Cuna News Podcast

New York University Federal Credit Union CEO Mira Ness takes a hands-on approach to service. 

What’s happening in credit union lending? What do CUNA’s economists forecast for the rest of 2023? How could economic uncertainty and a potential recession change the lending outlook?As we near the midway point of 2023, CUNA Chief Economist/Deputy Chief Advocacy Officer Mike Schenk shares what he's seeing on this episode of the CUNA News Podcast. 

Be kind, compassionate, and empathetic.It sounds simple enough, but Andy Reed says a societal effort to be good human beings would go a long way to improve life for minorities.Reed, president/CEO at $482 million asset Security First Credit Union in Edinburg, Texas, joins associate editor Brock Fritz on this episode of the CUNA News Podcast. He discusses how his career path didn’t have some of the hurdles that other members of the LGBTQ+ community face. 

The economy and pressures on liquidity and noninterest income dominated discussions at the 2023 CUNA Finance Council Conference in Anaheim, Calif.This episode of the CUNA News Podcast features conversations from that event. It features:Christine Messer, chief finance officer (CFO) and senior vice president at $729 million asset Heritage Family Credit Union in Rutland, Vt., and CUNA Finance Council vice chair. She offers insights into a conference session that addressed current economic challenges.Mira Ness, president/CEO at $71 million asset New York University Federal Credit Union, and Paul Jockisch, CFO at $4 billion asset Stanford Federal Credit in Palo Alto, Calif. They discuss how to provide responsible and transparent courtesy pay programs, as well as creative ways to boost noninterest income.Billy Guthrie and Joe Kennerson, managing directors at Darling Consulting Group, who address deposit strategies to take in today’s competitive environment.Charley McQueen, president/CEO at McQueen Financial Advisor

Before long, remote work won’t exist. It will simply be “work.”“Virtual-first work,” as remote work expert Laurel Ferrar calls it, will become so normalized that it won’t even require discussion.This episode of the CUNA News Podcast features Ferrar, who’s head of TeamOps at GitLab and has worked remotely for 17 years.She explains how virtual-first work arrangements will evolve in the future, new tools that will improve this work style, where organizations struggle with these arrangements, and best practices for making them work.

The founders of National JACL Credit Union, members of the Japanese American Citizens League, felt compelled to help members of their community who were moved to internment camps in 1942 following the bombing of Pearl Harbor.Eighty years later, the $39 million asset credit union in Salt Lake City continues to serve. National JACL Credit Union President/CEO Dean Hirabayashi joined the CUNA News Podcast to take listeners through the motivation for and formation of the credit union, which fights for financial well-being and Asian Americans' civil rights.

The CUNA HR & Organizational Development Council Conference is a unique event. It offers an opportunity for human resource and organizational development professionals to gather in person and focus on topics specific to their roles in the credit union industry. In this series of interviews, we share some of the many voices that contributed to the 2023 CUNA HR & Organizational Development Council Conference, held recently in San Diego. 

Venmo. PayPal. Zelle. Instant peer-to-peer payments have played a large role in the rapidly changing payment landscape. How can credit unions adapt to the current structure and benefit from modernized payment platforms?PCBB Senior Vice President of Operations Allen Sztukowski answered that question and more on this episode of the CUNA News Podcast. Sztukowski and CUNA Digital Media Design Specialist Yeekeng Yang take a wide lens to the payment landscape, then dive in to explain how credit unions can adapt and thrive as payments continues to evolve.

Consumers’ financial health declined in 2022 for the first time in the five years the Financial Health Network began tracking this measure—making credit unions’ efforts to improve members’ financial well-being especially important.This episode of the CUNA News Podcast explores how credit unions aim to change that, from credit counseling and financial literacy initiatives to increasing access to affordable housing.We talk to Carrie Iafrate, president/CEO at $815 million asset Members First Credit Union in Midland, Mich., Susan Espinosa, vice president of member experience at $1.4 billion asset Skyla Credit Union in Charlotte, N.C, and Nicole Harper, director of corporate strategy at Jack Henry.

