Paul Ryan, 54th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives (2015-2019) and 2012 Vice Presidential candidate, will be the opening keynote speaker at America’s Credit Unions’ Congressional Caucus. The event will be held from September 8-11 in Washington, D.C., providing credit union professionals the opportunity to engage directly with lawmakers. Ryan will participate in a “fireside chat” with Jim Nussle, president / CEO of America’s Credit Unions. Ryan and Nussle served in the House together from 1999 to 2007. The discussion will explore how credit unions navigate today’s political landscape as we head into another important and unprecedented general election. “Having Speaker Ryan join us offers a unique perspective on today’s political environment as this year’s unprecedented general elections comes to a close, and its implications for America’s Credit Unions job number one of advocating for the credit union industry,” Nussle said. “We look forward to an engaging and insightful discussion that will benefit all attendees.” Ryan has a seasoned history in politics and lawmaking including a 20-year career representing Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District, serving as Speaker of the House from 2015 to 2019, and running on the 2012 general election ballot as Vice President. He led efforts to reform the nation’s tax code, rebuild national defense, and promote economic opportunity. He previously chaired the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Budget Committee. Ryan currently serves as a Professor of the Practice at the University of Notre Dame and is a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. Additionally, he is involved in various organizations, including the American Idea Foundation and Solamere Capital. This year’s event is the first Congressional Caucus organized under the new banner of America's Credit Unions, formed via the merger of National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions (NAFCU) and Credit Union National Association (CUNA). Held at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, the event will feature discussions on key legislative and regulatory issues affecting credit unions, providing a platform for advocacy and dialogue. For more information and to register, visit the America’s Credit Unions Congressional Caucus page.
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IDology Unveils Global Fraud Report, Reveals Growing Concerns About Generative AI's Impact on Fraud7/29/2024 IDology, a GBG Company, today released its 2024 Global Fraud Report, confirming increasing concerns about the impact of generative AI on fraud. With rapid advancements in AI, businesses expressed heightened concerns about the evolution of familiar types of fraud—such as synthetic identity fraud (SIF) and phishing—fueled by generative AI. Emerging Tech Fuels Familiar Fraud Generative AI can quickly turn out human-like text, realistic images, and even deepfake videos at scale, allowing fraudsters to create believable synthetic identities and phishing emails and texts with ease. Key findings related to generative AI include:
Mobile and Online Fraud Remain Top Targets While fraudsters leave no stone unturned, they continue to hedge their biggest bets on digital channels.
"From phishing scams and account takeovers to the creation of synthetic identities and beyond, the fraud landscape is evolving fast," said James Bruni, managing director of IDology. "Tapping into generative AI and technology advances, fraudsters can scale their operations and produce outputs that are remarkably convincing and, in many cases, indistinguishable from content created by humans. As generative AI fuels fraud and customer expectations grow, multi-layered digital identity verification is essential for successfully balancing fraud prevention with friction to drive loyalty and grow revenue." Now in its ninth year, this year's Global Fraud Report was created in collaboration with GBG counterparts in Europe and Asia, with each region sharing local findings that collectively offer a perspective on shifting global fraud trends. The survey gathered quantitative information from over 1,200 respondents globally across financial services, healthcare, travel, hospitality, lending, gaming, insurance and e-commerce/retail sectors. Positions and titles of respondents include senior leadership, vice presidents, directors, managers and analysts in risk, fraud, compliance, product, customer experience and operations departments. For additional insights into fraud trends across a variety of industries and firsthand perspectives shared by executives on the front lines of fraud prevention, download the full Global Fraud Report. Filene’s Center for The Next Generation of Member Growth officially launched July 1st, with a kick-off presentation from Fellow Kim Lear during Filene’s Spark! 2024 event in Boston this month. The continued aging of the average credit union member has been a challenge in the industry for decades, and now less than 20% of Americans under the age of 40 use a credit union. For credit union's that are focused on profitable future growth, they need to prioritize strategies that will help them to enhance their relevancy among younger consumers. The goal of the Center for The Next Generation of Member Growth is to identify strategies, including internal and external practices, to attract, engage and retain the next generation of credit union members. The Next Generation of Member Growth Kicking-off this exciting 3-year journey led by Fellow Kim Lear in collaboration with an advisory council of credit union leaders, the Center for The Next Generation of Member Growth will begin exploring the needs, motivations, and behaviors of younger generations to help shape insight around three key areas: products, member experience and marketing. These valuable insights will focus on answering the following key questions:
