When compared to concerns about the NCUA and credit union tax status, there has not been as much outcry over the precarious future of the CDFI fund. Considering that only about 12% of credit unions are CDFIs, this makes sense, but the loss of funding could have significant ripple effects across the movement as a whole. In this episode, we talk to Armand Parvazi, Strategic Adviser at CUCollaborate and former Chief Administrative & Development Officer at New Orleans Firemen’s Federal Credit Union, to get his take on this month’s BIG question:

Why does the CDFI fund matter and how can we engage the credit union movement in protecting it?

That’s precisely what Abilene Teachers Federal Credit Union has done with 325 Day, an event with a name that refers both to its date and the credit union’s local area code. The idea is to celebrate local businesses, gather community members, and most importantly, have fun!

This month, we’re joined by Abilene Teacher FCU’s Community Development Officer, Elizabeth Gray, and Marketing Director, Kathy Mayer, to talk about the evolution of the event and its growing impact. We also address this month’s BIG question:

During an era when so much is moving online, why is a sense of place still important and how does your credit union benefit by bringing people together in real life?

We're excited to be joined by two guests who have made it their life's work to expand access to ownership through the cooperative business model. Frank Cetera is the Business Transfers Program Director for the Democracy at Work Institute, which helps communities overcome accelerating economic and social crises through worker ownership, and also a Board Member of local CDFI, Syracuse Cooperative Federal Credit Union. Stacey Smith is SVP and Head of Programs at Project Equity, which helps raise awareness of broad based employee ownership and supports businesses transitioning to employee ownership.

Frank and Stacey help us tackle this month's BIG Question:

How can credit unions more broadly support a cooperative economy, and what specific needs can they address for co-ops in their communities?

We talk about how frequently used financial tools and services, like debit cards and P2P payments, not only help keep your credit union top of mind for members but also help keep member financial wellness front and center for your credit union. We also unpack this month’s BIG question:

When it comes to sustainable growth, what underutilized, high-impact strategies should credit unions be pursuing in 2025?

How can credit unions shape their brands from the inside out, starting with their people, culture, and impact?

Jerome joins us for this month's episode of The Remarkable Credit Union podcast to discuss Alternative FCU's game-changing FAIR Mortgage product, including what inspired it, how they got it off the ground, and what the results have been to date. He also addresses this month's BIG question:

How can a financial product address systemic inequality, and what risks are entailed in changing the rules of the “game?”

Well, Jessica Gordon Nembhard is here to remind us. Professor of Community Justice & Social Economic Development in Africana Studies at John Jay College, CUNY and author of Collective Courage: A History of African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice, she believes that wonderful things can happen when communities come together for mutual aid. 

Among other things, we talk about the proliferation of Black cooperative responses during Covid, the importance of credit unions as community assets, opportunities for credit unions to play a more central role in supporting cooperative development and ecosystem building, and the challenges currently facing Black-owned credit unions, including potential strategies to better support these vital community institutions.

We also address this month’s BIG Question: 

What role do Black cooperatives currently play in the ongoing fight for economic, racial, and social justice, and what potential is not being realized?

Enter the Clean Communities Investment Accelerator program (CCIA), which is currently offering funding to credit unions and other community lenders to deliver green products, with a focus on the underserved. We’re joined by two leaders in the credit union movement, Cathie Mahon, President and CEO of Inclusiv, and Blake Jones, a founding board member of Clean Energy Credit Union.

Cathie and Blake share how credit unions can leverage new government funding opportunities and why they are so well positioned to deploy clean energy solutions in their communities. They also address this month’s BIG question:

Why should credit unions care about clean energy, and what do they stand to gain from helping low-income and disadvantaged communities deploy clean energy projects?

