Twenty-nine of the credit union industry’s most innovative leaders come together to form the newest cohort of the Filene i3 Program. In its 20th year, the prestigious program experiences heightened demand and intensified competition, as an increasing multitude of exceptional credit union professionals submit their applications every year. Filene i3 is a two-year innovation leadership program equipping top credit union professionals with the mindset, tools, and network to lead and shape the credit union of the 21st Century. “Through the i3 program, we're crafting a hub of innovation where emerging credit union leaders converge to solve pressing challenges with tomorrow's solutions,” stated Megan Freshour, Filene’s Incubation Director. “Leveraging Filene's comprehensive research and a network of passionate innovators, our participants are equipped to drive transformative change. As they forge ahead, creating prototypes and piloting initiatives, they're not just participants—they're pioneers shaping the future of financial services for communities nationwide.” Joining the ranks of 355 credit union leaders already within the Filene i3 community are:
Through this cohort-based program, participants learn cutting-edge innovation competencies grounded in three core categories. By engaging the diverse perspectives of members, staff, stakeholders, and subject-matter experts to co-create new solutions, participants learn skills essential for facilitating innovation. Through the process of exploring and iterating new ideas to gain insight, reduce risk, and validate solutions, participants become experienced at accelerating learning. Finally, mobilizing people and resources to inspire action is practiced for leading change. “As a credit union intern nearly two decades ago, my mentor would often hand me Filene publications, each highlighted and noted with her takeaways from the readings,” said Ryan Pederson, Senior Software Engineer Manager at Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union. “I was captivated by the depth of knowledge and innovative ideas shared within those pages. The highlight of my year was always the unveiling of new concepts by i3 participants, ideas that promised to enhance our cooperative movement. Now, I find myself both humbled and honored to join the ranks of these innovators as an i3 member. I am eager to build upon the legacy of innovation that has been a hallmark of the i3 program, contributing my own ideas to help propel the credit union movement forward.” Participants create impact through their work in cross-functional teams to explore and address some of credit unions’ most pressing challenges as identified by Filene's Think Tank and backed by research from Filene's Centers of Excellence. View the findings from last year's i3 teams on five complex challenges facing credit unions. Patricia Tomanguilla, Director of Consumer Lending Systems at University of Wisconsin Credit Union stated, “It’s not just about being selected—it’s about being part of a community dedicated to making a real difference in the credit union industry. It’s a platform where like-minded professionals come together to collaborate, share knowledge, and tackle challenges head-on. I'm excited about the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally, to lead initiatives, and to be part of something bigger than myself.” The new i3 cohort begins a two-year development journey following Filene’s GAC Breakfast next week, and will present progress-to-date to the credit union industry at Filene’s big.bright.minds. in November. Join us on 3/26 (part one) and 3/28 (part two) where i3 graduates from waves 18 and 19 will share their prototypes that they’ve been building and testing to address the biggest challenges facing credit unions and their members. Registration coming soon at filene.org/events.
