Not a Bank, would answer that question with a resounding NO. Allison joins us on this month’s episode of The Remarkable Credit Union podcast to talk about who credit unions should be tapping into to help shape and promote their brand, why “member-first” isn’t really a b...
2024-01-24
38 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Pushing Past No: How Verity Credit Union is Challenging the Status Quo
Credit unions across the country are searching for ways to offer their underserved members pathways to homeownership. But when it comes to affordable housing, it’s clear that bolder action is needed to meaningfully move the needle. The affordable housing crisis is particularly acute in Seattle, Washington, where home prices increased by over 80% between 2010 and 2020. This month we’re excited to welcome Uche Okezie, Real Estate Development Director at HomeSight, a Seattle-based nonprofit, and Tina Narron, Chief Lending Officer at Verity Credit Union, also based in Seattle, to talk about how they are cross-pollinating, collaborating, and breaking conv...
2023-12-18
35 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
How Self-Help Credit Union Helps Communities Help Themselves
Is “ownership and economic opportunity for all” an idealistic pipe dream, or is it an achievable goal? Self-Help Credit Union would like to think the latter. Its mission statement embodies the credit union’s penchant for thinking big and pushing the boundaries of what credit unions can do and be. This month, we’re thrilled to be joined by Randy Chambers, President of Self-Help Credit Union, to talk about what ownership actually means, how credit unions can advance economic opportunity one neighborhood at a time, and the ways in which a credit union’s WHY should inform all marketi...
2023-11-27
49 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Healthy Growth in the Age of Economic Uncertainty
Bank collapses, recession forecasts, and rising interest rates, oh my! If there’s anything we know for certain, it’s that uncertainty is here to stay. As much as we’ve tried to get back to “normal,” the volatility that Covid set in motion seems determined to wreak havoc on our best-laid plans. This month, we’re excited to welcome Laurie Flanders, VP of Client Solutions at Strum Platform, and Ben Stangland, President & COO of Strum Agency and President of Strum Platform, to talk about what it means to know your members inside and out, why “friendl...
2023-10-19
48 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
How Credit Unions Can Think, And Act, Globally
Most credit unions are fiercely committed to their local communities, and we think that’s great. Sometimes, though, it’s important to take a few steps back and broaden our perspective. That’s where the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) comes in. Today, we’re going to step back with Mike Reuter, the Executive Director of WOCCU’s Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions; Ari Farrell, Program Manager of the World Young Credit Union Professionals (WYCUP) program; and Lena Giakoumopoulos, GWLN (Global Women’s Leadership Network) Director. We talk about their audacious fundraising goal for International Credit Union Day, a...
2023-09-28
42 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Does Your Credit Union Struggle with Personalization? Here’s How To Get it Right.
If you’re a credit union marketer who feels like you should be doing more with automation and personalization, but you’re not sure how, you’re not alone. Kristin Harrison, Director of Business Development for WebStrategies, joins us to talk about why personalization has so much potential for credit unions and why it’s so hard to implement effectively. Here are tips for overcoming common obstacles and ensuring that your personalization efforts don’t do more harm than good. She also tackles this month’s BIG question: How can credit unions build a data strat...
2023-08-24
33 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
How to Start a Credit Union from the Trunk of Your Car
The “About” pages on credit union websites are full of stories about humble beginnings—small groups of people getting together to pool their resources. Nueva Esperanza Credit Union has a similar story, but with one crucial difference: It was founded in 2010. This month, CEO Sue Cuevas shares her inspiring journey, starting with recruiting inaugural members by copying their ID documents with a portable copy machine she kept in the trunk of her car. She talks about what spurred her to leave a 30-year career in corporate banking to start a credit union and what she’s learned along th...
2023-07-26
34 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
How Credit Unions Can Catalyze Social Change
Credit unions have long been enthusiastic champions of their communities, but can they be doing more? How can they think outside the box to catalyze social change? Sharee Adkins, GoWest Credit Union Association Chief Impact Officer and Foundation Executive Director, joins us on this month's episode of The Remarkable Credit Union podcast to share examples of how credit unions in her region are joining forces and tapping into the strengths of their core business competencies to tackle daunting social challenges. She also addresses this month's BIG question: How can credit unions leverage grant...