Generous support for the Center for the Next Generation of Member Growth is provided by Affinity Federal Credit Union, Bethpage Federal Credit Union, Christian Financial Credit Union, Cornerstone League, Financial Plus Credit Union, Fiserv, Kitsap Credit Union, Maps Credit Union, Michigan Credit Union League, SRM (Strategic Resource Management) and Teachers Federal Credit Union. “Member growth is critical for our industry, especially for our smaller credit unions who often report loss of membership,” stated Michigan Credit Union League CEO, Patty Corkery. “Our team is thrilled to be on this ride with the amazing Filene team, and with Research Fellow Kim Lear, to develop strategies and tactics to support our credit unions in Michigan and around the country.” Caroline Willard, President/CEO of the Cornerstone League stated, “We are committed to helping credit unions grow, so we want to invest in this partnership with Filene Research Institute and the Michigan Credit Union League. We feel that it’s important for us to give back to the movement by funding this important research.” Filene’s Upcoming Research Center: Design for Digital Earlier this month, at Spark! 2024, Filene made the announcement of the topic for their next Center of Excellence, set to launch in early 2025. Jessica Gamache, Filene's Head of Research announced to the attendees that the next topic of focus is Design for Digital. This new research center isn't just about upgrading your technology stack, it is about retooling credit unions for digital success. This means creating a culture of nimbleness and flexibility that can continue to evolve with consumers' changing expectations. The key focus areas that this new research center will explore includes:
Generous support for the Center for Design for Digital is provided by Affinity FCU, Digital FCU, Maps Credit Union, Teachers FCU, Together Credit Union and UFCU. Credit unions and system partners interested in joining this list and getting involved in the work of this Center can contact Filene for information. “UFCU is thrilled to have the opportunity to meaningfully shape the credit union movement for generations to come through our sponsorship of the new Filene Research Institute Design for Digital Center of Excellence,” stated Michael Crowl, CEO of UFCU. “We look forward to collaboratively working with Filene, the new Fellow, and co-sponsors in the coming months and years ahead. Let’s make history!” Filene members and strategic partners will have a chance to engage with the Center for The Next Generation of Member Growth’s Fellow Kim Lear at Filene’s big.bright.minds. 2024 on Nov. 19-21 in San Diego, CA. Community Financial Credit Union is proud to announce that our president & CEO, Tansley Stearns, has been honored with an induction into the prestigious Herstory exhibit at America’s Credit Union Museum. This exhibit celebrates the incredible contributions of women in the credit union movement and highlights the impactful stories of those who have shaped the industry. Visionary Leadership and Commitment Tansley Stearns is renowned for her visionary leadership, innovative approach, and unwavering commitment to the credit union movement. With over 26 years of experience, Stearns has consistently demonstrated an exceptional ability to foresee future possibilities, tackle emerging challenges, and inspire teams to reach unprecedented heights. As the first Michigander to be inducted, Stearns’ name will forever be tied to leaders who shaped the movement as Dora Maxwell, Louise Herring, or Sarah Canepa Bang in this permanent exhibit at the Museum. Learn more about their stories here . Her iterative strategy has fostered a dynamic team at Community Financial Credit Union, capable of adapting to ever-changing environments. Under her leadership, the credit union has launched groundbreaking programs that many believed impossible, including:
Lasting Impact and Industry Advocacy Stearns’ influence extends beyond Community Financial Credit Union. She has led innovation programs, facilitated strategic sessions for credit unions across North America, and inspired countless industry professionals through her public speaking engagements at major events, including America’s Credit Unions’ GAC, NAFCU, TruStage Discovery, and international forums in Ireland, Spain, and Australia. Her dedication to the industry is exemplified by her roles as founder and Board Chair of In the Cellar, and her participation on the boards of Trellance and Painted Hills. Stearns’ tenure at Canvas Credit Union and her pivotal role at the Filene Research Institute further highlight her substantial contributions to the credit union movement. Inspiration and Mentorship Stearns’ ability to inspire and mentor is unparalleled. She is a critical thinker and strategist who shares her insights through weekly LinkedIn newsletter, Curiously Driven. She engages strategically with system organizations