This month, we talked to Alicia Portada, Director of Communications and Community Engagement at Lower East Side People’s Credit Union, about how they focus on following the need, keeping boots on the ground, and keeping more vulnerable communities front and center when it comes to their expansion strategy. We also tackled this month’s BIG question:

What if credit union marketing efforts were less product-focused and more partnership-focused? What would that look like in practice, and how could this approach help realize The Credit Union Difference?

Chylon Pappas, VP of Corporate & Government Engagement at First Tech Credit Union, joins us to share how First Tech does just that. She helps us unpack this month’s BIG question: 

What does a people-first focus look like in practice, and what are the key things more credit unions should be doing to better serve their employees, members, and broader communities?

Linda joins us to share some incredible stories from her over 25 years as a leader in the credit union movement, including how Element FCU became the first financial institution in the country to offer mobile deposit on iPhone; what led to the creation of CU*Pride, the credit union association for LGBTQ+ professionals; and how Element FCU succeeds in taking risks and making its members laugh along the way.

We also tackle this month's BIG question:

How can credit union leaders foster a space—for members and staff—that is both safe and brave?

We reflect on the movement over the past five decades and tackle this month’s BIG question:

How has our economy become more or less inclusive in the 50 years since Inclusiv’s founding, and how has the strategy for closing gaps and removing financial barriers evolved accordingly?

They also address this month's BIG question:

What should credit union leaders focus on to best equip their teams for success, maximize impact, and ensure the longevity of their credit union?

Next month, Katie will be begin co-hosting the podcast along with current co-host and PixelSpoke co-owner Kerala Taylor. Stay tuned!

This month, we’re excited to welcome Express Credit Union’s Chief Business Officer, Elizabeth Escobar, to talk about how to meet members where they’re at, what Express has to teach the country’s fourth largest credit union, and how to stay engaged with your members in the long-term.

She also addresses this month’s BIG question:

How can credit unions retain their people-to-people focus in a post-Covid era that relies on digital more than ever?

Allison joins us on this month’s episode of The Remarkable Credit Union podcast to talk about who credit unions should be tapping into to help shape and promote their brand, why “member-first” isn’t really a brand differentiator, and what problem-solving has to do with brand identity.

She also addresses this month’s BIG question:

How can credit unions unlock the true power of brand, and how can a more brand-focused mindset help take the credit union movement to the next level?

The affordable housing crisis is particularly acute in Seattle, Washington, where home prices increased by over 80% between 2010 and 2020. This month we’re excited to welcome Uche Okezie, Real Estate Development Director at HomeSight, a Seattle-based nonprofit, and Tina Narron, Chief Lending Officer at Verity Credit Union, also based in Seattle, to talk about how they are cross-pollinating, collaborating, and breaking convention to reimagine solutions to this thorny and seemingly intractable social issue.

We also address this month’s BIG question:

How can credit unions “dream more boldly” when it comes to community development and what kinds of innovative partnerships can they forge to drive this work forward?

This month, we’re thrilled to be joined by Randy Chambers, President of Self-Help Credit Union, to talk about what ownership actually means, how credit unions can advance economic opportunity one neighborhood at a time, and the ways in which a credit union’s WHY should inform all marketing efforts. 

We'll also be addressing this month's BIG question:

What are the biggest challenges we currently face when it comes to the health and vitality of our neighborhoods, and how can credit unions meaningfully address these challenges?

If there’s anything we know for certain, it’s that uncertainty is here to stay. As much as we’ve tried to get back to “normal,” the volatility that Covid set in motion seems determined to wreak havoc on our best-laid plans.

This month, we’re excited to welcome Laurie Flanders, VP of Client Solutions at Strum Platform, and Ben Stangland, President & COO of Strum Agency and President of Strum Platform, to talk about what it means to know your members inside and out, why “friendly” is not a brand, and what kinds of stories and insights are emerging from credit union data.

They also address this month's BIG question:

In the age of uncertainty, how can credit unions focus on healthy growth and long-term stability?