2023-06-21
41 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
What Cooperation Among Cooperatives Looks Like in Practice
Most credit union employees are familiar with the cooperative principles, including Principle #6: Cooperation Among Cooperatives. Yet it seems this principle has yet to be fully realized within the credit union movement. That's why when we saw that Coastal Credit Union had hired a VP of Cooperative Strategies, we took notice. We'd never heard of someone with that job title at a credit union before. Emily Nail is not only Coastal Credit Union's first VP of Cooperative Strategies, she also serves as Executive Director of the Coastal Credit Union Foundation and previously served as Executive Director of the...
2023-05-26
31 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
What Does it Mean to Bank on a Human Scale?
Credit unions are known for the emphasis they place on building authentic human relationships with their members. But at the same time, digital advances are transforming the financial industry, smaller credit unions are getting acquired, and larger credit unions are only getting bigger. George Hofheimer, former EVP and Chief Research and Development Officer at Filene, returns to The Remarkable Credit Union podcast to discuss his new book, Banking on a Human Scale, and to address this month’s BIG Question: How can credit unions operate on a human scale to thrive in a world that wor...
2023-04-24
38 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
How Five Credit Unions Joined Forces to Tackle Affordable Housing
Credit unions have always been better cooperators than competitors. The joint investments of five Washington-based credit unions to the Evergreen Impact Housing Fund (EIHF) is a shining example of the "cooperation among cooperatives" principle in action. The greater Seattle area is one of the country’s most expensive metro regions, and escalating housing costs make it hard for working-class consumers to live in the area. EIHF creates what it calls “catalytic investment opportunities” that make affordable apartment complexes more attractive to developers. Jen Reed, VP of Public Relations at Sound Credit Union (a PixelSpoke client), joins...
2023-03-27
24 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
What Does It Mean to Be a CDFI, and Why Do CDFIs Matter?
Credit unions, by their nature, are community oriented, but some are more intentional about their commitment to impact. Community Development Financial Institutions, or CDFIs, are a perfect case in point. Credit unions now represent a third of the CDFI industry, serving more than 16 million predominantly low income consumers and communities of color. Chriselle Martinez, CDFI Program Director at Inclusiv, joins The Remarkable Credit Union podcast to talk about what it means to be CDFI certified, how CDFIs benefit their communities, and how they themselves benefit from the certification process. She also tackles this month's BIG...
2023-02-27
33 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
The 6 Principles of Values-Based Banking
Is the financial industry committed to the common good? If you equate the financial industry with megabanks, the answer would likely be a resounding no. Though millions of Americans are megabank customers, it's doubtful many of us believe that these banks have our best interests at heart. Here's the good news: The financial industry presents us with many viable alternatives. There are several parallel and overlapping movements that point to a better way to bank: member-owned credit unions, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), and values-based financial institutions, to name a few. Montana-based Clearwater Credit Union is all...
2023-01-23
41 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
How Co-ops Can Pave the Way to a Solidarity Economy
Many credit unions differentiate from banks by pointing out that they are member-owned, but the average consumer doesn't always understand what that means. Though our country tends to idolize entrepreneurs and CEOs, we are less likely to think too much about ownership and its various implications. Cooperatives — whether worker-owned like PixelSpoke or member-owned like our credit union clients — bring the issue of ownership to the forefront, pushing us to think more deeply about who should have a voice and a stake. This month, we're excited to welcome our Operations Manager Katie Stone as our guest host...
2022-12-19
36 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
What it Means To Be a Remarkable Credit Union
Our podcast is called The Remarkable Credit Union, but what does that mean, exactly? What distinguishes a good credit union from a remarkable one? Steve Bugg, President and CEO of the award-winning Great Lakes Credit Union (GLCU), joins us to talk about GLCU's own journey from good to remarkable, including how their “standards of greatness” enabled and inspired them to successfully launch numerous innovative impact initiatives. He also addresses this month's BIG question: How does a credit union develop a strategic vision and corresponding value system that meaningfully guide its day-to-day operations at all levels and...
2022-11-17
43 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
How Credit Unions Can be the Netflix of Crypto and Blockchain
At one time, there were over 9,000 Blockbuster Video stores. Today, just one remains. It happens to be in my home state of Oregon, just a few hours away. If you were born in the 2000s, you might not remember the days when we had to physically transport ourselves to a video rental store if we wanted to watch a movie at home, nor is the name Blockbuster Video likely to mean much to you. But the rest of us associate the name with both astounding success and spectacular failure. Blockbuster was a Fortune 500 company in 2007 and declared...