and participates in CEO panels at national events. Her storytelling prowess and collaborative spirit have motivated many to achieve the impossible. She has been a mentor and advisor to numerous credit union CEOs, helping develop talent across the industry. Her legacy includes the promotion of direct reports to senior executive roles, contributing to the overall growth and success of the credit union system. A Champion for Change Tansley Stearns is a champion for change within the credit union movement. Her leadership initiatives exemplify her commitment to making a tangible impact on the lives of credit union members. Including the development of CloseEnuff™, a checking account aimed at addressing financial insecurity, and her advocacy for gender equity. Celebrating Herstory The induction ceremony will take place on Thursday, September 26, 2024, at America’s Credit Union Museum in Manchester, New Hampshire. This event will celebrate the remarkable women shaping the credit union movement and inspire future leaders. For more information on the Herstory exhibit, please visit acumuseum.org/herstory. SWIVEL, a transaction enablement fintech that removes friction in the movement of money for financial institutions and other payment communities, announced today its integration with Apple Pay® that enables its credit union and community bank clients to accept loan payments from members and customers through the mobile wallet. Within financial services, there exists a requirement in which institutions will not accept certain forms of payment (such as a credit card) against a consumer loan or auto loan. SWIVEL’s integration with Apple Pay is unique in that it features a proactive capability that automatically filters cards loaded within a consumer’s Apple Pay wallet and presents only the cards that can be used as acceptable payment options for an individual loan. This is strategically beneficial for credit unions and banks as it improves the customer experience by streamlining the loan payment process while improving the performance of payment reminders sent to customers through the mobile channel. “The whole idea of digital wallet technology is to provide a frictionless, easier payment experience for consumers, but too often the opposite is the case when non-accepted payment options are presented to the consumer,” said Jason O’Brien, CEO of SWIVEL. “With our innovative Apple Pay integration, we are solving that problem for the financial institutions we serve, supporting better digital banking experiences for their customers and driving better loan payment performance through the channel.” Leveraging the Apple Pay software development kit (SDK), SWIVEL developed its Apple Pay capabilities to support credit union and bank partners’ needs, with the Apple Pay integration now available to SWIVEL’s more than 800 financial institution clients across the U.S. Western CUNA Management School (WCMS), a cornerstone institution renowned for fostering the next generation of visionary credit union leaders, hosted its annual “WCMS Innovators Challenge” on campus during the 2024 WCMS school year! Since 2021, this immersive full-day event serves as a capstone during the organization’s rigorous two-week leadership educational program each year, which has become an essential foundation of professional development for credit union executives and managers across the Western United States. “Our Innovators Challenge is both a culmination, and starting point, of our intensive education and team-building collaborations,” said Dr. Michael Steinberger, dean and chief academic officer for WCMS. “It’s where theory meets practice, where our credit union leaders, hailing from diverse occupations and positions across the West, step up to tackle real-world challenges head-on. This year, we pushed the boundaries even further by focusing students’ innovations on financial viability and the member experience.” In keeping with WCMS’s unwavering commitment to continual refinement of leaders and its steadfast support of the credit union movement, the school’s Innovators Challenge embodies a 64 years-long philosophy of empowering professionals to ascend to new heights in their credit union careers. By plunging students in the breadth and depth of industry thought leadership and instilling transformative principles, WCMS consistently cultivates a network of alumni who lead their organizations to long-term success. This year’s Innovators Challenge is no different. Collaboratively sharing the event’s riveting spark and experience across three class cohorts of credit union leaders is not just important — it’s essential. The bonds formed among students during the day’s challenge will fuel a multitude of crucial endeavors, enabling them to translate their education into tangible results for their credit unions, members, and the entire industry. Students attended class in the morning and spent the afternoon in groups developing their solution to the year’s challenge problem. Then, in Round 1, all students presented their solutions to innovation coaches and peers, who voted on each solution. In the final Frog Tank Round, the top groups presented to the entire three-year WCMS student body (401 individuals) and the eight innovation coaches. Everyone voted again — and eventually, the winner was crowned. Innovation coaches were senior leaders from key partners in the credit union industry from the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues, Filene Research Institute, Origence, and TruStage. Innovation coaches spent time with each group, providing mentorship and feedback aimed to hone the group’s idea, pitch and delivery, helping prepare students for pitching new ideas back home at their own credit unions. The day was a whirlwind of activity. Students engaged in dynamic team-building exercises, followed by intense brainstorming and solution development sessions under the guidance of experienced coaches. It culminated in the electrifying Frog Tank Round, where the top three teams pitched their polished solutions to a panel of esteemed innovation coaches and peers. The full day’s experience included:
