There are a good number of credit union CEOs that are looking to retire in the next few years, leaving our precious industry to a new group of leaders. Cardwell's CEO, Jim Cardwell, who has more than 25 years of succession planning and leadership strategy experience joins us to discuss his take on this all-important topic that will greatly affect credit unions over the next decade. Jim provides great advice on why credit unions need to incorporate succession plans, who to look for as a new leader, where are these leaders going to come from, and plenty more. There's a plethora of practical information in this extended interview, as Jim's experience in this area really shines. Enjoy the program!

What are your CEO succession plans?

What you'll learn...
1. Why succession planning in today's credit union environment is gaining a big head of steam.
1a. Succession planning any different than it was 10 years ago? If so, how?
2. 3 things credit unions can do to have a quality succession plan in place.
3. What happens if you don't have a plan?
4. Where are the new "No. 1s" going to come from?
5. Who would be a good candidate?
6. Tell us about your succession planning seminars?

Visit:
Cardwell's Connections Online strategy execution tool
Cardwell's YouTube Channel

GonzoBanker's Steve Williams is back for a return visit to CUbroadcast this time talking about credit union lending -- or the somewhat lack of it, that is. In his always engaging, entertaining, and informative delivery, Steve provides us with a number of solutions on how to turn the credit union lending ship around, pointing it in a more positive direction for a better future. Steve even provides us with a few exemplary credit union examples on how they kick started their lending machines. In addition, Steve and his cohorts at GonzoBanker/Cornerstone Advisors will host a two-part webinar "jam session" on this very important topic. Enjoy the program; it's loaded with helpful info!

What you'll learn...
1. We're talking lending today, which is a very important topic for CUs right now. The numbers are looking less than stellar, which is costing our industry billions. From your expert perspective, what's up?
2. So how do we turn this ship around?
3. What are a few new key strategies credit unions can implement to get this "lending engine that could" chugging again? (marketing, delivery, underwriting, etc.)
4. What are some other credit unions across the nation successfully doing to spark their lending machines?
5. Many industry folks are talking that 2012 is the year credit union business gets moving again after being "caught in the headlights" for three or fours years. What's your take -- and do think lending will lead the way?
6. Ok, it's shameless plug time: Cornerstone Advisors is having a 2-part webinar "jam session" on this very topic. Tell us more about this event?

What solutions do you have for the industry's current lending challenges?

Visit:
GonzoBanker
Cornerstone Advisors
GonzoBanker Lending Webinar

The 2011 CUES Golden Mirror Awards were just announced and one of the more interesting winners was Belvoir Federal Credit Union for its holiday eGreeting videos. Belvoir members and staff took turns in front of the camera sharing warm holiday greetings to loved ones across the country and throughout the globe. This simple, yet highly effective, idea garnered Belvoir the Golden Shoestring Award from CUES. To explain the campaign further, we invited Belvoir's Chief Marketing Officer ("@CUsuperhero" on Twitter), Jason Lindstrom, and his team: Amy Shanks and Ken Worthey, Jr. Still basking in the glow of their win, the Belvoir marketing team explained in great detail how effective this campaign was and what their marketing plans are for the upcoming holiday season. Congratulations to Jason, Amy, and Ken -- and enjoy the show!

Topics:
1. So you won the Golden Shoestring award for a credit union for coming up with a cool marketing strategy on a shoestring budget. What did you do?
2. Why?
3. Results?
4. How did it benefit your credit union?
5. Ultimately, how did it benefit your members?
6. Goals?
7. Feedback from members?
8. What lessons did you learn that you can pass on to other credit unions?
9. Belvoir is renowned for cool marketing efforts, any other innovative campaigns on the horizon?

Visit:
Belvoir Federal Credit Union
2011 CUES Golden Mirror Awards
Belvoir FCU YouTube Channel

We all know mobile banking is cool. But today's credit unions have to balance the new solutions that attract new members with the more traditional services to maintain their established members. The pendulum, however, is swinging toward mobile. So I invitedTMG's Brian Day on the program to explain what's going on here because he authored a thought-provoking white paper on this very topic: Self Service is Customer Service. He believes members today are looking for a little less conversation and a lot more action when it comes to their more mundane tasks like deposits, transfers, etc. But the intriguing thing is that the better service members receive with these day-to-day tasks encourages them to come in to the branch for the bigger financial decisions like auto and home loans -- no matter the age. Very compelling conversation with Brian on how these new and traditional services complement each other. Enjoy the program!

How have your new online services complemented your traditional services? Or have they?

Topics...
1. You just wrote an intriguing white paper entitled: "Self Service is Customer Service". What do you mean by that title?
2. How does mobile banking help a credit union follow a member's need?
3. Do you think it's a good thing that members today want a little less conversation and lot more action? Why?
4. You list the top 5 mobile activities in your white paper. What are they?
5. What is your "Mobile Banking Triple play"?
6. Can you explain how mobile banking is a major cost saver for credit unions?
7. To wrap up: Do you think credit unions are juggling two audiences today: one for person-to-person service and one for digital service?

Visit:
The Members Group
White paper: Self Service as Customer Service

Please pardon my "tried" Spanish intro, but I felt compelled to do so to help celebrateHispanic Heritage Month, which starts today (Sept. 15). Commemorating this event, we invited Coopera Consulting's Miriam De Dios on the program to provide us with her expert insight on how credit unions can better target this growing demographic. Amazingly, she says that 50% of Hispanics in the US are unbanked. So it's no secret that this market boasts a great opportunity for credit unions to increase their memberships. Miriam also gives us some advice on how to break down cultural barriers, what products to offer, and how to build trust to gain their business. Miriam was also kind enough to provide us with a couple of credit union examples, too. So take a few minutes and enjoy the program. Muchas gracias!

How have you marketed to this growing group?

Topics:
1. Why is the Hispanic demographic so important to credit unions?
2. You wrote a white paper stating that nearly 50% of Hispanics in the US are unbanked. What can credit unions do to reduce that number?
3. You mention that re-loadable, pre-paid cards are a good way to attract this audience -- Affinity and Seven Seventeen credit unions are good examples. Why?
4. Conversely, there are benefits to marketing pre-paid cards to the other 50% of Hispanics that are already tied to a financial institution. You point out 4 benefits. What are they?
5. You say that credit unions "mirror" the Hispanic culture, which is why they should be at the top of the list actively marketing to this group. How do credit unions mirror their culture?
6. You talk about credit unions first building trust with Hispanics prior to embarking on any type of outreach. How do credit unions build this trust?

Visit:
Coopera Consulting
National Hispanic Heritage Month