Today, we’re going to step back with Mike Reuter, the Executive Director of WOCCU’s Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions; Ari Farrell, Program Manager of the World Young Credit Union Professionals (WYCUP) program; and Lena Giakoumopoulos, GWLN (Global Women’s Leadership Network) Director. We talk about their audacious fundraising goal for International Credit Union Day, as well as why it’s important to think, and act, globally, what financial inclusion really means, and how WOCCU is tackling some of the biggest challenges of our time.

We also address this month's BIG question: 

What does financial inclusion look like on a global scale, and why is a global movement important? How can credit unions around the world join forces to build more strength and resilience?

Kristin Harrison, Director of Business Development for WebStrategies, joins us to talk about why personalization has so much potential for credit unions and why it’s so hard to implement effectively. Here are tips for overcoming common obstacles and ensuring that your personalization efforts don’t do more harm than good.

She also tackles this month’s BIG question:

How can credit unions build a data strategy to meaningfully personalize digital content to specific users?

This month, CEO Sue Cuevas shares her inspiring journey, starting with recruiting inaugural members by copying their ID documents with a portable copy machine she kept in the trunk of her car. She talks about what spurred her to leave a 30-year career in corporate banking to start a credit union and what she’s learned along the way.

She also tackles this month’s BIG question:

What are the advantages of serving a specific demographic, and would the credit union movement benefit from more niche institutions that truly know their members?

Sharee Adkins, GoWest Credit Union Association Chief Impact Officer and Foundation Executive Director, joins us on this month's episode of The Remarkable Credit Union podcast to share examples of how credit unions in her region are joining forces and tapping into the strengths of their core business competencies to tackle daunting social challenges.

She also addresses this month's BIG question:

How can credit unions leverage grant dollars to proactively tackle the challenges facing their communities, and how can they most effectively market their impact?

Emily Nail is not only Coastal Credit Union's first VP of Cooperative Strategies, she also serves as Executive Director of the Coastal Credit Union Foundation and previously served as Executive Director of the Cooperative Council of North Carolina (CCNC). We were thrilled to invite her to The Remarkable Credit Union podcast to talk about her new role, her take on North Carolina's rich cooperative history, and this month's BIG question:

How can credit unions collaborate with other local co-ops to work toward building a thriving cooperative economy?

George Hofheimer, former EVP and Chief Research and Development Officer at Filene, returns to The Remarkable Credit Union podcast to discuss his new book, Banking on a Human Scale, and to address this month’s BIG Question: 

How can credit unions operate on a human scale to thrive in a world that worships growth and technology?

Jen Reed, VP of Public Relations at Sound Credit Union (a PixelSpoke client), joins us to talk about Sound's collaboration with BECU, Washington State Employees Credit Union, Salal Credit Union, and Verity Credit Union to tackle this thorny social issue and magnify impact. We also discuss how this effort has benefited Sound's public image, what lessons Sound has learned from the process, and what future projects are on the horizon.

Chriselle Martinez, CDFI Program Director at Inclusiv, joins The Remarkable Credit Union podcast to talk about what it means to be CDFI certified, how CDFIs benefit their communities, and how they themselves benefit from the certification process.

She also tackles this month's BIG question:

What are the most important considerations for a credit union that is considering applying for CDFI certification?

Here's the good news: The financial industry presents us with many viable alternatives. There are several parallel and overlapping movements that point to a better way to bank: member-owned credit unions, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), and values-based financial institutions, to name a few. Montana-based Clearwater Credit Union is all three.

This month, President & CEO Jack Lawson joins us to talk about what banking on values looks like in action, how the six principles guide Clearwater's strategy and every operational decision, and why marketing around impact is harder and better than the alternative.

Cooperatives — whether worker-owned like PixelSpoke or member-owned like our credit union clients — bring the issue of ownership to the forefront, pushing us to think more deeply about who should have a voice and a stake.

