Credit Union Conversations

On today’s episode of Credit Union Conversations, Mark is joined by Bob West. Bob, a veteran of credit unions, has been in multiple executive level leadership positions at multiple credit unions and handles all things technology. Listen in as Bob and Mark discuss technology advances and how financial institutions can keep up with the changes and regulations. IN THIS EPISODE:[01:50] Bob’s origin story in tech and evolving into the financial industry. [07:45] Technology challenges in today's world for CU’s. [15:15] Bob’s perspective on the regulatory landscape for institutions. [25:01] Vendor security and what institutions should focus on. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Keeping up with changing technology is a key to keeping your credit union effective and efficient for customersCore conversions are a big decision and a detailed process, and it’s important to be aware of your options in the industry. RESOURCE LINKSMark Ritter WebsiteBIO:  Bob West is currently the CEO of CU South, a CUSO dedicated to supporting the CU Base platform and providing support services to credit unions. Bob is a veteran of credit unions after holding executive level leadership positions at multiple credit unions. In addition, Bob held executive positions at Fiserv and Martin's along with serving his country in the Air Force.

What is the good, bad, and ugly of getting a coveted CEO job at a large, successful credit union? Kelly Botti of Trumark Financial to talk through the process of moving into a CEO role and lessons learned so far. IN THIS EPISODE:[01:45] Kelly’s origin story and journey to Credit Union CEO. [11:15] Advice for those in middle management who want to move roles one day. [21:15] Best practices that Kelly has chosen to implement with her employees. [25:41] What Kelly is hopeful and excited for in the CU industry. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Give your employees the ability to have their own ideas and make their own mistakes to learn from. Credit Unions are seeing a huge shift in how they market and rebrand as they grow with the current economy and generations. RESOURCE LINKSMark Ritter WebsiteBIO:  After eight years at the credit union, Kelly Botti became CEO of Trumark Financial in 2022. A graduate of Villanova's Law School, Kelly entered the legal world and then transferred over to a career in commercial banks before credit unions.

We made it to one year of podcasts! Mark gives a review of the episodes from the past year and how the show has evolved. Mark gives a profile of his experiences and highlights some of the people who have impacted him over the years. Mark also gives his bio, what lessons he has learned, and how it has impacted his management style today. Mark apologizes in advance for the ramblings but enjoys talking about his past, present, and future.IN THIS EPISODE:[06:00] Mark gives a background of his life and how it impacted his future in the lending business. [14:00] The different people Mark has met in his life and how they impacted him. [22:00] Building a win-win culture in the workplaces where Mark strives for everyone to be successful. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Mark decided to put an emphasis on relationships and this helped foster successful people in his businesses. Sometimes people will impact your life in positive ways without even trying and other times people will show you exactly what NOT to do in your business and personal life. RESOURCE LINKSMark Ritter Website

Jack and Mark have an insightful conversation into the history and current state of NACUSO. Mark is a big fan of the annual conference and Jack gives a preview of this year. What's the future of CUSOs look like? Jack and Mark have some thoughts. IN THIS EPISODE:[02:00] Jack introduces himself and shares more about his life’s journey. [12:30] Jack and Mark discuss NACUSO’s upcoming annual conference. [22:30] Jack talks about staying up on advocacy and education to members. [26:51] Regulations and issues to be aware of and stay ahead of. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Conferences can be opportunities to make connections and bring innovative solutions to light. NACUSO has a goal of education and advocating for its members. RESOURCE LINKSMark Ritter WebsiteBIO:  Jack Antonini has been the CEO of the National Association of Credit Union Service Organizations (NACUSO) since 2010. NACUSO brings together credit unions, their CUSOs, and key partners annually at their conference attended by more than 700 people. In addition, NACUSO educates and advocates for the industry with the support of their member base.

CU 2.0's Kirk Drake and MBFS's Mark Ritter figure out what is wrong in today's world and how they can fix it asap! This is round robin and unscripted so you don't know what will go on in today's episode. IN THIS EPISODE:[01:30] Kirk’s origin story and what he’s up to today. [06:00] Kirk and Mark discuss CEO transitions. [13:00] Increasing members and deposits. [22:00] Kirk’s west coast perspective on the Marijuana banking industry.  KEY TAKEAWAYS: Successful CEO transitions happen when companies have a slow transition involving working together before changing over completely. Building a strong team culture and dynamic is key in successfully moving a company forward. Credit Unions may need to change in order to better serve their members and adjust and grow with them as needs and trends change. RESOURCE LINKSMark Ritter WebsiteBIO:   Kirk Drake is a lifelong entrepreneur, author, and founder of CU 2.0. His entrepreneurship focuses on connecting the innovation of fintechs with the mission of credit unions. He has built 8 successful businesses, including CU Wallet, the CUSO Ongoing Operations, CU 2.0, and now Painted Hills.

