A little over a month into his tenure as President and CEO, NACUSO's Randy Salser joins us to discuss his vision for the Credit Union Service Organization trade association. For Salser, it's a case of getting back to basics, doubling-down on where NACUSO can add the greatest value, and maximizing impact through its channels and events.

Key takeaways:

03.30: Randy's vision for NACUSO to be at the center of an ecosystem where fintech, CUSOs, and credit unions can strategize together, learn from, and share with each other.

05.45: The relationship, differences, and nuances between CUSOs and non-CUSO fintech—and how they're both designed to support the credit union system.

08.17: NACUSO should focus on "surgical" advocacy and, while lending its name and weight to larger national calls, prioritize its core value proposition.

13.10: Randy's plans for the first three months of leading the organization.

17.40: How NACUSO's Reimagine event is a prime opportunity for credit unions and CUSOs alike to rediscover the value the organization offers to the system, microscopically and macroscopically.

20.53: Busting the big myths that prevent more exposure of and engagement with CUSOs.

Resources discussed:

https://nacuso.com/

https://www.reimaginenacuso.com/

While many credit unions grapple with low liquidity and a high cost of borrowing, Iowa-based Veridian seems to be bucking the trend. In this episode, the credit union's CLO, Kara Van Wert, discusses how her team is winning with younger members, using fintech to drive growth, and embracing AI to improve underwriting and streamline borrowing ... and the results are there for all to see.

Key Takeaways:

1. 01.25: An overview of why Veridian's average membership age is so much younger than their peer set.
2. 02.49: Reflections on risk management, particularly relating to ongoing loan portfolios that were inflated in the wake of the pandemic.
3. 05.25: Kara discusses how Veridian's mindset regarding fintech has evolved from viewing them purely as competitors to seeing them as critical partners.
4. 07.17: The impact of AI on Veridian's lending and underwriting processes, in the past, present, and in the future.
5. 11.10: How the credit union looks to mitigate bias in AI models and ensure inclusive lending.
6. 14.25: How Veridian has grown loans by 12% year-on-year, from $6.5 billion to $7.2 billion.
7. 18.00: Exploring Veridian's auto program and how much that has contributed to their strong loan growth.
8. 19.57: The challenges of increasing cost of funds, and how credit unions can navigate them.

Resources Mentioned:

Veridian Credit Union: www.veridiancu.org

LendKey: www.LendKey.com

Zest AI: www.zest.ai

Thanks for listening to the 22 Minutes in Lending podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review to help get the word out about the show and be sure to subscribe so you never miss another insightful conversation.

#CreditUnions #Fintech #22MinutesInLending

Mick Olson, President and CEO of TopLine Financial Credit Union, joins 22 Minutes in Lending host Vince Passione to talk growth, strategy, and the overlooked opportunity of education lending. With $1.1B in assets and 70,000+ members, TopLine has proven education loans can be profitable, member-friendly, and a pipeline for lifelong relationships. So why do so many credit unions still sit on the sidelines? Mick breaks down the misconceptions, the risk-sharing model that works, and how TopLine turned hesitation into a growth driver.

Key Takeaways:

1. 01:10 – From $35 to $1.1B, TopLine’s 90-year glow-up from seven AT&T employees to 70K members.
2. 03:27 – Cutting the average member age by a decade, with education lending in the mix.
3. 04:49 – Post-conversion lines out the door prove face-to-face isn’t dead.
4. 07:44 – Where unsecured and education loans fit without blowing up balance sheet risk.
5. 10:27 – Why LendKey’s structure finally made education lending a yes.
6. 11:33 – The mindset holding credit unions back from education lending.
7. 13:26 – Federal cuts will spike private loan demand, and why credit unions can’t ignore it.
8. 16:06 – How TopLine pairs culture, brand, and a balanced product mix to stand out.
9. 18:13 – Why the tax exemption fight is always there, and the questions credit unions can ask to stay ready.
10. 19:02 – Why credit union’s need their own regulator.
11. 20:14 – TopLine’s five-year focus: more education, more counseling, more real help for members living paycheck-to-paycheck.

Resources Mentioned:

TopLine Financial Credit Union: https://www.toplinecu.com/

Member Student Lending: https://www.memberstudentlending.com/

LendKey: https://www.lendkey.com/

Thanks for listening to the 22 Minutes in Lending podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review to help get the word out about the show and be sure to subscribe so you never miss another insightful conversation.