This month, we're excited to welcome our Operations Manager Katie Stone as our guest host to untangle this knotty issue with Rebecca Fisher-McGinty, a worker owner at Round Sky Solutions and a graduate of Saint Mary’s University’s Masters of Cooperative Management program, and McKenzie Jones, an off-grid farmer turned social scientist who brings a deep commitment to service and equity into her work with cooperatives.

Together they tackle this month's BIG question:

How can co-ops help us pave the way to a solidarity economy that bakes diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts directly into ownership structures?

Steve Bugg, President and CEO of the award-winning Great Lakes Credit Union (GLCU), joins us to talk about GLCU's own journey from good to remarkable, including how their “standards of greatness” enabled and inspired them to successfully launch numerous innovative impact initiatives. He also addresses this month's BIG question:

How does a credit union develop a strategic vision and corresponding value system that meaningfully guide its day-to-day operations at all levels and across all teams?

If you were born in the 2000s, you might not remember the days when we had to physically transport ourselves to a video rental store if we wanted to watch a movie at home, nor is the name Blockbuster Video likely to mean much to you. But the rest of us associate the name with both astounding success and spectacular failure. Blockbuster was a Fortune 500 company in 2007 and declared bankruptcy in 2010.

So what does all this have to do with crypto and credit unions? Kyle Hauptman, Vice Chairman of the NCUA, joins us on The Remarkable Credit Union podcast to address this month's BIG Question:

How can credit unions be the Netflix, not the Blockbuster Video, of crypto, and what actions is the NCUA taking to encourage innovation in the space?

We talk about how regulators are encouraging innovation in cryptocurrency and blockchain, why credit unions have a head start over banks, and what three areas he would focus on if he were a credit union CEO.

But what does this all have to do with credit unions? Quite a lot, actually. Neda Arabshahi, Vice President of the Inclusiv Center for Resiliency and Clean Energy, joins us to talk about the climate finance revolution, which she sees as both a responsibility and an opportunity for credit unions. We discuss the key obstacles to setting up a climate finance initiative, how to make it successful, and what's entailed in designing and scaling climate-friendly financing solutions that promote affordable and sustainable energy for all people.

This month's BIG question: Considering the recent passage of the United States’ most aggressive climate bill to date, what role can credit unions play to help maximize the impact of this new legislation? 

These are guiding philosophies for Katie Fairbairn, Chief Experience Officer for Santa Cruz Community Credit Union (SCCCU), and Kerry Fulton, President & Owner of Southwest Strategic Marketing. They join The Remarkable Credit Union to talk about their mission of economic justice and financial freedom for all, how that guides everything they do, what makes their award-winning “Return the Favor” campaign distinct from other community giving campaigns, and how to balance mission and margin.

This month's BIG Question: What does economic justice look like in practice and how can a credit union work toward achieving it in their community?

Liz Martin, Vice President of Marketing at OnPoint Community Credit Union (a PixelSpoke client), believes that when growth is rooted in a clear WHY, it can exist in tandem with a strong community focus. She joins us to talk about how OnPoint has grown while still honoring its history as a cooperative founded for teachers, why “branch deserts” motivated them to dramatically expand their branch footprint in 2021, and how to create a personalized and hyper-local experience across digital and in-person channels.

This month’s BIG Question: How can credit unions grow in a sustainable and intentional way while still staying true to their local roots?

What are the implications of cryptocurrency for the credit union industry, and what opportunities and challenges does it present?

Ben joins our Remarkable Credit Union podcast to talk about talk about MSUFCU's bold decision to build an innovation lab in 2020, their biggest victories and setbacks to date, and his five principles for success.

This month’s BIG question:

Why does innovation matter for credit unions, why is it so hard, and how can credit unions work to create a true culture of innovation?

Teshia joins our Remarkable Credit Union podcast to talk about how SECU has navigated the Great Resignation by creating surprise and delight for their employees, centralizing DEI as part of their guiding credit union strategy, and closely aligning HR with the marketing team.