2022! What a year! Jeff and Mark recap the highs and lows of 2022, where the industry is at now, and what they think the future will look like. Listen in to hear the current trends, the highs and lows of the year, and what they are looking forward to in 2023!  IN THIS EPISODE:[03:00] Jeff and Mark break down the past year, the good & bad. [07:40] Credit team underwriting. [12:00] Having lending conversations with business owners. [18:12] Mark and Jeff discuss the current recession. [24:19] Jeff shares his favorite parts of 2022.  KEY TAKEAWAYS: Each year will bring highs and lows, but adjusting to them and being there for your community are key in building and maintaining those good relationships with consumers.Consistency is key throughout the highs and lows. RESOURCE LINKSMark Ritter WebsiteBIO:   Jeff Lyons is the COO of MBFS and oversees several functions at MBFS such as credit, sales, and several other operational areas. Jeff joined MBFS after several years leading business lending at a New Jersey credit union but has also been a small business owner.

An executive level marketing strategist, Mike Dinneen has spent 20 years as a marketing leader in financial services. On this episode of Credit Union Conversations. Mike and Mark chat all about tailing marketing strategies to consumer behaviors and much more. Listen in to learn more! IN THIS EPISODE:[02:00] Mike’s background in community banking and it’s evolution over time. [10:23] Mike gives his take on the bank branch’s role in marketing efforts. [15:00] The Consumer Behavior Funnel. [20:00] How media and social media has evolved marketing aspects. [27:00] Social media followers, subscribers, and the importance of engagement.  KEY TAKEAWAYS: Consumer behaviors influence marketing decisions made by different branches. Better data allows for more personalization of marketing materials and strategies. Engagement on social media platforms should be the biggest focus of companies. RESOURCE LINKSMark Ritter’s WebsiteBIO:   Mike Dinneen is an executive-level marketing strategist, with more than 20 years of progressive financial services leadership. For the last five years he has served as the Senior Vice President of Marketing for American Heritage Credit Union.

Kabir Laiwalla has been the leader of Platinum FCU for more than 20 years. Founded in December 1999, Platinum FCU is a unique credit union that focuses on serving the financial needs of Shia Imami Ismaili Community Members. Kabir explains how his small credit union fits the needs of their community and keeps them members for life. Tune in to this episode to get more insight from Kabir and Mark on this episode of Credit Union Conversations. IN THIS EPISODE:[02:19] Kabir’s journey, starting in Mumbai, India, pursuing his CPA, and moving to the US. [08:00] Platinum FCU, a faith based credit union serving the Shia Imami Ismaili Community. [12:48] Platinum’s mission to help educate immigrants with finances in the US. [17:14] Giving business opportunities for those new to the US. [23:47] The Platinum Scholarship. [31:00] Kabir’s thoughts on the future of Platinum FCU.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: Credit unions can give a sense of community and belonging within certain faiths. Meet your community with your business in areas that are lacking. Understand the needs of current members, and always strive to bridge the gaps. RESOURCE LINKSMark Ritter WebsiteBIO:  Kabir Laiwalla is the leader of Platinum FCU for more than 20 years. Platinum Federal Credit Union was founded in December 1999 to serve the financial needs of Shia Imami Ismaili Community Members. Today, with over 11,500 members and assets in excess of $240 million, we are among the fastest growing credit unions.

What's the reality of a work from home company and their staff? On today's episode, Mark Ritter and Ellen Thorn talk about their experiences managing a work from home staff and the reality of what it is like on a day-to-day basis. Tune in to learn more from Mark and Ellen! IN THIS EPISODE:[01:00] Ellen explains her background and current role at MBFS. [07:39] What works well when managing remote teams? [15:00] Being able to open up the applicant pool as a remote company. [22:00] Tips for managing technical needs for your remote team. [27:50] How to promote camaraderie, relationship building, and teamwork on remote teams.  KEY TAKEAWAYS: Employees tend to love the freedom and flexibility that working from home gives them, in turn making them more productive. Instead of having to hire someone who is in commuting distance, jobs can be filled by anyone from anywhere.IT can be the most challenging piece to manage for remote teamsRESOURCE LINKSMark Ritter WebsiteBIO:  Ellen Thorn is an executive at MBFS overseeing the loan operations and financial activity of MBFS. Ellen joined MBFS after a career in commercial loan servicing and has been integral to the growth of the organization.