To infuse the Innovators Challenge with the school’s legacy of educational excellence, WCMS maintained a robust administrative structure while providing direct assistance to year-one, year-two, and year-three credit union leaders/students throughout their “head and heart” WCMS journey. This unwavering dedication each year — manifested annually in the Innovators Challenge and other on-campus activities — has solidified the school’s position as one of the largest nationally recognized organizations in the credit union movement, a testament to its transformative, relevant, and active approach in credit union leadership development. “The WCMS Innovators Challenge is more than just a competition,” Steinberger said. “It’s a microcosm of the actual here-and-now challenges that credit union leaders face daily. By encouraging students to think critically, collaborate effectively, and embrace calculated risks, WCMS continues to reinforce the life-changing principles upon which our school was founded. Win or lose, if every student feels more comfortable and is expected to innovate upon returning to their organization, then we all win.” Talent development leader CUES is excited to announce a significant upgrade to its award-winning myCUES Dashboard. The dashboard, designed to provide CUES members easy access to their full array of membership benefits, now includes myCUES Learning enhanced by AI for even greater personalization and functionality. Since its introduction in 2022, myCUES Dashboard has provided each CUES member with a unique experience customized to their specific goals and interests. No two dashboards look alike, and each return visit delivers new, valuable learning courses to move members closer to their professional goals. Now, through a collaboration with Accella and Amazon Web Services (AWS), myCUES Dashboard incorporates AI-assisted technology to deliver personalized course recommendations. The custom-curated learning reflects a member’s interests, membership level, and past course interactions. The technology also learns and adapts over time to improve recommendations. On a broader scale, this latest upgrade leverages insights from thousands of members and years of CUES learning and development expertise, bringing members the most relevant and impactful courses to fuel their professional growth. “We understand the time and dedication it takes for our members to stay on top of their careers; we created this tool to help them more easily navigate their professional development,” said Jerry Saalsaa, SVP/Chief Administrative Officer. “This is the latest step in our ongoing effort to deliver an unparalleled learning and development experience; stay tuned for more enhancements coming soon.” For additional details about myCUES Dashboard and myCUES Learning, visit content.cues.org/new. Curql, a collective of credit unions jointly investing in fintech, has added ModernFi to its investment portfolio. This investment marks a significant milestone in establishing the first deposit network for credit unions and as the first investment for Curql Fund II, further solidifying Curql's mission to bring relevant and competitive solutions to the credit union industry. Through ModernFi's deposit network, credit unions can grow, retain, and manage their deposit base by providing extended NCUA insurance* to attract and retain large-value members across businesses, higher-net-worth individuals, nonprofits, and public funds. Credit unions can also utilize the network to manage their balance sheets by sourcing funding on demand or sweeping excess liquidity. ModernFi’s solutions help credit unions strengthen their deposits, membership, relationships, stability, and, ultimately, their mission. Rodney Hood, former chairman of the NCUA, shared, “ModernFi stands as the foremost company in the market with regard to liquidity.” Nick Evens, President and CEO of Curql added, “It levels the playing field for credit unions. This solution has long been utilized by banks. Not only is ModernFi building the first full-service deposit network for the entire credit union industry, they’re also greatly expanding the audience of prospective business and consumer members that credit unions can serve. It’s empowering them to compete more effectively against larger financial institutions, which is exactly why credit unions are prioritizing deposit growth and why Curql chose to invest.” Paolo Bertolotti, founder and CEO of ModernFi, expressed his excitement, “The ModernFi team is thrilled by the investment and excited to partner with Curql and its credit union ecosystem. In recent months, we have seen significant growth in our credit union network and are on track to becoming foundational