This month's BIG question:

As American workers are leaving their jobs in droves, how can credit unions retain employees and keep up team morale?

He joins The Remarkable Credit Union podcast to talk about how The Foundations' Credit Union Development Education (DE) program has evolved to incorporate sustainability and DEI principles, how the people who lead and work at credit unions are the key to fulfilling the movement's potential, and why creating a culture steeped in purpose matters now more than ever.

This month's BIG question:

What does it mean to be connected to and passionate about the credit union movement in 2022… and why should members care?

Ashira Quabili, Marketing Communications & PR Coordinator for Freedom FCU, joins us to talk about their award-winning #FreedomToHelpChallenge that lifts up local nonprofits, actively engages current Freedom FCU members, and helps them bring new members into the fold.

For most credit unions, the answers to these questions are not a resounding yes. Evan Siegel, VP of Financial Services AI at eGain, joins us to talk about how credit unions can reimagine their financial education efforts, drawing from what he learned building a financial coaching practice of 200+ bankers at Wells Fargo. Evan shares how AI can support human AND digital financial education, and why the future of credit unions hinges on coaching, guidance, and advice.

Today we're joined by Kathy Saloy, Senior Vice President of Community & Economic Development of Hope Credit Union, and Rashida Ferdinand, Founder and Executive Director of the Sankofa Community Development Corporation (CDC), to learn more about how they are working to transforming communities by focusing on small businesses, listening to their neighbors, and forging innovative partnerships.

Andrew Bogrand, Communications Director for Divest Oregon, believes that our collective future hinges on stakeholders, not shareholders. Given that credit unions have long been champions of stakeholder engagement, can they serve as a convening body for investing in a fossil-free future?

Denise joins us to address this month's BIG question: What does a “just recovery” look like, and how can credit unions help the communities most impacted by COVID to not only get back on track, but to thrive?

Denise shares her stories about how cooperatives can win together, why FICO might be the enemy of relationships with our members, and what EMTs can teach us about member service.

George Hofheimer, former EVP of Filene, would answer both questions with a resounding YES. He joins us to talk about why medical debt is such a serious threat to credit union members' financial wellness, where the opportunity lies for credit unions, and what he’s learned by bicycling across America to raise awareness around this vital issue.  

Marketing Manager Dantrel Robinson joins The Remarkable Credit Union podcast to talk about how Alabama ONE was able to not only survive, but flourish, rebuilding its brand and regaining community trust. 

This month, we tackle the BIG question: What can we learn from a thriving credit union that was in conservatorship less than five years ago?

If you're not sure about the answers to any or all these questions, you're not alone. Tim Frick, CEO, author, and expert on digital ethics, joins us to talk about why we should start talking about on the emerging concept of digital responsibility, what areas your credit union needs to focus on to be digitally responsible, and how we can stop tweeting our way to a warmer planet.

Tune in for this month's BIG question: What is digital responsibility and how can your credit union do better?

Where should credit union marketers be focusing their efforts in 2021?

Amber talks about how the events of the last year have driven more innovation in the loan product space; why product innovation should be everyone’s lane (and why we should all be driving in it); how to create meaningful, long-term results even amidst uncertainty; and why Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is a critical core competency for credit unions.

Of course, most every team member wants to be successful in their job, but team needs go far beyond work hours. How can credit union leaders support women, who have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, and where do female credit union leaders turn to for support? How can leaders make Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion a priority and create space for awkward but necessary conversations about race and politics? 

Tune into our first podcast of 2021 to learn more.

So, how are you doing? How are your coworkers doing? Is everyone ok? Chances are, everyone is not ok. While we can’t solve our coworkers’ problems (or some of our own problems, for that matter), we can be a positive force in their lives. PixelSpoke’s very own Joy Team joins our Remarkable Credit Union podcast to answer this month’s BIG question: How can we create a strong, cohesive culture built on mutual trust and support in a mostly-remote environment?

