There are many quality shows within the credit union industry each year big and small -- and CO-OP's annual THINK Conference is among the best. Each year this show rounds up some of the biggest names in business, entertainment, sports, education, etc. to deliver thought-provoking messages to our credit union community. These high-profile outsiders bring a fresh perspective to our industry that ultimately helps us think outside our CU silo -- which is a good thing! CO-OP Financial Services' THINK Conferences have carved out a unique niche that has resulted in a huge attraction each year.

To get the inside details of this year's THINK 13 Conference, taking place April 29 - May 2 in Chicago, we invited CO-OP Financial Services' Vice President of Marketing Samantha Paxson on the show. Samantha joins us to discuss what these VIP presenters will be talking about -- and how credit unions will benefit from their outside perspectives. We also touched on the topics presented from speakers within the credit union industry, along with what attendees will take away from this year's show from the different messages expressed by the "who's who" speaker line up inside and outside our industry.

Lastly, we discussed one of the conference's coolest features: the THINK Prize -- where credit union folks present their innovations and ideas that will ultimately benefit our industry a great deal. The "Prize" contest has been whittled down to three finalists who will give their final presentation at the show and attendees get to vote on their favorite. The winner receives a $10,000 prize for his/her grade A idea. The Prize contest adds a bit more excitement and suspense to an already engaging event.

Ok, here's really the last thing -- but it's important: The folks at CO-OP have provided you, the CUbroadcast viewers, with a special registration promo that will save you some serious cash if you choose to attend THINK 13 in Chicago. Here are the instructions to save some coin...

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THINK 13 registration discount promo code: cu broadcast
When registering for CO-OP's THINK 13 conference, type in "cu broadcast" and save $130 off the admission price.
CUbroadcast viewers only pay $549!

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Again, the promo code is "cu broadcast" all in lowercase and a space between "cu" and "broadcast". With that, it's time to enjoy our chat with Samantha.

Visit:
co-opfs.org
THINK 13 Conference

Bank 3.0 hit the bookshelves (virtual and non-) recently. Naturally it was time to dial up the book's best-selling author, entrepreneur, financial consultant, and all-around good dude Brett King to discover what makes this latest work different from his previous Bank 2.0. Well, a lot, I must say. After reading Bank 3.0, I skimmed back through it to find that I dog-eared and highlighted nearly every page for future reference. There is so much information in this book, that we would've been talking for hours to cover it all. Instead, this episode is a two-part, 40-minute, jam-packed chat about the future of banking -- and how credit unions can ultimately benefit.

Some of the items we discussed include "the loss of physicality," banking is something we do, not where we go," "Achilles heel of banking today: Inertia = Friction", "banking in the cloud," and much more. We even get an update on Brett's virtual FI venture: Moven (formerly Movenbank). So much to talk about but so little time. So enough said, let's get to it. Enjoy the show!

(Part 2 airs April 3.)

Visit:
Check out: Bank 3.0
banking4tomorrow.com
moven.com

After a year or so of trying to schedule an interview with the ever-elusive Filene's Innovation Director Matt Davis (he's a busy dude), we bumped into each other at the 2013 GAC. So I took advantage of his limited availability and conducted the long-awaited interview with the legendary @CUwarrior right there in the Washington, D.C. Convention Center lobby. Good timing. What transpired was an unexpected, yet welcomed, discussion of various credit union issues Matt addressed with great enthusiasm in his own deep-thinking way.

Matt is one of a truckload full of young, insightful credit union leaders looking to elevate this industry with his push-the-envelope mode. For example: Check out his 2013 SXSW daily recap videos with fellow industry colleagues Mt. Lehman Credit Union General Manager Gene Blishen and Currency Marketing President & Creative Director Tim McAlpine. Fascinating discussions on what the three experienced at SXSW and how it all can relate to help credit unions.

Matt, along with Tim McAlpine, is also the Co-Founder of CU Water Cooler -- another forward-thinking venture that sparks discussion from those who look outside the industry to help the industry. Good group of folks who like to disrupt and encourage change. Matt also has a blog entitled: Credit Union Warrior.

So take a few minutes and check out our impromptu chat with Matt and let us know what you think. Enjoy!

Visit:
filene.org
cuwatercooler.com
creditunionwarrior.com

Credit unions as of late have experienced a virtual landslide of regulations reigning upon them. Many cannot keep up with the thousands and thousands of pages of rules financial institutions must follow to remain compliant in our ever-strict industry. Pardon the pun, but it's quite taxing for most. To hopefully alleviate some of the stress credit unions are experiencing in today's compliancy craze, NAFCU's President/CEO Fred Becker has proposed to Congress a 5-Point Plan for regulation relief. To discover his proposal's details and why he put together this plan, we invited Mr. Becker on the program. With his usual flair, Fred provides plenty of information and plenty of hope for relief in the near future for credit unions, who are traditionally more conservative than their larger counterparts when it comes to business processes and procedures. Always a pleasure having Fred on the program, as we are grateful for him taking time from his hectic schedule for a quick chat on this timely topic. Enjoy the program!

Visit:
nafcu.org

Long flights, TSA shakedowns, lost luggage, cranky cabbies, odd hotel room decor (mine looked like leftover furniture from The Brady Bunch set), and frigid temps -- especially for us folks from SoCal -- made for an always exciting venture to Washington, DC for CUNA's 2013 Governmental Affairs Conference. But the travel challenges seem to wash away once you start to see friendly, familiar faces milling about the Convention Center. Even though we manage to stay in contact digitally throughout the year, it's always good to see your peers in person. It makes all the hassles well worth it.

As another GAC is in the books, it seemed everybody was in good spirits for 2013's gathering, dovetailing off last year's positive vibe -- a massive turnaround from the "Great Recession" stranglehold of years past. More than 4,000 folks nationwide convened in DC to network with peers, browse vendor services, and address their government representatives on the many benefits credit unions offer (as well as a number of sticky issues). Growth is on the rise, lending seems to be percolating, and mobile services is sweeping the industry like the swath of snowdrifts that cover half our nation right now. These are exciting times for credit unions, but there's still plenty of work to be done on many fronts: tax exemption, MBL, regulatory relief, and continuing to enhance our name to millions more consumers looking for a financial change.

We spoke with scores of attendees this year getting a fix on the industry's current state and its future -- along with receiving plenty of expert opinions on what's going to happen and how to get there. Always an eye-opening and sometimes entertaining experience for sure. So sit back, take a few minutes and enjoy the show. It's packed with great info, innovations, and advice -- and a few laughs. You may even recognize a few people (or yourself).

Many thanks to all those who put up with my quirky questions and quips and participated in the video. My apologies to those of you who I didn't get to see. But we will definitely see you in 2014!

Visit:
cuna.org