Mark welcomes our newest executive, Craig Page, to MBFS as the Chief Revenue Officer. Mark and Craig talk about best practices for a national loan origination program and the good/bad of today's marketplace. They review the results from the first half of 2022 and the outlook for the second half of the year. Tune in to today’s episode for some risk management tools you definitely want to be using in your portfolio. You will also be challenged to consider loans outside of your zip code.IN THIS EPISODE:[01:38] Craig shares his origin story. [03:12] Considering loans outside your own neighborhood. [06:56] Risk management tools credit unions should use in their portfolio. [09:26] Trends in the current market. [15:29] A review of 2022 so far and a look forward. [23:58]  Loan originations when times are a little more stressful. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Loans can be acquired outside of your direct perimeter now. It is important to focus on risk management.Regardless of the market, you still need to focus on the underwriting of loans and thoroughly vetting them.Research is vital in deciding whether it is smart to take out a loan or not. What doesn’t initially seem like it would be a good investment, could be a great investment, and vice versa, something pretty and shiny could actually be very risky.RESOURCE LINKSMark Ritter WebsiteBIOCraig Page is the recently appointed Chief Revenue Officer at MBFS. After a lengthy career as a CUSO executive managing the risk for a large commercial real estate portfolio, Craig has joined MBFS to build out a national CRE origination and participation program. Welcome aboard Craig!

Need liquidity to fund loans??? This episode is for you. Upgrade is well-established in driving quality assets to credit unions. Now find out how they also bring deposits to your institution as well.

Today, Mark welcomes a very special guest, NCUA Vice Chair Kyle Hauptman. Kyle shares his journey to his position and some roles of NCUA for credit unions with Mark. They talk about the importance of credit union relationships with fintechs and the new opportunities in blockchain technology. Mark gives credit to how the NCUA has helped him as a business owner. Listen in as Kyle walks through his top three priorities for his tenure at the NCUA.

Darren Thompson of Ministry Partners and Mark Ritter meet up to talk about why faith-based lending and member relationships are a nice complement to any credit union. Faith-based lending has some nuances compared to traditional lending but Darren leads us through the best practices and how to access these community organizations. Many credit unions shy away and will not work with churches, but it can be very beneficial in connections. Tune in to learn the benefits of lending to religious organizations. IN THIS EPISODE: [02:04] Darren introduces himself and shares his background [05:26] What makes credit unions nervous about church loans? [10:06] What are the benefits of faith-based loans? [14:48] Darren talks about criteria and red flags credit unions look for when a church applies for a loan [18:08] Darren shares his experience with church lending through COVID [22:06] How does Ministry Partners work with credit unions? KEY TAKEAWAYS: Partnering with a church gives a connection to the community. Churches often engage their lender as financial partners. Serving the church can turn into serving the families. It’s important when considering church loans to look at church governance and cash flow. It is better to have an independent board than a pastor who makes all the decisions. Ministry Partners can work together with credit unions to help with faith-based loans. Some examples would be partnering with banking services or helping with the underwriting of loans. RESOURCE LINKS Mark Ritter Website Ministry Partners Website Bio: Darren Thompson is the COO of Ministry Partners. They are a credit union owned CUSO serving the faith-based community through investments and lending.

Hurricane Maria and other storms in Puerto Rico have destroyed their power grid system but also their economy. Cooperativas (Puerto Rican credit unions) have had an incredible impact on the stability and recovery of communities in the aftermath. On today’s episode, Rene Vargas Martinez and Mark Ritter discuss how Puerto Rico's cooperativas and Inclusiv are working to make a difference in their local communities. Learn about the history of the cooperativa moment and how you can help support it as well as Inclusiv. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:31] Mark gives an update on the industry [05:33] Rene introduces himself and gives his backstory [9:14] Who is Inclusiv? [15:01] The impact of hurricanes on Puerto Rico in general and financially [19:19] Rene explains the two types of credit unions in Puerto Rico and what the average credit union looks like there [26:19] The outlook for cooperativas over the next few years [29:52] How US credit unions can support Inclusiv and the Puerto Rican cooperativa movement KEY TAKEAWAYS: Multiple hurricanes in Puerto Rico have destroyed their power grids and economies. Cooperativas play a big part in the stability and empowerment of low to moderate-earning individuals. There is some misconception about cooperativas because they are not federally backed. In reality, they are even more secure and have incredible buy-in. Here are some ways to support Inclusiv and the Puerto Rican cooperativa movement: See if you are eligible for CDFI and join Inclusiv. Hire bilingual staff to be able to cooperate with Puerto Rican cooperativas. Offer shared services for members with a partnership. Share notes and technology, as well as industry information. Educate others about the misconceptions with cooperativas. Be the bridge. RESOURCE LINKS Mark Ritter Website Inclusiv Website Bio: Rene Vargas Martinez is the director of Puerto Rico Credit Unions for Inclusiv. A native of the island, Rene is passionate about helping the cooperativas serve the local communities. Inclusiv is a trade association dedicated to closing the gaps and removing barriers to financial opportunities for distressed and underserved communities.

