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 to untangle this knotty issue with Rebecca Fisher-McGinty, a worker owner at Round Sky Solutions and a graduate of Saint Mary’s University’s Masters of Cooperative Management program, and McKenzie Jones, an off-grid farmer turned social scientist who brings a deep commitment to service and equity into her work with cooperatives.

Together they tackle this month's BIG question:

How can co-ops help us pave the way to a solidarity economy that bakes diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts directly into ownership structures?

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 across all teams?

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 bankruptcy in 2010.

So what does all this have to do with crypto and credit unions? Kyle Hauptman, Vice Chairman of the NCUA, joins us on The Remarkable Credit Union podcast to address this month's BIG Question:

How can credit unions be the Netflix, not the Blockbuster Video, of crypto, and what actions is the NCUA taking to encourage innovation in the space?

We talk about how regulators are encouraging innovation in cryptocurrency and blockchain, why credit unions have a head start over banks, and what three areas he would focus on if he were a credit union CEO.

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 the key obstacles to setting up a climate finance initiative, how to make it successful, and what's entailed in designing and scaling climate-friendly financing solutions that promote affordable and sustainable energy for all people.

This month's BIG question: Considering the recent passage of the United States’ most aggressive climate bill to date, what role can credit unions play to help maximize the impact of this new legislation? 

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 economic justice look like in practice and how can a credit union work toward achieving it in their community?

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 honoring its history as a cooperative founded for teachers, why “branch deserts” motivated them to dramatically expand their branch footprint in 2021, and how to create a personalized and hyper-local experience across digital and in-person channels.

This month’s BIG Question: How can credit unions grow in a sustainable and intentional way while still staying true to their local roots?

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 steps to help you get started with crypto at your credit union.

The BIG question:

What are the implications of cryptocurrency for the credit union industry, and what opportunities and challenges does it present?

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, why is it so hard, and how can credit unions work to create a true culture of innovation?

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?

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 connected to and passionate about the credit union movement in 2022… and why should members care?

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.