2022-10-18
34 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Why All Credit Unions Should Join the Climate Finance Revolution
They say that this past summer is one for the record books when it comes to climate-related disasters. Amidst the doom and gloom, however, the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) represents a significant commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions over the next few decades. But what does this all have to do with credit unions? Quite a lot, actually. Neda Arabshahi, Vice President of the Inclusiv Center for Resiliency and Clean Energy, joins us to talk about the climate finance revolution, which she sees as both a responsibility and an opportunity for credit unions. We discuss...
2022-09-14
33 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Economic Justice for All: How SCCCU Lives and Breathes its WHY
Take a look around your community and ask questions. Be humble, be courageous, and take a leap. These are guiding philosophies for Katie Fairbairn, Chief Experience Officer for Santa Cruz Community Credit Union (SCCCU), and Kerry Fulton, President & Owner of Southwest Strategic Marketing. They join The Remarkable Credit Union to talk about their mission of economic justice and financial freedom for all, how that guides everything they do, what makes their award-winning “Return the Favor” campaign distinct from other community giving campaigns, and how to balance mission and margin. This month's BIG Question: What does econ...
2022-08-02
31 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
How to Grow While Staying True to Local Roots: The OnPoint Story
Can a credit union with nearly 500,000 members and $9 billion in assets still authentically serve its local community? As consolidation trends continue and asset size is increasingly seen as a key indicator of success, it's important to reflect on how these evolving trends impact the cooperative principles and the credit union difference. Liz Martin, Vice President of Marketing at OnPoint Community Credit Union (a PixelSpoke client), believes that when growth is rooted in a clear WHY, it can exist in tandem with a strong community focus. She joins us to talk about how OnPoint has grown while still...
2022-07-06
39 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Cryptocurrency and Credit Unions: Where to Start?
If you’re like most of us, you find cryptocurrency a bit… well, cryptic. While most of us are intrigued, we’re also uncertain—and even moreso after last month's crypto crash. Credit unions have been watching from the sidelines, knowing that the financial sector will, and already has, been impacted, but not necessarily eager to dive into the fray. This month, Lou Grilli, Senior Innovation Strategist for PSCU and an expert in cryptocurrency for credit unions, joins us to talk about why your members are buying cryptocurrencies, how they might be scammed, and five initial...
2022-06-01
31 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Five Principles for Creating a Culture of Innovation
We often associate "innovation" with paradigm-shifting breakthroughs that disrupt entire industries. But most of the time, innovation is incremental. Or as Ben Maxim, VP of Digital Strategy & Innovation at MSUFCU, puts it, innovation consists of changes made "day by day, making things just a little bit better." Ben joins our Remarkable Credit Union podcast to talk about talk about MSUFCU's bold decision to build an innovation lab in 2020, their biggest victories and setbacks to date, and his five principles for success. This month’s BIG question: Why does innovation matter for credit unions, wh...
2022-05-04
41 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Appreciate, Advocate, and Align: Lessons from The Great Resignation
What do credit union marketers have to do with employee retention and engagement? A lot, according to Teshia Davis, VP of People at SECU. Teshia joins our Remarkable Credit Union podcast to talk about how SECU has navigated the Great Resignation by creating surprise and delight for their employees, centralizing DEI as part of their guiding credit union strategy, and closely aligning HR with the marketing team. This month's BIG question: As American workers are leaving their jobs in droves, how can credit unions retain employees and keep up team morale?
2022-03-21
36 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Why People and Purpose Are Key
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 are the key to fulfilling the movement's potential, and why creating a culture steeped in purpose matters now more than ever. This month's BIG question: What does it mean to be...
2022-02-22
37 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Beyond the Big Check: How to Engage Members Around Community Giving
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 Communications & PR Coordinator for Freedom FCU, joins us to talk about their award-winning #FreedomToHelpChallenge that lifts up local nonprofits, actively engages current Freedom FCU members, and helps them bring new members into the fold.
2022-01-25
26 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Reimagining Financial Education in the Human + Digital Era
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 unions, the answers to these questions are not a resounding yes. Evan Siegel, VP of Financial Services AI at eGain, joins us to talk about how credit unions can reimagine their financial education efforts, drawing...
2021-12-14
40 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
How a Deposit Account Can Transform an Underserved Community
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 we're joined by Kathy Saloy, Senior Vice President of Community & Economic Development of Hope Credit Union, and Rashida Ferdinand, Founder and Executive Director of the Sankofa Community Development Corporation (CDC), to learn more about how they are working to transforming communities...
2021-11-12
31 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Divestment and Climate Justice: An Untapped Opportunity for Credit Unions?