infrastructure for credit unions, ultimately supporting their mission to serve new and existing members.” The window to join Curql Collective is still open for credit unions interested in jointly investing in fintech. Eltropy Leads Credit Unions and Community Banks into New “Safe AI” Era with Comprehensive AI Suite7/24/2024 Eltropy, the leading AI-powered conversations platform for community financial institutions (CFIs), today announced the general availability of the industry’s most advanced Safe-AI suite built exclusively for credit unions and community banks. The comprehensive suite includes AI Agents, AI Assistants, and AI Intelligence, designed to enhance service, operational efficiency, and provide better conversation intelligence for credit unions and community banks. Eltropy’s AI Agents function as intelligent digital agents on websites and voice channels, efficiently providing members with accurate information by analyzing and interpreting content. The agents can handle over 60% of common member inquiries, significantly improving self-service options. With the latest update, members can use generative AI to navigate websites more effectively, helping them find the most suitable financial products in the credit union and community bank market. Members or customers enjoy the convenience of self-service capabilities with the option to seamlessly transfer to a human agent without needing to re-authenticate or restart the conversation. AI Assistants developed for employees across all departments – including lending, collections, branches, etc. – offer quick access to internal knowledge bases. These assistants are designed to boost efficiency by reducing the need for staff to consult multiple sources or colleagues for information. With AI Assistants, organizations can significantly accelerate onboarding and lower training costs. Completing the AI suite, Eltropy's AI Intelligence offers powerful tools for analyzing and improving interactions. AI Intelligence focuses on AI conversation intelligence and quality assurance. It transcribes, summarizes, and evaluates nearly all member or customer conversations, providing customizable analytics that align with specific metrics. This allows for deeper insights into the factors influencing CSAT and NPS scores, enhancing tracking and management capabilities for executives and contact center managers. "Eltropy AI is specifically designed for the credit union tech stack, enabling seamless integration with core systems for member data and knowledge bases for frontline information,” explained Saahil Kamath, Head of AI Products at Eltropy. “It integrates into online banking platforms and websites to facilitate navigation, ensure fast resolution times, and secure transfers to agents when needed. It also integrates with most CCaaS recording systems to provide AI intelligence for automating quality assurance." Notably, Eltropy has implemented "Safe AI Guardrails" to ensure responsible AI use, including measures to reduce inaccurate information and maintain regulatory compliance. These guardrails help ensure AI systems are developed and used responsibly, safely, ethically, and in line with human values, incorporating technological, legal, ethical, and regulatory considerations. “These new AI tools are redefining how credit unions and community banks operate,” said Ashish Garg, Co-founder and CEO of Eltropy. “We've seen firsthand the impact they have on daily workflows and efficiency. AI isn't just a fancy add-on—it's becoming essential for meeting modern expectations. AI assistants help employees tap into vast knowledge bases instantly while members get quicker, more accurate responses. It's about using AI strategically to solve real problems and create better experiences for everyone.” Saahil Kamath emphasized the collaborative and responsible approach to AI development: "We created these AI solutions not in isolation but through continuous feedback from leaders and staff, ensuring they address the industry's unique challenges,” he said. “Our new AI framework, with its 'Safe AI Guardrails,' focuses on reliability, compliance, and ethical use. By combining these safeguards with generative AI capabilities, we deliver trustworthy, effective tools that align with the values and regulatory standards of community financial institutions." The new offerings have been well-received by credit unions and community banks. Magnifi Financial, an early adopter, reported upwards of a 90% containment rate among employees using AI Assistants during a six-month beta period. "We've been partnering with Eltropy to test these AI assistants. I'm consistently impressed by how well they address the needs of community financial institutions like ours," said Brad Shafton, SVP, Digital & IT, Magnifi Financial. "The flexibility to display answers in various formats is fantastic. It lets our staff choose how they want to see information based on what works best for them. I also love the ability to search within large documents, which saves significant time. These features will increase our first call resolution, improve employee experience, and help new staff get up to speed faster. Ultimately, this translates to a better experience for our members." This sentiment is echoed by other early adopters across various credit unions. Kimberly Preston, Digital Project Manager at InRoads Credit Union, highlighted the improvements in efficiency and ease