Georgia Lee Hussey, a sculptor and writer turned wealth management firm CEO, joins us on The Remarkable Credit Union podcast to help us answer today’s Big Question: How can credit unions move from education to actual behavior change when it comes to helping their members be financially empowered?

We recorded this conversation back in early March, about a week before our world as we knew it was turned upside down by COVID-19. While we’ve been focusing on more urgent issues over the last few months, we don't want to lose sight of the importance of measuring impact, particularly as we head into the 2021 planning season.

Between financial hardship, health concerns, racial strife, and a general atmosphere of fear and anxiety, your members and community need you more than ever. There’s great potential ROI for rigorous impact measurement, particularly during a recession when member loyalty and new member growth are all the more critical.

Dan Osusky, the Director of Standards at B Lab and creator of one of the world’s most comprehensive standards for impact, joins us to talk about how measurement illuminates our blind spots, what the business case is for impact, and how to create a roadmap to greater impact.

Gigi Hyland, Executive Director of the National Credit Union Foundation, joins us to share stories about putting empathy into action, explain how new member habits are changing the credit union business model, and what she would do if she was chartering a new credit union today.

Becky Smith, Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer of State Employees' Credit Union (SECU), joins us to talk about how her team is focusing its marketing efforts during this time of need. She shares what they are doing to help members, employees, and their broader community; why it's important to pay attention to members’ evolving emotional states; and how focusing on impact and doing the right thing can become the new competitive advantage is for credit unions.

Jim Morrell, CEO of Peninsula Community FCU, joins us to talk about how to go to your core by putting your mission statement front and center, how to care for the short- and long-term financial health of your members, and how to reach members who won’t reach out to you for help.

He joins our podcast to talk about the number one thing that credit unions should be focused on right now, innovation opportunities in the current environment, and post-pandemic member service strategies.

Casey Boggs, President of ReputationUS, shares his experiences on how to manage a Black Swan crisis, why consumers are even more scared about their finances than their health, and the worst thing an organization can do in a crisis.

He joins the podcast to talk about what credit unions are doing well when it comes to multicultural marketing; how to use data to better serve diverse audiences; and the ways in which an effective multicultural marketing is strategy, just like any marketing strategy, hinges on listening to your members' needs, rather than assuming one-size-fits-all solutions. 

Teresa Freeborn, CEO and President of Xceed Financial Credit Union and a Board Member of the Credit Union National Association (CUNA), joins us to talk about CUNA's Open Your Eyes campaign, including what it hopes to accomplish and why the campaign can’t be a “hit and run” effort. Oh, and also how pizza has ruined college students' FICO scores.

VSECU is a member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV), a network of banking leaders from around the world committed to advancing positive change in the banking sector. Simeon talks about what VSECU does to engage its community through outside-in listening, what VSECU has learned from the Global Alliance about measuring what really matters, and what a newcomer to the credit union movement sees as its heart and soul.

In this episode, we discuss the ways that Sean is redefining the boundaries of what is possible, in life and in business.

Having observed and experienced the evolution of credit unions from the 1980s to present, Marc joins us to discuss how policy, purpose, and poverty intersect when it comes to defining the next-generation credit union. 

But Civic FCU, a startup credit union that launched in 2019, is bucking the trend. Bijal Gami, VP of Operations; Lamar Heyward - SVP of Marketing at Civic FCU; and Michael Spink, SVP of R&D join us for an animated discussion of how they are executing on Civic FCU's core strategy, why they started a credit union instead of a fintech company, and what we can learn by marrying a startup culture with the cooperative principles.

Can credit unions partner with for-profit businesses to help their employees be more financially secure, and in so doing, increase profitability for both the business and the credit union? Ted and Ned would answer this question with a resounding yes. They joined our podcast to share how they have leveraged small dollar loans to benefit their employees, their credit union partner, and their own bottom line.