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 Divest Oregon, believes that our collective future hinges on stakeholders, not shareholders. Given that credit unions have long been champions of stakeholder engagement, can they serve as a convening bod...
2021-10-15
30 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
How Credit Unions Can Help Members Thrive in a Brave New World
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 communities most impacted by COVID to not only get back on track, but to thrive? Denise shares her stories about how cooperatives can win together, why FICO migh...
2021-09-14
36 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Medical Debt: The #1 Reason Your Members Go Bankrupt and How Credit Unions Can Help
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 this vital issue.
2021-05-13
29 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
From Conservatorship to Community Champion: The Alabama ONE Story
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 brand and regaining community trust. This month, we tackle the BIG question: What can we learn from a thriving credit union that was in conservatorship less than five y...
2021-04-14
32 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Why Credit Unions Need to Start Thinking About Digital Responsibility
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 to talk about why we should start talking about on the emerging concept of digital responsibility, what areas your credit union needs to focus on to be digitally responsible, and how we can stop tweeting...
2021-03-19
29 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
How Credit Union Marketers Can Prioritize and Innovate in 2021
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 (and why we should all be driving in it); how to create meaningful, long-term results even amidst uncertainty; and why Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is a critical core co...
2021-02-18
37 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
The Key Skills Credit Union Leaders Need to Focus on in 2021
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 by the pandemic, and where do female credit union leaders turn to for support? How can leaders make Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion a priority and create space for...
2021-01-20
35 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Maximum Impact: How to Reimagine Your Credit Union's Product Strategy
Want to make a difference in your community? Start with your employees. As Judah Musick, former Chief Innovation Officer at Red Rocks Credit Union, has learned firsthand, employers are key to scalable and sustainable community impact. Musick joins us to address this month's BIG question: How can credit unions better align their product strategy and impact strategy, and might employee benefits be one piece of the puzzle?
2020-12-01
38 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Are Your Coworkers OK? How to Build Team Trust and Cohesion While Working from Home
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 can be a positive force in their lives. PixelSpoke’s very own Joy Team joins our Remarkable Credit Union podcast to a...
2020-11-05
34 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
From Education to Behavior Change: How to Financially Empower Your Members
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 wealth management firm CEO, joins us on The Remarkable Credit Union podcast to help us answer today’s Big Question: How can credit unions move from education to ac...
2020-10-01
35 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Winning on Kindness: How to Bring the Credit Union Mission to Life
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 strengthening trust in communities, generating buzzworthy stories, and creating meaningful impact.
2020-08-27
40 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Measure What Matters: How to Win Loyal Members (Even in a Recession)
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 last few months, we don't want to lose sight of the importance of measuring impact, particularly as we head into the 2021 planning season. ...
2020-07-14
37 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Why Consumer Data Privacy Matters, and How Credit Unions Can Prepare for Regulations
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 can take to be out in front of this trend, whether or not you're based in California, and the ways in which COVID-19 has only heightened data privacy concerns.
2020-06-11
27 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Empathy in Action: Shifting the Center of the Credit Union Business Model
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.
2020-05-22
38 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Think Big and Dream Bigger: Innovation in the Midst of Crisis
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 helping our members isn’t enough, what three questions every credit union should be asking itself, and what learned from Mr. Rogers.
2020-05-07
36 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Doing The Right Thing: The New Competitive Advantage for Credit Unions
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 members, employees, and their broader community; why it's important to pay attention to members’ evolving emotional states; and how focusing on impact and doing the right thing can be...
2020-04-16
39 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Leading with Passion & Compassion: How Credit Unions Can Step up During Uncertain Times
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.
2020-04-07
32 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Practical & Actionable Ideas for Credit Unions During the COVID-19 Crisis
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 environment, and post-pandemic member service strategies.
2020-03-31
41 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Coronavirus & Credit Unions: Tips from a PR Expert
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.
2020-03-17
33 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Emotions & Finances: Empowering Credit Unions to Create Happy Members
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 more authentic relationships with their members.
2020-03-09
39 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Equity is Empathy: Why Credit Unions Need a Multicultural Marketing Strategy
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 diverse audiences; and the ways in which an effective multicultural marketing is strategy, just like any marketing strategy, hinges on listening to your members' needs, rather than assuming one-size-fits-all solutions.
2020-02-03
45 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Open Your Eyes: The Three Myths that Hold Credit Unions Back
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 “hit and run” effort. Oh, and also how pizza has ruined college students' FICO scores.