#CreditUnions #Fintech #22MinutesInLending

From Wall Street to fintech, James Chemplavil has seen both sides of lending. After 16 years underwriting corporate debt at Barings, he launched Salus to tackle a problem too many hardworking people face: being denied small but critical loans. Now as Founder and CEO, James is helping credit unions use alternative data and automation to extend microloans, attract younger members, and cut charge-offs. In this episode of 22 Minutes in Lending, James joins host Vince Passione to share the Salus origin story, why credit unions are the ideal partners, and how technology is rewriting the future of microfinance.

Key Takeaways

0:44 – James shares the personal story that pushed him from underwriting billion-dollar debt at Barings to building Salus, designed to fix access to small but critical loans.

02:52 – How collaboration, community focus, and tech gaps made credit unions the perfect proving ground for Salus.

04:21 – James explains why “cash in vs. cash out” is the new king metric, and how traditional scores miss millions of good borrowers.

06:10 – How Salus cuts staff time out of microloan processing, making $500 loans make sense for credit unions.

08:25 – The ideal credit union for microloans? Those wanting to pull in Gen Z and those doubling down on community impact.

09:34 – Predictive analytics that surface member stress before they default give credit unions a shot to be proactive, not reactive.

13:41 – A peek at how transaction data separates two “identical” 620-score borrowers into wildly different risk profiles.

15:31 – How Salus slashes charge-offs from 27% to as low as 3%, giving credit unions control over their risk vs. reach.

17:52 – James explains why the play isn’t P&L—it’s the lifetime value of turning Gen Z and millennials into members for life.

19:59 – Why earned wage access is the front door to member acquisition, deposits, relationships, and sticky growth.

21:50 – Salus’ roadmap: helping members graduate from microloans to auto and mortgage loans.

Resources Mentioned:

Salus: https://www.salusfintech.com/

LendKey: https://www.lendkey.com/

Thanks for listening to the 22 Minutes in Lending podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review to help get the word out about the show and be sure to subscribe so you never miss another insightful conversation.

#CreditUnions #Fintech #22MinutesInLending #Microloans #LendingInnovation

From banking to startups to serving in Iraq, John Ballantyne has worn many hats. Now as CEO of Tru Treasury, he’s helping more than 70 credit unions build treasury management programs that keep them competitive in a growing commercial lending market. In this episode of 22 Minutes in Lending, John joins host Vince Passione to share the origin story of Tru Treasury, how it’s filling a critical gap for credit unions, and where treasury management is headed in the future.

Key Takeaways

01:35 – John shares the unique story of launching Tru Treasury in March 2020, just as COVID shuttered the world overnight.

04:21 – The advantages of structuring True Treasury as a CUSO, and how collaboration with credit union CEOs shaped the model.

05:26 – Today, TruTreasury serves over 70 credit unions in different ways, from consulting to acting as a full outsourced treasury management department.

06:56 – Go behind the scenes and hear how Tru Treasury’s three platforms serve credit unions.

09:35 – How Tru Treasury steps in during acquisitions to bridge gaps in complex treasury relationships.

11:06 – What credit unions need to know about field of membership rules, the 12% cap, and opportunities for commercial lending and deposits.

13:11 – Commercial lending trends: growth in C&I and SBA lending, deposit growth, and how commercial deposits can be used to fund commercial loans.

15:34 – Untapped opportunities in municipal deposits, and why they’re a natural fit for some credit unions.

17:04 –Stablecoin, blockchain, and security innovations shaping the future of payments.

21:21 – Looking to 2030: John envisions a modular “commercial banking as a service” model that brings together lending, compliance, and treasury management for credit unions and beyond

Resources Mentioned:

Tru Treasury: https://trutreasury.com/

Leverage: https://myleverage.com

LendKey: https://www.lendkey.com/

Thanks for listening to the 22 Minutes in Lending podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review to help get the word out about the show and be sure to subscribe so you never miss another insightful conversation.

#CreditUnions #Fintech #22MinutesInLending

We’re back with Part 2 of our conversation with Becky Reed, COO at BankSocial. In this episode, Becky maps out the future of lending—from smart contracts and stablecoin-powered car loans to how DAOs could change underwriting and credit union governance. She also shares how boards can (and should) engage with these technologies, why waiting isn’t a strategy, and what the credit union system might look like in 2030.

Key Takeaways:

00:00

Becky walks through a real-world example of how lending could work end-to-end using blockchain, smart contracts, and stablecoin—starting with a member buying a car.

05:16

"Replacing trust with truth": Becky explains how blockchain transparency removes intermediaries and why BankSocial is non-custodial by design.

08:53

What if credit unions became DAOs? Becky describes how token-based governance could reshape underwriting, credit committees, and data sharing.