of use: "This is a huge improvement over our previous system," Preston said. "AI is much more adaptable and easier to fine-tune. If there's a gap in its knowledge, we can quickly train it with existing materials or add new information. It's been great for streamlining our processes and improving our response capabilities." Some credit unions have even found Eltropy's AI solution outperforming general-purpose AI tools in their specific context. Adam Stevens, AVP, Digital Solutions at Eglin Federal Credit Union, provided a compelling comparison: "We put Eltropy's AI to the test against publicly available AI,” Stevens said. “I asked other popular generative AI bots and our Eltropy bot the same questions, and Eltropy's solution consistently outperformed. It's not just matching the capabilities of general AI – it's actually doing better in our specific credit union context." Eltropy’s Digital AI Agent and AI Assistants are available immediately for organizations looking to enhance their digital service capabilities. The company reports that the new tools can be implemented quickly with minimal disruption to existing operations. These tools incorporate a built-in Safe AI framework, which includes safeguards at the model, system, and application architecture levels. The framework also provides user education on AI limitations and best practices. For credit unions and community banks interested in exploring these AI solutions and other industry innovations, Eltropy will be showcasing its latest technologies at the upcoming 2024 Eltropy Leadership Summit. This event offers an opportunity for financial institutions to gain deeper insights into how AI can transform their operations and member services. Details and registration information for the summit are available at eltropy.com/eltropy-leadership-summit-2024. As the financial services landscape continues to evolve, Eltropy's AI suite represents a significant step forward in empowering credit unions and community banks to meet the challenges of the digital age while maintaining their commitment to personalized service and community values. If there is one overriding, existential concern credit unions share no matter their size, complexity or geographic location—it is how to build a younger base of membership to ensure their future relevance. Attendees of a Wednesday 2024 World Credit Union Conference breakout session on “Engaging Younger Members for Growth” learned how to appeal to younger demographics, while not forgetting about their current members. The statistics presented by Juli Lewis, Vice President of Community Engagement at USF FCU (USA) and Jim Lake, Vice President and Managing Partner of Michael Walters Advertising, were daunting. “Only 4% of Gen Z are credit union members. We think we’re doing better with millennials, but only 5% of millennials are credit union members,” said Lake. “We all know that we do great things, but we’re not good at telling the story.” The silver lining, according to Lewis, is that if credit unions do a better job of talking about why they are different from banks or fintechs, they have the right message to attract younger consumers. “Young people want to belong in the community, they want to be part of something good. They want sustainability, to be part of environmental causes. They love DEI initiatives,” said Lake. “So, consumers now, they’re not only value driven, they not only want a good deal, but they’re values driven.” Lake said focusing on emotional stories about members that hit on social themes like that are key, as is successfully promoting them. “Opportunities abound when we talk about financial wellness, community wellness, etc., outperform product ads by 2.5 times, 2.5 times the return on interest,” said Lake. “And there is a massive difference between a testimonial—‘oh I went to the branch and got my paperwork done in three minutes,’—those are important, but then there’s storytelling.” Dhawan stresses importance of “concrete empathy” Why is empathy at such a low point in today’s workplace? According to award-winning keynote speaker and author Erica Dhawan, a lot of the reasons can be attributed to fewer face-to-face interactions, an ever-accelerating pace of change and an increasing number of matrixed teams working remotely. “Research shows that we tend to argue more, passive aggressive behaviors or assumptions that someone's being rude can shoot up. And last but not least, in a digital environment, we can walk away faster from relationships. Ghosting, is not just a romantic issue, it's a business issue,” Dhawan told attendees of her keynote address during the final general session of the 2024 World Credit Union Conference. She also relayed practical ways for credit union professionals to activate “concrete empathy” to create cultures of psychological safety, employee engagement, well-being and innovation. Dhawan told attendees there are simple things to consider and adjust to improve the empathy practiced at your organization. “We have to be proactive in different ways. Concrete empathy is not assuming, it's asking for feedback, checking in more regularly, making sure that we're maniacally clear in our communication in all formats and also asking people for their preferences, so that we're customizing it to different types," said Dhawan. |
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
January 2025
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