In part 2 of our COVID branch redesign discussion with Momentum President & Director of Client Strategy Mark Alguard, Mark talks about what credit unions need to do now in redesigning their branches to adjust to security and health concerns.

He also discusses the fun part of his job and that's researching the globe to discover new ideas for designing new structures in today's post-COVID environment. Additionally, Mark addresses the research-to-design-to-build timeline credit unions need to be aware of in their new building projects.

Good stuff here again with Mark. So check it out and let us know your thoughts. And stay tuned for Part 3 or 3 next week.
Just in case you missed it, here's the link to Part 1 of 3.

Now that a majority of us have worked in a remote setting for the last few months, many are kind of getting used to the "in-house" commute, Zoom happy hours, wearing PJs 24/7, lots and lots of beards, longer hair, "precious" family time, walking the dog for the 300th time, etc. That said, it will be fascinating to see how office life will evolve once we're truly on the other side of this pandemic and mostly re-opened.

Based on many recent articles and research reports, it appears the remote environment is here to stay -- which leads us to a new webinar (June 10, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. PST) from CU Members Mortgage and presented by Humanidei President/CEO Jill Nowacki entitled: "How to Build Your Team in Today's Remote Environment: Recruit, Develop, and Retain Talent."

Jill cut to chase right away discussing how do credit unions build a team in today’s remote environment with new approaches to recruiting, developing, and retaining talent. She also talked about some of the challenges building a team in a remote environment, as well as other associated challenges and opportunities in the remote workplace.

Lastly, Jill expanded on one of her timely inquiries: "How do you put the remote (workforce) Genie back in the bottle? Or do you even want to?”

Tons of takeaways in this discussion with Jill, as this is just the tip of the iceberg for her June 10 webinar. Enjoy our discussion and  don't forget to register!

How's this for irony: Just a few months ago if a member wanted to wear a mask into a credit union branch, they wouldn't been allowed to enter for obvious security reasons. Today, due to pandemic, members at most credit unions are now required to wear masks in the branch -- or they're not allowed in.

Community First Credit Union in Santa Rosa, CA, has been dealing with this issue for a while and came up with a splendid idea that addressed the security concerns -- all based on the unique capabilities of its core processor Corelation. Using the California driver license's QR code on the back, the credit union was able to scan it and recognize the member entering the branch. This scan would be sent to teller queue, allowing the teller to recognize the member without the member having to pull out their license again.

Obviously, there's a bit more to it than that. So we invited Community First's CEO Todd Sheffield on the show to share the details of this solution -- which they cost-effectively solved in-house by purchasing a wireless scanner, a Microsoft Surface, and incorporated a few programming tweaks to the KeyStone core.

I love stories like this showing how innovative we can be in the midst of a global crisis. It proves, once again, credit unions will be stronger than ever on the other side of this thing. Check it out and let us know your thoughts. 

There's no doubt COVID-19 has drastically impacted all of our lives in some form or fashion. And it's always intriguing to look at the specifics. In this case, the folks from Cornerstone Advisors (a.k.a. GonzoBankers) looked at banks and credit unions report on the pandemic’s impact on customer behavior: "COVID-19: Real Trends and Stories From the Front Line."

To give us the answers based on their research Cornerstone Advisors Partner Terence Roche and Managing Director Jim Burson joined us on the show to share. Here's four of the seven key discoveries they looked at:

1. Branch servicing transactions have dropped significantly.
2. ATM transactions showed the biggest variance.
3. Contact center calls have gone through the roof.
4. Our new digital enrollment query produced mixed responses.

Terence and Jim also provided some of their takeaways from the survey's findings and what they mean for banking in the future, as we all do our best to move forward.

Check it out and let us know your thoughts.

We have quite the crew on the show today to celebrate and announce the launch of CU Pride, an organization that looks to create a network and promote visibility of LGBTQ+ individuals within the credit union industry.

To provide greater insight on CU Pride, here's who joined us:
Element Federal Credit Union CEO Linda Bodie
CU Solutions Group Chief Strategy Officer Brandi Stankovic
Corelation Inc. Conversion Consultant Dan Marquez
Mitchell Stankovic and Associates Director, Communications and Digital Marketing Zach Christensen

Each explained why CU Pride exists:

• Create a network and promote visibility of LGBTQ+ individuals in the credit union industry.
• Provide a safe but brave place for communion and discussion.
• Create a forum for allies and social change agents.
• Promote inclusivity and consciousness through programs, education, and networking.

We also talked about how the organization started, holding its first meeting at the 2020 Underground Collision in Washington, DC, at CUNA's GAC just a few short months ago.

The group discussed the significance of the organization, where CU Pride fits with the DEI movement, what the organization looks to achieve short- and long-term, and much more.

In addition, CU Pride is hosting its first (virtual) event on Friday, June 19 at 11:00 a.m. (PST) / 2:00 p.m. (EST) to further share what it's all about, as well as benefits, goals, Q&As, roundtables, entrainment, etc. Visit CUPride.org to find out more and register to attend via Zoom.

Check it out and let us know your thoughts.