12:10

Talking tech with your board doesn’t mean teaching blockchain. Becky shares how to frame stablecoin as a payment rail they already understand.

15:27

Planning season? Becky offers advice on how credit unions can realistically begin exploring crypto, stablecoin, and digital rails, with emphasis on education and execution.

18:12

Why “waiting to see what happens” is risky. Becky explains the danger of sitting back while others define the future.

19:50

Becky’s vision for 2030: a grassroots financial renaissance, where DAOs and digital-native credit unions serve tight-knit communities.

20:55

The best podcast question she’s ever been asked? Listen to hear what it is.

Resources Mentioned:

BankSocial: https://web.banksocial.io/

LendKey: https://www.lendkey.com/

Thanks for listening to the 22 Minutes in Lending podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review to help get the word out about the show and be sure to subscribe so you never miss another insightful conversation.

#CreditUnions #Fintech #22MinutesInLending

Becky Reed, COO at BankSocial, joins 22 Minutes in Lending to talk about her long-standing involvement with CUSOs, why cooperation is credit unions’ superpower, and how blockchain, DAOs, and stablecoin are shaping the future of financial services. From her roots leading credit unions and chair emeritus for the NACUSO board, to leading fintech innovation today, Becky unpacks big ideas with clarity and conviction.

This is just the first half of a two-part conversation. Don’t miss the next episode, where Becky dives into how these technologies are reshaping lending.

Key Takeaways:

00:46

Becky shares why she believes cooperation is the credit union industry’s superpower, and how the CUSO model reflects that.

02:39

Is the number of CUSOs growing too fast or not fast enough? Becky explains why more CUSOs (and more differentiation and specialization) is actually a sign of industry health.

04:47

Are legacy CUSOs at a disadvantage? Becky says no, and explains how traditional and contemporary models are playing different but valuable roles.

08:10

Becky defines what a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) is and how BankSocial started as one.

11:06

Why DAOs matter for the future of credit unions: Becky breaks down how digital governance models can boost transparency, inclusion, and member involvement.

13:13

Becky dissects the jargon, explaining key terms like blockchain, Bitcoin, and stablecoin.

16:32

Payments are at the core of financial institutions. Becky explains why stablecoin could become the most efficient payment rail yet and what that means for the future of credit unions.

Resources Mentioned:

BankSocial: https://web.banksocial.io/

LendKey: https://www.lendkey.com/

Thanks for listening to the 22 Minutes in Lending podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review to help get the word out about the show and be sure to subscribe so you never miss another insightful conversation.

#CreditUnions #Fintech #22MinutesInLending

How do you modernize a 100-year-old credit union without losing sight of your mission? John Anderson, Chief Lending Officer at Atlanta Postal Credit Union, joins us to share how APCU is navigating dual branding, fintech partnerships, liquidity pressures, and AI adoption—all while staying grounded in its mission to serve both legacy postal-service members and the broader community.

Key Highlights

01:00 – Overview of Atlanta Postal and its community-focused sub-brand, Center Parc.

02:38 –Why and how APCU pivoted to a dual branded approach, and what’s to come in its 100th year.

04:11 – Difference between members from the community vs. postal-service members.

06:06 – How APCU navigated the liquidity crunch: shifting from CDs to alternative savings products.

07:13 – Strategic planning: why APCU avoids “scenario overload” and focuses on actionable risks like USPS changes and GSA lease cuts.

08:43 – The biggest lending challenges APCU is tackling in 2026 planning.

09:38 – Is fintech-powered lending just indirect by another name? John shares how it’s different.

10:32 – Digitizing the onboarding process + human follow-up: APCU’s hybrid approach to memberization.

12:10 – Servicing plays a key role in building loyalty with members. APCU sees the value in keeping it internal.

12:54 – Auto refi isn’t on your members’ radar—but the offers are. A discussion about meeting members where the decision happens and partnering with fintechs that support recapture.

15:55 – How APCU is putting AI into action.

19:03 – AI as a force multiplier, not a threat: how APCU is freeing up staff for high-value work.

20:10 –John shares his mindset shift coming from banking, and what credit unions taught him about serving more than just the safest borrower.

21:27 – Advice for up-and-coming Chief Lending Officers.

Resources Mentioned:

Atlanta Postal Credit Union: https://www.apcu.com/

LendKey: https://www.lendkey.com/

Thanks for listening to the 22 Minutes in Lending podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review to help get the word out about the show and be sure to subscribe so you never miss another insightful conversation.

#CreditUnions #Fintech #22MinutesInLending