Matt deLisle joins Mark Ritter to talk about their journeys in the podcast industry and the impact it has made at MBFS. Matt's career path has led him to an industry that didn't exist when he graduated college. Now, he is a leader in the podcast guesting industry. Why does podcasting work and what makes it so effective over other mediums? Listen and find out. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:52] Matt’s background and how he got into the podcast business [06:27] Matt explains the podcast industry and the benefits of using podcasts as a marketing tool [15:46] The benefit of being a guest on a podcast [20:09] Strategies used to find guests the “right” show [24:05] Information about Interview Connections KEY TAKEAWAYS: Podcasts have a more intimate feel to them than other forms of marketing because they center around conversation. Using podcasts to reach others is beneficial because you have an audience that has made the choice to listen and wants to know what you have to say. Appearing as a guest expert on another podcast for marketing purposes is beneficial because you don’t have to put the work into producing it. You also have the benefit of their rapport and trust with their loyal listeners. RESOURCE LINKS Mark Ritter Website Interview Connections Website Bio: Matt deLisle is a member of the leadership team at Interview Connections. He is an expert in all things podcasting. Matt joined a fledgling company that has grown to be a leader in the podcast guesting industry.

Matt deLisle joins Mark Ritter to talk about their journeys in the podcast industry and the impact it has made at MBFS. Matt's career path has led him to an industry that didn't exist when he graduated college. Now, he is a leader in the podcast guesting industry. Why does podcasting work and what makes it so effective over other mediums? Listen and find out. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:52] Matt’s background and how he got into the podcast business [06:27] Matt explains the podcast industry and the benefits of using podcasts as a marketing tool [15:46] The benefit of being a guest on a podcast [20:09] Strategies used to find guests the “right” show [24:05] Information about Interview Connections KEY TAKEAWAYS: Podcasts have a more intimate feel to them than other forms of marketing because they center around conversation. Using podcasts to reach others is beneficial because you have an audience that has made the choice to listen and wants to know what you have to say. Appearing as a guest expert on another podcast for marketing purposes is beneficial because you don’t have to put the work into producing it. You also have the benefit of their rapport and trust with their loyal listeners. RESOURCE LINKS Mark Ritter Website Interview Connections Website Bio: Matt deLisle is a member of the leadership team at Interview Connections. He is an expert in all things podcasting. Matt joined a fledgling company that has grown to be a leader in the podcast guesting industry.

On this episode of Credit Union Conversation, Mark & Stephanie Hainje of My Leverage talk about what's new in payments and how credit unions can use today's technology to build low-cost deposits. Connecting with digital payment platforms is key to convenience for customers so tune in to learn more on how to make that happen! Guest: Stephanie Hainje IN THIS EPISODE: [02:00] Stephanie talks about her start in the credit union world and the current state of credit [06:30] Pandemic recovery in terms of spending trends [10:00] Debit cards and digital payment methods [19:00] Getting credit unions connected with digital payment platforms KEY TAKEAWAYS: Connecting credit unions with digital payment platforms is key to convenience and ease for customers Spending habits ebb and flow with time and credit unions should adjust as needed Building relationships and connecting within the community is a great thing for local Credit Unions RESOURCE LINKS: www.markritter.com BIO: Stephanie has over 15 years of experience in the credit union space and an extensive background in payments and RFP consulting. She has served multiple roles ranging from payments education and training, to relationship management and consulting to help credit unions enhance their payments offerings.

2022 has seen some wild swings in the financial services industry. As the world returns to in-person communication, the credit union industry is open and booming. In this episode, host Mark Ritter reviews the flourishing first half of 2022 and looks at what is to come the rest of the year. Will the second half of 2022 follow the current uptrend?? He shares insights on delinquency, interest rates, and the fundamentals of loan repayment. Mark talks about the state of credit unions, lending, and updates at MBFS.

On today’s episode of Credit Union Conversations, Mark is joined by Derek Ezovski. Derek has considerable experience in environmental and property risk management. Spending his entire career helping companies create best practices, Derek shares with us about his business, ORMS, hot-button topics and information on lending and environmental risks to consider. Tune in to learn more!

Joe Hyatt, President of DFTC, Inc., has been involved in credit unions for over 15 years assisting with many aspects of risk management in commercial lending. On this episode, Joe speaks with Mark about the good and bad of today's lending marketplace as well as challenges faced as a small business owner and credit union vendor.