2020-01-02
34 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Race to the Top: What "Values-Based Banking" Actually Means
"Values-based banking" is becoming a popular concept, but what does it actually mean? Simeon Chapin, Community Impact Officer at Vermont State Employees Credit Union (VSECU), joins our Remarkable Credit Union podcast to explain. VSECU is a member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV), a network of banking leaders from around the world committed to advancing positive change in the banking sector. Simeon talks about what VSECU does to engage its community through outside-in listening, what VSECU has learned from the Global Alliance about measuring what really matters, and what a newcomer to the credit...
2019-11-27
35 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Breaking the Bottleneck: Lessons in Thinking Differently
What's one thing you've always dreamed of doing but aren't doing right now because you don't have the resources to do it? That's the central question that Sean Keener, CEO and co-founder of the BootsnAll Travel Network wants people, and companies, to ask themselves. Sean is on a mission to help people find the right question to ask, rather than search for the right answer to the wrong question. In this episode, we discuss the ways that Sean is redefining the boundaries of what is possible, in life and in business.
2019-10-29
33 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Better than Banks: Why and How Credit Unions Need to Differentiate
How has the credit union evolved in the last 30 years? We talked to Marc Schaefer, CEO of Truliant FCU, who run multiple credit unions for over three decades. According to Marc, the credit union movement has evolved from "sleepy" to "energized," with a noticeable shifts away from "traditional" banks toward more innovative, socially conscious financial institutions. Having observed and experienced the evolution of credit unions from the 1980s to present, Marc joins us to discuss how policy, purpose, and poverty intersect when it comes to defining the next-generation credit union.
2019-09-27
37 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
The Next Uber? What Innovation Really Means in the Credit Union Industry
Everyone loves talking about the importance of innovation, including the credit union industry. But what does innovation really mean in an industry that is heavily regulated and often struggling to keep up with the latest digital trends? Ryan Foss, Senior Director of Incubation at Filene, joins us to discuss.
2019-07-30
30 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
How to Reignite the Credit Union Movement: Lessons from a Startup Credit Union
While credit unions have undoubtedly been affected by the rise of fintech startups, the concept of a "credit union startup" in this day and age is almost unheard of. If anything, the industry is trending in the opposite direction -- toward the consolidation of existing credit unions rather than the creation of new ones. But Civic FCU, a startup credit union that launched in 2019, is bucking the trend. Bijal Gami, VP of Operations; Lamar Heyward - SVP of Marketing at Civic FCU; and Michael Spink, SVP of R&D join us for an animated discussion of how...
2019-06-26
53 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Beyond Payday Lenders and Pawn Shops: Thinking Differently about Small Dollar Loans
For many Americans, a few hundred dollars can mean the difference between financial stability and distress. Financial distress is not an isolated problem; rather, it has ripple effects that extend not just to a person's family, but also his or her employer. Ted and Ned Castle of Rhino Foods understand that financially stable employees are healthier, happier, and more reliable. Can credit unions partner with for-profit businesses to help their employees be more financially secure, and in so doing, increase profitability for both the business and the credit union? Ted and Ned would answer this question with...
2019-05-28
36 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
How Credit Unions are Like Farmers Markets: Ty Robbins of People's Trust FCU
Ty Robbins, CIO of People’s Trust FCU, joins us to talk about his passion for using the cooperative principles and technology to bring the credit union of tomorrow to life today.
2019-04-29
35 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Holistic Health: Allegacy FCU’s Transformational Wellness Program
Ashley Kohlrus, COO of Allegacy FCU, and Karen Sigmon-Smith, Managing Director of WellQ, join us to talk about their audacious plan to transform community health outcomes through an integrated membership model for health and financial wellness, along with the lessons learned along the way.
2019-04-01
31 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Bringing Humanity to Product: The Grovemade Story
Ken Tomita, co-founder and CEO of Grovemade, joins the podcast to talk about how they bring humanity to product by understanding their customers on a personal level; how they leverage the four levels of customer engagement; and how he thinks financial institutions can expand beyond the commodity market.
2019-02-15
22 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
How to Make Financial Education Relevant and Useful: John Lanza of MoneyMammals.com
John Lanza, financial education expert and Chief Mammal at MoneyMammals.com, joins the podcast to talk about why financial education should start early, finding ways to make it fun and experiential, and in what sense money might actually be able to buy happiness.