We continue our conversations from the 2023 CUNA Marketing & Business Development Council Conference by examining the power of creativity, digital marketing, podcasting, and fintech partnerships with Meow Wolf co-founder Vince Kadlubek, Janelle Herrera, vice president of marketing and business development at On Tap Credit Union in Golden, Colo.,  Tiffany Mutchler, marketing manager at Voyage Federal Credit Union in Sioux Falls, S.D., Valerie Simpson, CEO and creative director at The Sampson House, Yeosh Bendayan, founder and partner at Push Button Creative Audio, Tansley Stearns, CEO at Community Financial Credit Union in Plymouth, Mich., and SavvyMoney Senior Vice President of Sales & Partnerships Chris Fraenza,

Thought leaders from across the credit union movement descended on Orlando last month for the 2023 CUNA Marketing & Business Development Council Conference. They had plenty to say, and CUNA News staff was there for it all. This episode of the CUNA News Podcast brings those conversations right to listeners, as the credit union professionals detail the topics that mean the most to them.

What is consumer-permissioned data (CPD)? And how can credit unions leverage it to bring more automation into their lending operations?MeasureOne Chief Revenue Officer Yaron Oren stopped by the CUNA News Podcast to answer these questions and more. He explains how MeasureOne, founded in 2015 to focus on student lending, enables automated verification of income and employment, proof of insurance, and access to data in consumers' online accounts.

The Eugene H. Farley League Leadership Award is presented annually by the American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL) honoring a League president and League executive who demonstrate visionary leadership at the state and national levels. The 2023 recipients of the Farley Award are Paul Mercer, president/CEO of the Ohio Credit Union League, and Lauren Whaley, president of the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation. Mercer and Whaley offer insight on the leadership qualities that drive their success. 

Credit unions across the U.S. are navigating technological advancements, generational shifts, and an influx of financial options. To Withclutch CEO and co-founder Nicky Hinrichsen, this means providing advanced digital experiences that enable credit unions to better serve their members. Hinrichsen sat down with CUNA Digital Media Design Specialist Yeekeng Yang to discuss topics including the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and what's in store for the credit union movement.

Nearly 6,000 credit union advocates descended upon Washington, D.C., for the 2023 CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference, where conversations ranged from advocacy priorities to financial well-being for all to the operational challenges facing credit unions.CUNA editors took part in many conversations at the CUNA News Podcast booth during the event including Day Matthews, Jason Lindstrom, Deborah Fears, Tom Sakash, and Rachel Pross.

During Women’s History Month, people reflect on the courage of women from past generations and celebrate how their efforts have shaped them into who they are today. Heather Walter, CEO at Advanz Credit Union in Louisville, Ky, Lily Newfarmer, president/CEO at Tarrant County’s Credit Union in Fort Worth, Texas, and Jan Page, president/CEO at Community South Credit Union in Chipley, Fla., talk about Women’s History Month, women who have inspired them, their role as leaders, mentoring the next generation of leaders, and more.

Credit Union Magazine’s 2023 Credit Union Heroes have shaped their credit union spirit and philosophy around their personal outlooks and experiences.Amanda Merz, Michael Ray, Amanda Swan, and Joanne Todd joined this episode of the CUNA News Podcast to share those values and detail how they advocate for people in their communities.

Financial wellness is at the heart of the credit union service philosophy. Greg Michlig, CUNA’s executive vice president and chief engagement officer, explores why financial well-being for all is a strategic priority for America’s credit unions. 

Sekou Andrews believes in the power of words. Andrews shares how he developed poetic voice speaking to inspire unconventional and innovative thinking. Poetic voice seamlessly fuses inspirational speaking with spoken word poetry. He’ll provide the opening Ed (Filene) Talk at the 2023 CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC), Feb. 26 through March 2 in Washington D.C.

This episode highlights  Black History Month, recognizing the significance of Black leadership within the credit union movement and sharing the promise of a new credit union formed in Minneapolis. CUNA Senior Editor Ron Jooss opens the episode by speaking with Arise Community Credit Union founders Debra Hurston and Dan Johnson, and Andrea Molnau of the Minnesota Credit Union Network. They explore how a new Black-led credit union will be uniquely positioned to understand the financial challenges facing community members.  .