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OCCU has been honored with four awards for exceptional workplace culture, community engagement and sustainability. OCCU was given the Bold Steps Award by the City of Eugene for its work with nonprofits, generous volunteer time benefit for employees and efforts to reduce its impact on the environment. OCCU received Culture of the Year from Kudos Inc., an international corporation specializing in employee recognition and rewards. Kudos singled out OCCU for its use of rewards and gratitude to enhance employees’ engagement and well-being. That collaboration of OCCU and Kudos Inc. was subsequently recognized by the Brendan Hall Group, a leading professional development company. OCCU and Kudos were honored for creating a culture of recognition that has led to high staff retention and satisfaction. OCCU’s workplace also was recognized by the GoWest Credit Union Association. The trade organization representing credit unions across five states awarded OCCU its Employee Experience Award for the credit union’s internal professional development and employee wellness efforts. “Each of these incredible honors represents loads of intentional day-to-day work on the part of our exceptional staff and leadership,” said Kirsten Simmons, OCCU’s senior vice president of people development. “It is humbling to be recognized by our peers and community, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to showcase some of the programs that make OCCU special.” “We strive to be a great place to work with low turnover and strong, positive relationships with the communities we serve,” Simmons added. The Family Credit Union (TFCU), a not-for-profit financial cooperative headquartered in the Quad Cities, has welcomed Abigail Eaton as its new Financial Wellness Coordinator. Eaton brings more than seven years of financial experience to the credit union. In this role, Eaton will be responsible for promoting financial wellness to the communities the credit union serves and will oversee financial education activities through classes, presentations and individual sessions to help members reach their goals. She will also be the on-site coordinator for the credit union’s new credit counseling program, Credit Climber. The Family partnered with Credit Mountain earlier this year to offer a digital credit counseling service that provides credit report analyses, personalized action plans, credit monitoring and educational resources to help members achieve positive financial outcomes. “In this role, I can delve into members' credit and finances, seek tailored solutions to enhance their present situations and reach their goals,” Eaton said. “Continuing my work in this industry allows me to make a difference in the financial lives of the members we serve.” Eaton is no stranger to the credit union industry. Prior to The Family, Eaton worked as a teller, account officer and then an assistant branch manager at Ascentra Credit Union. In that role, she processed and managed various loan applications and assisted the credit union with financial education seminars at Black Hawk College in Moline, Illinois. Eaton also served as a financial coach for an Illinois credit union. “As a thoughtful and passionate leader in the credit union movement, Abby will bring incredible support and leadership to TFCU,” said Kris Skiles, VP of Marketing for The Family Credit Union. “Her background and passion to enhance financial literacy for Iowans will help us continue to make a positive impact on the financial lives of our members.” Eaton received her CCUFC designation in 2022. For more information about The Family, please visit familycu.com. The Louisiana Credit Union League and HR Solutions announced a strategic partnership to offer Louisiana’s credit unions access to human resources consulting and administrative outsourcing services at preferred rates. This collaboration stemmed from LCUL’s new, strategic vision and commitment to providing the best-in-class products and services, and in the case of human resources and benefits, addressing a crucial service gap experienced in the credit union movement. “Attraction and retention are two of the biggest challenges facing our credit unions. We are excited to partner with HR Solutions to offer credit unions with a trusted resource to help them compete and tackle these opportunities,” said Juan Fernández, LCUL CEO. The partnership will also offer preferred pricing for payroll and other human resources administrative services used by Louisiana’s credit unions and provide them with tools to help assure compliance with Federal and State employment laws and regulations. “We are excited to expand our reach in the credit union movement. In working with credit unions, we have received positive feedback from members about how we have improved the efficiency of their HR processes and provided peace of mind managing HR compliance and issues. We look forward to working with other members to help them with their HR needs”, Mark Sherman, President of HR Solutions said. Pulsate, provider of mobile-first engagement solutions that deepen digital banking relationships and cut through noise in customers’ moments of need, announced today that its platform is now accessible through the Jack Henry™ digital banking platform. Leveraging the Banno Digital Toolkit™, the same set of APIs the Banno Digital Platform™ is built on, Pulsate’s technology is embedded into the digital experiences offered by community and regional financial institutions. With access to Jack Henry’s API, design, and authenticated frameworks, Pulsate is directly integrated into the digital banking platform providing a seamless banking experience. This integration contributes to Jack Henry’s growing ecosystem of more