2018-12-15
31 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
A Digital Branch Case Study: How Webster First Got Digital to Outperform their Physical Branches
John Cournoyer, VP of Marketing at Webster First in Massachusetts, joins us to talk about their digital transformation over the last two years. He shares his learnings about how to use failure as a competitive advantage, how to speak the same language as your CEO to drive marketing success, and why they think of themselves as an “Experience Department” and not a “Marketing Department.”
2018-08-31
30 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
The Cooperative Way: How Credit Unions Can Use the Cooperative Model to Win
Adam Schwartz, owner of The Cooperative Way, joins us to talk about why he thinks cooperatives are the best business model on the planet, what their competitive advantages are, and how to use the 7 cooperatives principles in your credit union.
2018-08-31
30 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
How to Turn Around a Struggling Community Bank: Jill Castilla, CEO of Citizens Bank of Edmond
Jill Castilla, the 2017 ABA Community Banker of the Year, joins us to talk about how she turned around a struggling bank through creating goodness in her community, how to implement innovative social media practices, why your ego is not your amigo, and how she is positioning her institution to be relevant for its next 110 years.
2018-08-31
36 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
In Members' Minds: What We Can Learn from Observing Our Members
Cat Fitzgerald from Filene’s Digital Strategies group joins us to discuss what she has learned from observing hundreds of tests of credit union members trying to sign up for products. Here’s a hint: like any good relationship, it should have the right amount of give and take.
2018-04-20
32 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
The Pendulum: Democracy and Profits in Credit Unions
Lois Kitsch, National Program Director at the National Credit Union Foundation, joins us for a spirited conversation about the role of the 7 Cooperative Principles in credit unions today, how democracy and capitalism can overlap, and how to make your WHY your strategic differentiator.
2017-12-05
33 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
The Relevant Credit Union: How to Define Your Target Market
Cameron Madill interviews Ben Stangland and Charlotte Boutz-Connell of Weber Marketing about how credit unions can define their target markets to stay relevant, competitive, and differentiated after a century of mergers and growth.
2017-10-19
40 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
The Activist Credit Union: How Can You Engage With the World?
Cameron chats with Steve Pagenstecher and Mary Vasquez of Point West Credit Union about what they've learned at the conference of the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions (CDCU).
2017-10-05
36 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
The Themed Credit Union: The Launch of the Clean Energy Credit Union
In this episode we discuss the 3-year journey from concept to launch of the Clean Energy Credit Union, a credit union entirely focused on clean energy loans. Blake Jones, the founding board chair, discusses their innovative strategy for growth despite being unable to raise capital, their unique partnership with a national non-profit, and how they are focusing on consumer passions and an unmet market need to build a different kind of credit union.
2017-08-28
34 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
The Reinvented Credit Union: How to Thrive in the 21st Century
Kirk Drake, author of the new book CU 2.0: A Guide for Credit Unions Competing in the Digital Age, joins Cameron on the podcast to talk about what assumptions credit unions need to leave behind, what members are really looking for, and why "failure" is a key part of success in the digital world.
2017-07-25
27 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
The Purpose-Driven Credit Union: An Interview with Kimberly Kosmenko
Change management expert Kimberly Kosmenko joins us to talk about what it means to be a purpose-driven organization, her work with the United Nations Credit Union, and her process for integrating purpose into what an organization does as it makes the journey from intention to action.
2017-06-27
27 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
How Credit Union Members Become Disloyal – And What To Do About It (Part Two)
Part Two of our interview with customer loyalty expert Lara Ponomareff, who joins us to talk about how you can measure effort and why it is the biggest source of disloyalty in your credit union today, even greater than Net Promoter Score. Lara offers practical tips to make it easier for your members to do business with you, how to connect innovation and effort, and what Disney taught her about saying “no.”
2017-06-13
17 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
How Credit Union Members Become Disloyal — And What To Do About It (Part One)
Customer loyalty expert Lara Ponomareff joins us to talk about how you can measure effort and why it is the biggest source of disloyalty in your credit union today, even greater than Net Promoter Score. Lara offers practical tips to make it easier for your members to do business with you, how to connect innovation and effort, and what Disney taught her about saying “no.”
2017-06-01
35 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
The Business Case for Sustainability at Credit Unions
Kevin Wilhelm, renowned sustainability expert and author of 3 books on the topic, joins us to talk about why sustainability makes sense for the bottom line, how it relates to the 7 Cooperative Principles, how to begin your sustainability journey (hint: it’s not fire, ready, aim), and why you need to listen to your members to get the best results.
