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#2300: NCUA Chairman Hood Launches ACCESS Financial Inclusion Initiative...

10/27/2020

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NCUA Chairman Rodney Hood stopped by the show to share news of the administration's recent launch of ACCESS, the financial inclusion initiative. ACCESS, which stands for Advancing Communities through Credit, Education, Stability, and Support, builds on similar efforts already underway at NCUA. ACCESS will expand on those efforts to address the financial services and financial literacy needs of underserved and diverse communities, as well as expand opportunities for employment -- pretty much the credit union wheelhouse.

Chairman Hood has stated a number of times this year that financial inclusion is the civil rights issue of the 21st century and that this issue was one of the primary, driving forces behind launching ACCESS. He also talks about how the program works, how credit unions can get involved, benefits to the industry, and his goals for this initiative.

Here are some key actions Chairman Hood has slated for ACCESS:

Expanding access to credit gives more Americans the opportunity to build businesses, afford higher education, achieve the dream of homeownership, and create strong, vibrant communities.
Expanding access to financial literacy education helps consumers start on the right path financially and make smart financial decisions that improve their financial well-being.
Ensuring financial stability allows credit unions that serve minority and underserved areas to thrive and meet the evolving financial needs of their members and by extension, their communities.
Supporting new employment opportunities for minorities, women, the disabled, and the underserved allows these individuals to join the financial mainstream and benefit from greater economic opportunity.

There's a lot packed into this episode, so check it out and let us know your thoughts.

REACH20: Sonoma State Economics Professor -- 'Likely Out of Recession'...

10/26/2020

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During our coverage of CANV Leagues' 2020 REACH Conference, Dean, School of Extended and International Education at Sonoma State University and Redwood Credit Union Board Member Dr. Robert Eyler talked about the depth and duration of our current recession -- which he adds we may be out of by now, at least in the shadow of it.

In this clip, Robert addresses what credit unions can do for their members and employees during this time of recovery. He also discusses trust in being able to do things the same way prior to COVID, slowing down any uncertainty, and much more.

Check it out and let us know your thoughts. And visit the REACH Virtual for on demand recordings and upcoming presentations.

#2299: United Nations FCU Global Sustainability Program Looks to Build Momentum Throughout Industry...

10/26/2020

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United Nations Federal Credit Union is always up to something compelling on the global level. After all, look who they represent -- the United Nations.

In its latest effort, United Nations FCU looks to build more momentum for its Global Sustainability Program, which strives to create a sustainable, inclusive, and peaceful world. United Nations FCU Vice President of Enterprise Information Security Tom Kurian joined us on the show to share how they plan to accomplish this goal -- and one of those efforts includes its 3rd Annual Summit on Sustainability taking place October 29-30, 2020.

Tom discusses how this complimentary, virtual event, co-hosted by UNFCU and OAS Federal Credit Union, will help build sustainability into credit unions' business practices in the new world post-COVID. Here's the event's agenda.

In addition, we talked about how the actual United Nations and its UN Global Compact influences the actions of UNFCU -- which Tom hopes to influence credit unions nationwide.

Here are some of UNFCU's past sustainability achievements:

Maintained carbon neutrality for third consecutive year, even as its membership grew
88% of UNFCU office space is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certified
Reduced paper use by 36% since 2015, exceeding the 2020 goal of 25% reduction
67 employees are Global Sustainability Program volunteers
Launched an Impact Share Certificate that funds investments and loans supporting environmental and social initiatives
Initiated the United in Sustainability Network, a forum where participating credit unions can share best practices

Other efforts UNFCU has ongoing:

Bring equity through professional development
Expand DEI to all credit unions
United in Sustainability

So much packed into this conversation with Tom. Check it out and let us know your thoughts. And don't forget to register for UNFCU's 3rd Annual Summit on Sustainability.

#2298: How Rock Valley Credit Union Managed Increased Digital Interactions During COVID...

10/26/2020

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As the pandemic roller coaster continues, credit unions have managed to maintain and even exceed digital expectations. But it hasn't been easy. So how did credit unions manage the digital onslaught during the height of COVID, as well as now when things seem to be simmering a bit?

Rock Valley Credit Union CEO Darlyne Keller joined us on the show share how she and her team managed the increase in digital interactions with members the last several months. Darlyne also talks about results and how Rock Valley is moving forward with its digital plans.

The common thread throughout Rock Valley's digital interaction increase is a company called LemonadeLXP and its Digital Academy. LemonadeLXP is a digital transformation and learning SaaS for financial institutions, and its Digital Academy is designed to help financial institutions drive adoption of their new fintech tools.

LemonadeLXP CEO John Findlay shares how his company and Rock Valley worked together implementing Digital Academy to better manage the digital increase and how they plan to adjust in a post-pandemic world.

Here are some of the Digital Academy's features that helped Rock Valley:

Instantly create a branded, fully responsive, and WCAG-AA compliant online hub that houses all of your simulations and guides.
Author once, publish everywhere! Repurpose demos created for your LemonadeLXP microlearning, for public view!
Upload relevant video content to support product walkthroughs.
Manage release cycles by delivering material to staff before your GA releases.
Quickly control how content is featured and organized by dragging and dropping in the new, web-based editor.
A new, bolt-on indexing system that makes every aspect of your demos searchable.
Recommend real-world actions at the end of your demos and simulations.

Check it out and let us know your thoughts.

#2297: CSS 'Matchmaker' Methodology Helps Deliver Innovative Products and Services to Credit Unions...

10/26/2020

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Barbara Lowman, the president of CUNA Strategic Services (CSS), joined us on the show to share ways CSS is helping match credit unions with innovative products and services. These matched products and services, in turn, will foster more efficient operations so credit unions can continue to enhance their relevancy in today's competitive financial services arena. According to Barb, CSS works through the league service corporations to deliver these innovations to credit unions to help them succeed in a very competitive environment.

According to Barb, CSS listens to credit unions in an effort to understand the business challenges they are facing and research possible solutions in the marketplace to determine the type of program best suited to assist. The organization gauges suitability by measuring a list of factors related to quality, financial soundness, integrity and cultural fit. Once an alliance provider is chosen, CSS works with them to create a compelling and unique offering that is competitively priced and designed to help credit unions compete effectively.

More specifically, CSS alliance programs are designed to serve credit unions by:

Contributing to their bottom line through increased operational efficiency or revenue generation
Adding to their peace of mind as they effectively meet regulatory standards and address security concerns
Enhancing their relationships with services designed to grow and retain membership

Barb shares credit union success stories in this area, as well as mentioning the very popular VentureTech pitch event coming up November 9-10, 2020, that helps deliver many of these innovations to credit unions.

Check it out and let us know your thoughts.

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