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 from what he learned building a financial coaching practice of 200+ bankers at Wells Fargo. Evan shares how AI can support human AND digital financial education, and why the future of credit unions hinges on coaching, guidance, and advice.

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 by focusing on small businesses, listening to their neighbors, and forging innovative partnerships.

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 body for investing in a fossil-free future?

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 might be the enemy of relationships with our members, and what EMTs can teach us about member service.

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 communication efforts and what new strategies will stick as we return to “normal?”

Sue shares how to create member journeys that drive engagement, human connection, and a personalized experience... even for indirect members!

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.  

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 years ago?

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 our way to a warmer planet.

Tune in for this month's BIG question: What is digital responsibility and how can your credit union do better?

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 competency for credit unions.

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 awkward but necessary conversations about race and politics? 

Tune into our first podcast of 2021 to learn more.