2017-05-01
36 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Frugal Delight: How To Create Loyalty Through Simple Interactions
Katharine Nester, Chief Product & Technology Officer at Ruby Receptionists, one of the 10 most admired companies in Oregon, joins us to talk about how businesses can turn simple transactions — digital and in person — into moments of magic that delight their customers, build loyalty, and increase profitability.
2017-04-10
34 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Mortgages for the People
Jack Baker, director of the mortgage center at the CDCU, joins us to talk about the opportunity to do well by doing good when you provide mortgages to the over 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. He shares how you can eliminate the risk to your credit union while providing great rates, the impact the new administration’s actions will have on this population, and the other types of innovative mortgages you can offer that will be a competitive differentiator and a force for good in your community.
2017-03-08
31 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Living the Cooperative Principles
Jim Morrell, CEO of Peninsula Credit Union in Washington State, talks about what he learned by being a Division 1 basketball referee, how he drives innovation at his credit union, and how working with a credit union in Zimbabwe informed his business and impact strategy.
2017-02-23
39 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Innovation, Ethics, and Purpose: Why Payday Lending Matters to the Credit Union Mission
Ben Morales, CEO of QCash, joins us to talk about what it means to offer an alternative to payday lending. On this podcast, he shares his unique perspective on why members need these sorts of loans, how a credit union can think about payday lending from a strategy, branding, and financial wellness standpoint, and why a 60-second approval process was the bar QCash had to meet to make their product effective.
2017-02-10
42 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Marketing to Millennials — Wisdom from an Action Sports Expert
Mark Lewman, Executive Creative Director of a design agency that works with brands like Nike, joins us to talk about the 3 things that millennials want from brands they work with (hint: it’s not better prices, though that doesn’t hurt), why authenticity is so important, and what you can learn from skateboard marketing.
2016-11-03
30 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Connecting The Heart & Mind: How The Disney Way & Community Impact Guide CoastHills CU’s Strategy
Jeff York, CEO of $940M CoastHills Credit Union, joins us to talk about what he learned working at Walt Disney Company Credit Union about delighting members, how he thinks about community impact (hint: it’s not just about writing checks), how he connects the heart and mind to create engagement, and how the low income designation is key to their strategy.
2016-10-19
35 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Punk Rock Marketing: How a business can stand out and build raving fans in a commodity industry
Jenelle Isaacson, CEO of Living Room Realty, one of the fastest growing real estate companies on the West Coast, joins us to share what she learned about marketing from being a punk rocker, how she gave up control to her agents to find the stories that resonated in her community, and why it’s better to own a niche than nothing at all.
2016-10-03
46 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Best Practices are for Beginners: The Secrets of Website Optimization
Conversion rate optimization expert Jon Macdonald, founder of The Good, joins us to talk about the 3 biggest killers of website sales, how to let your members tell you how to sell them more online, and why he thinks we are in the first inning of making your website an effective sales channel for your credit union.
2016-09-20
32 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Marketing with Passion AND Effectiveness: Interview with Laura Woods from 1st Financial FCU: Part 2
Laura Woods is such a fount of exciting ideas that we created two podcasts so we could capture everything. In part 2, she shares more about reaching people where they are by marketing with empathy and vulnerability.
2016-08-13
27 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Marketing with Passion AND Effectiveness: An Interview with Laura Woods from 1st Financial FCU
Laura shares her lessons from her innovative "Dreams" marketing campaign that gave the members who bank at 1st Financial a voice, how her credit union has become more profitable by avoiding A credit rated loans, and why empathy, vulnerability, and a distaste for the word "no" fuel her marketing philosophy.
2016-07-21
23 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Putting Your Members’ Brains on Speakerphone
Tansley Stearns, Chief Impact Officer at Filene, joins us to share what Filene has learned in over 25 years of researching credit unions. Tansley talks about how you can create a culture of innovation, why attracting younger members is hard (and what to do about it), why “customer effort score” may be the most important number in your credit union, and what the greatest gift of the digital age is to credit unions (hint: it’s not Twitter).
2016-06-07
48 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Confessions of a Credit Union Strategic Planner
Jim This, a strategic planner with over 20 years experience guiding credit unions in their strategic thinking, offers his insights about how to create a remarkable member experience, why being small is not the same thing as being local, marketing to millennials, and specific examples of credit unions that have created breakthrough strategies.