than 950 fintechs, providing approximately 7,500 FIs with relevant financial products and services for their accountholders. Pulsate allows community FIs to break through the noise and crowded fintech market, helping them respond to dynamic market fluctuations while driving meaningful deposit growth through targeted communication. By reaching the right customers at the right time, regardless of location or channel, Pulsate empowers FIs to stand out in today’s competitive banking landscape and reach customers wherever they are in their moment of need, driving both revenue growth and cost savings. "The Banno Digital Toolkit allows for seamless integration of our mobile-first engagement solutions into the Jack Henry digital banking platform, empowering community FIs to elevate their customers’ digital experiences through the delivery of more relevant, timely communications,” said Sarah Martin, CEO of Pulsate. “This reinforces Pulsate’s commitment to deepening banking relationships through effective customer interactions.” EDGE, a credit union technology conference today released their lineup of breakout session speakers. EDGE will be held on May 6-7th in Nashville, Tennessee. The breakout sessions – 30-minute sessions devoted to exploring technology, credit union innovation, ethics and diversity, and other important topics – will be presented by credit union and technology professionals and promise to offer insights into ways credit unions can elevate their use of technology. Some of the session titles include:
Sponsorship opportunities for EDGE are still available. If your credit union or technology company is interested in sponsoring EDGE, you can learn more here. To learn more about EDGE, including the full breakout session schedule, sponsorship opportunities and registration, visit www.EDGETechConference.com. Eltropy, the leading AI-powered conversations platform for community financial institutions (CFIs), will showcase its latest innovations next week at the annual Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC), March 3-7, at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. At a time of change and economic uncertainty, GAC 2024 — the credit union advocacy event of the year — is a crucial forum for top credit union professionals, industry leaders, and decision-makers to come together and address the latest industry trends and challenges. "Staying ahead of the curve on what lies ahead for our industry and how we can solve it through exponential technologies is critical for our industry’s preparedness. As a dedicated supporter of the credit union movement and a valued partner of America’s Credit Union we are honored to join this conversation at GAC 2024,” said Ashish Garg, Co-founder and CEO of Eltropy. “We share the credit union mission of helping our communities achieve financial wellbeing,” he added. “In this new era of generative AI and digital conversations, Eltropy's AI-powered Unified Conversations Platform is making it easier than ever before for people to access capital in the moments they need it the most. Millions of people use our products daily to connect with their credit union and it's incredibly humbling to see our technology enable access to financial products and services that are changing lives.” Eltropy’s AI-powered Unified Conversations Platform is uniquely tailored for today’s community banks and credit unions and trusted by over 600 community financial institutions. “The annual GAC event is the perfect venue for showcasing innovations like Eltropy’s that are purpose-built to help credit unions address evolving member demands, compliance needs and talent shortages, while keeping costs manageable,” said Barb Lowman, President of CUNA Strategic Services. “Kudos to Eltropy for leading the digital conversations revolution, and we look forward to seeing their latest AI-powered platform innovations at the 2024 event.” Visit Team Eltropy at booth #1432 to learn more – and check out our latest webinar on the “Impact of ChatGPT-style AI on Community Financial Institutions” that can be viewed here. Utah Community Credit Union’s Bret VanAusdal to Retire, DDJ Myers Leading Search for Next CEO2/26/2024 After serving Utah Community Credit Union (UCCU) for 28 years and dedicating over 40 years to the financial services industry, President/CEO, Bret VanAusdal is planning to retire within the next year. A nationwide search for UCCU’s next CEO has been launched by DDJ Myers, the well-known executive search and leadership development firm. “We recognize Bret’s unwavering dedication to improving the financial lives of UCCU’s members through pioneering advanced technologies to make financial services easier, safer, and more convenient. We appreciate his ability to focus on and drive financial results,” says Linda Makin, Board Chair. The next CEO will be charged with leading UCCU into the future and setting the stage for continued growth and expansion. “UCCU’s Board has been proactive in its succession planning efforts and a comprehensive search process is already underway,” says Deedee Myers, PhD, Founder & CEO of DDJ Myers, an ALM First Company. “As facilitator, we work very closely with the Board to thoroughly evaluate both internal and external candidates and find the best fit possible.” Those interested in applying for this position can learn more in the “Open Positions” section of www.ddjmyers.com. Candidates may also submit their confidential resumes to recruitment@ddjmyers.com with “UCCU CEO” listed in the subject line. Diana Dykstra, President and CEO of the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues, announced today she plans to retire this year after more than four decades of financial services leadership. Never one to do things as “they’ve always been done,” Dykstra’s constant challenge of the status quo earned her accolades throughout her career. Among other honors, she was one of the first inductees into the Credit Union Museum’s “Credit Union Women Making History: Herstory” exhibit in 2022, was awarded the National Credit Union Foundation’s Herb Wegner Memorial Award in 2019 in recognition for her lifetime of service and received the American Association of Credit Union Leagues’ (AACUL) Eagle Award in 2014 – the highest possible honor for League service. Dykstra’s retirement date is set for July 1, 2024. “The past 40-plus years have been an incredible journey. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to guide and collaborate with remarkable individuals, united by what I consider to be one of the most meaningful motivations,” said Dykstra. “This industry changes lives, and while I will soon mark the end of my tenure as CEO, it is only the beginning of a new journey filled with gratitude, pride, and the excitement for what lies ahead for me personally and for credit unions.” Dykstra has served in the top post at California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues for 14 years. Prior to her tenure there, Dykstra served as President and CEO of San Francisco Fire Credit Union, President and CEO of CoastHills Federal Credit Union, senior vice president at Patelco Credit Union, and senior vice president at Golden 1 Credit Union. “Diana’s leadership has been an inspiration to so many in the credit union industry,” said Jennifer Denoo, President and CEO of Great Basin Federal Credit Union and Nevada Credit Union League Board Chair. “Her legacy embodies the values, principles, and accomplishments that will continue to guide us for years to come.” During Dykstra’s time at Golden 1, she led the team that developed the prototype of the Credit Union Direct Lending (CUDL) program. Now named Origence, the program has grown to position credit unions as the nation’s largest auto lenders. “No one can deny the indelible mark Diana has had on credit unions in California, and that impact has carried forward to many areas of the credit union industry across the country,” said Geri LaChance, President and CEO at SESLOC Federal Credit Union and California Credit Union League Board Chair. “She has been a true visionary, willing to make innovative moves to enhance revenue and efficiency. These innovations have been consistently evidenced from her early days at Golden 1 forming the nucleus of what would become a major national auto lender in CUDL.” Dykstra’s career accomplishments are only matched by her service record. She currently is the Board Chair of the World Council of Credit Unions. She is also the President of Western CUNA Management School, executive managing partner of Humanidei (an LLC of O’Rourke & Associates), serves on the boards of CUNA Strategic Services, Global Women’s Leadership Network, ViClarity, Plexcity – a cooperative business for credit unions, trade associations, and member credit union leagues. She is also past chair of the AACUL. “Diana has been a tireless champion of credit unions, advocating to promote growth, sustainability, and relevance for the industry,” said Bill Cheney, President and CEO of SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union and former President and CEO of Credit Union National Association and California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues. “Diana’s commitment is not merely professional; it's deeply personal. We are continuously grateful for the enduring mark she has imprinted on this industry.” Alkami Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALKT) (“Alkami”), a leading cloud-based digital banking solutions provider for financial institutions in the U.S., today launched the Alkami Digital Sales & Service Maturity Model, based on research conducted across 215 US financial institutions with at least $200 million in assets and completed in December of 2023. The study, developed by Alkami in partnership with financial services influencer Jim Marous and Emerald Research Group, paints a picture of the spectrum of maturity by categorizing banks and credit unions into distinct segments based on their readiness and implementation of digital strategies. Some of the study’s key highlights include:
“The banking sector faces a transformative challenge: to adapt, innovate and thrive in an increasingly digital landscape,” said Jim Marous, owner and CEO of the Digital Banking Report. “Digital experience is now closely tied to a bank or credit union’s brand. Our hope is that the insights in this report spur productive conversations in the industry and enable financial institutions to not only react more quickly to digital change but also proactively leapfrog account holder expectations.” “US financial institutions are currently operating in the most competitive market they have faced in years, forcing banks and credit unions to raise their game to drive deposits and account holder engagement. This means that the preferred way consumers choose to bank, the digital banking channel, must evolve from the service channel it primarily is today to the digital sales and service channel that account holders and financial institutions need and deserve,” said Allison Cerra, chief marketing officer at Alkami. “We are proud to offer the market this comprehensive benchmark to understand the key differences separating segments when it comes to prioritizing and implementing digital strategies.” To download the report, click here. |
Author: Mike LawsonMarried to a most gorgeous and wonderful wife, raising 5 kiddos (including twins!), enjoy helping others tell their stories, and love surfing SoCal waves. Keep it simple. Archives
May 2024
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