2016-04-25
34 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
The ABCs of ADA Online for Credit Unions
Jonathon Hensley, a well-known expert on the implications of accessibility for the handicapped in the digital world joins us to share best practices and opportunities from the coming legislation for the web. In this podcast you'll learn about why designing your online properties to be accessible is both the right thing do and smart business, what technology debt is and how you can avoid it, and what standards to follow to avoid risking a lawsuit against your credit union.
2016-04-04
34 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Leading with Financial Wellness
Shawn Gilfedder, the CEO of McGraw Hill FCU and a national expert on creating financial wellness programs, shares his experience changing his credit union's value proposition from products to financial wellness, how to create innovation in a credit union, and how Zappos inspired their transformation.
2016-03-09
36 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
A Tale of Two Loans - Why You're Marketing Your Loan Products Incorrectly
Randy Thompson, CEO of TCT Risk Solutions (and one of the nicest guys in the biz), talks about his passion for the core mission of credit unions—serving the underserved. He explains how proper management can reduce charge offs and help members improve their credit score, and how to effectively outsource compliance so you can focus on the good stuff.
2016-02-04
37 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Getting Hyper Local
Melina Young, Director of Marketing and Brand at Verity Credit Union and one of CUES’ 15 Top Next Credit Union Execs, discusses their exciting new concept for engaging their members by being hyper local. She presents a positive way to view large competitors, and reminds us that we can avoid the day-to-day doldrums and make more authentic connections by focusing on the “why.”
2016-01-15
30 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
The Economic Trends Shaping the Future of Credit Unions
Economist Mike Wilkerson joins us to talk about the economic forecast for 2016 and what it means for you, his exclusive research on the economic impact credit unions have in their communities, and how the shrinking middle class and sharing economy are reshaping the future of credit unions.
2015-12-13
39 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
How to Win by Creating Raving Fans with Net Promoter Score
Eric Gregg, a leading expert on NPS, discusses his insights on how credit unions can succeed with a Net Promoter Score® program — and how they can fail. Eric explains how to implement a service recovery program to delight unhappy members, his firm’s 2-1-1 process for making NPS drive results in your credit union, and how to connect loyalty drivers to make your results more actionable.
2015-11-03
45 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Experiential Marketing and The Long Tail
Jeff Stephens, a leading expert on financial services branding, joins us to discuss his career in branding financial institutions. Jeff discusses how to market to your members using all 5 of the senses, how the long tail is changing financial institutions, and why differentiation is hard and necessary.
2015-10-20
39 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
How Trailhead Credit Union Became Remarkable
Kim Faucher, VP of Marketing at Trailhead Credit Union, shares her story of how a small, struggling, and unremarkable credit union transformed itself into the darling of the industry, reversed years of negative growth, and became a model of member engagement and financial performance. Kim shares her learnings from their complete rebrand around what you should and shouldn’t do if you are considering a similar path, and her marketing philosophy for copying great retail brands — not just credit unions.
2015-10-06
25 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Finding and Hitting the Bullseye Part 2 - Ron Shevlin
Time for Part 2 of the conversation Ron Shevlin, a leading research expert in credit unions and banks. He shares his theory of how credit unions can find and execute on a marketing bullseye. He also discusses what trust really means for a credit union, what you can learn from marriage counselors to become stickier with your members, and how the whole industry will need to transform to survive.
2015-09-29
34 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
Finding and Hitting the Bullseye - Ron Shevlin
Ron Shevlin, a leading research expert in credit unions and banks, shares his theory of how credit unions can find and execute on a marketing bullseye. He also discusses what trust really means for a credit union, what you can learn from marriage counselors to become stickier with your members, and how the whole industry will need to transform to survive.
2015-09-23
34 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
The Future of Mobile Banking
Brett Wooden, CEO of Wooden Consulting, joins us to share insights about the future of mobile in the financial industry. Brett discusses what credit unions can learn from Facebook, how a bank in Russia is trying savings rates to how many steps its customers walk each day, opportunities for building mobile apps beyond just mobile banking, and the 4 keys to finding a mobile partner.
2015-09-17
46 min
The Remarkable Credit Union
The Remarkable Credit Union Podcast - Adam Stites of Mirth Provisions
Adam Stites, CEO of Mirth Provisions, a drinkable cannabis product company, joins us to share what the rapidly changing world of legal cannabis looks like in Washington State today. He explains the challenges the industry faces in getting financial services today, the rigorous legal requirements to owning and investing in cannabis companies and how you can access that information, and what the new cannabis customer looks like today — it’s not what you think.
2015-09-10
33 min