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Quiet Leaders: Your Team's Hidden Superheroes

Leadership & Culture

Quiet Leaders: Your Team's Hidden Superheroes

Superman is always easy to spot, with the bold cape, the flying, the tights. In your organization, you notice Superman-style leaders because they carry themselves with noticeable confidence. They tend to be outspoken and extroverted, and you definitely know when they’re in the room. They make a splash, but

A Pay it Forward Strategy: Financial Literacy that Retains Talent

Employee Experience

A Pay it Forward Strategy: Financial Literacy that Retains Talent

We’re in the thick of National Financial Literacy Month. Usually, that conjures up thoughts on how to educate our members and communities on financial wellness topics, such as building savings, basics of investing and creating a budget. But what if we looked at it from an employee perspective? The

Stablecoin – Fast, Secure, Flexible and Stable?

Innovation & Technology

Stablecoin – Fast, Secure, Flexible and Stable?

Stablecoin, a hot topic, is a key item that has gained a substantial amount of traction lately. What exactly is stablecoin? How are they used, what makes them valuable and what kind of regulations, if any, surround this phenomenon? Let’s take a moment to dig into the topic of

AI in Business Resilience: A Lesson in Risk vs. Reward

Risk Management

AI in Business Resilience: A Lesson in Risk vs. Reward

I’ve been in the field of business continuity for many years. In that time, there are a few lessons I’ve learned: * It’s fluid. As the world changes with evolving consumer expectations, technologies and business practices, so do continuity strategies. In fact, it wasn’t too long ago

Default Risk Has Changed, Credit Union Processes Haven’t Kept Up…Now What?

Innovation & Technology

Default Risk Has Changed, Credit Union Processes Haven’t Kept Up…Now What?

For years, managing default risk in a credit union followed a fairly consistent pattern. Monitor delinquency, work accounts as they age and focus collections efforts on loans that are already past due. That approach made sense when risk behaved predictably and when most members followed similar financial patterns. That’s

Preparing Your Team: 8 Strategies to Reduce Stress During a Core Conversion

Innovation & Technology

Preparing Your Team: 8 Strategies to Reduce Stress During a Core Conversion

No doubt about it – core conversions are notoriously demanding for everyone involved. To reduce the stress and fatigue your employees may feel during a core conversion, it is important to maintain transparent, consistent communication and provide the tools needed for a successful transition. How can you do that? Here are

Balance Sheet Management in 2026: Prioritize, Plan, Lower Risk

Money Management

Balance Sheet Management in 2026: Prioritize, Plan, Lower Risk

The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) has released its Supervisory Priorities for 2026. Not surprisingly, in response to the current downward trend in interest rates, the NCUA is emphasizing the importance of strengthening credit union balance sheets. As Warren Buffett wisely stated, "Risk comes from not knowing what you&

Elder Financial Abuse: Steps for Prevention

Risk Management

Elder Financial Abuse: Steps for Prevention

Kate is a former executive secretary from the Pennsylvania area. She spent 10 years caring for her late husband, before finding purpose in taking care of hospice dogs. She was just an ordinary woman leading an ordinary life. But, my oh my, did that ordinary life take a twisted turn.

What a Prolonged Conflict with Iran Could Mean for the Economy and Interest Rates

Money Management

What a Prolonged Conflict with Iran Could Mean for the Economy and Interest Rates

Have you watched the news lately? Even if you haven’t, it’s common knowledge across the globe at this point that the United States, along with Israel, are in direct conflict with Iran. In late February, multiple airstrikes and the elimination of Iranian supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, fueled the

Part 3: 2026 Actionable Growth Goals — Win the Next Generation with Relevance, Not Reach

Innovation & Technology

Part 3: 2026 Actionable Growth Goals — Win the Next Generation with Relevance, Not Reach

Credit unions have always known how to build relationships. The challenge heading into 2026 is building them with a generation that has been conditioned to expect relevance in every interaction and to move on quickly when they do not find it. Younger members are often described as hard to reach

What Lies at the Intersection of AI & Marketing?

Innovation & Technology

What Lies at the Intersection of AI & Marketing?

Is a road trip even a road trip without a game that gets everyone involved? Think I Spy, punch bug, the alphabet game with road signs. My family and I love to play these games to pass the time and entertain ourselves en route to our final destination. But we’

Part 2: 2026 Actionable Growth Goals — Leveraging AI for New Member Acquisition

Innovation & Technology

Part 2: 2026 Actionable Growth Goals — Leveraging AI for New Member Acquisition

For decades, new member acquisition at credit unions has been treated as a volume problem. If growth slowed, the instinct was usually simple. Run more campaigns. Add more channels. Increase the number of offers. Cast a wider net, and hope the math works out. As we head into 2026, it

Part 1: 2026 Actionable Growth Goals Measure Member Economic Participation, Not Just Products or Balances

Innovation & Technology

Part 1: 2026 Actionable Growth Goals Measure Member Economic Participation, Not Just Products or Balances

As we look ahead to 2026, I am kicking off a short three-part series on goals I believe every credit union leader should consider for the year ahead. I want to start with one of the most foundational shifts our industry can make. Measure member economic participation. Actually measure it.

Moving From Resistance to Results: Developing a Coaching Mindset

Leadership & Culture

Moving From Resistance to Results: Developing a Coaching Mindset

At a local credit union, an employee was stuck with a looming deadline and could not figure out how to take the next step. The manager stepped in and said, “Here, I’ll show you.” The job was finished, the deadline met. In another department, a different team member was

ERM Assessments...Who is Responsible?

Risk Management

ERM Assessments...Who is Responsible?

Another year, more assessments. Despite the burdensome reputation they often carry, assessments are a necessary part of any enterprise risk management (ERM) program, because they identify risks and vulnerabilities early on. Think of them as you would an annual checkup to the doctor or a preventive screening – quiet and less

Navigating the 2026 ACH Rule Changes and Updates

Navigating the 2026 ACH Rule Changes and Updates

The payments landscape changes every year, and periodically, so do the Nacha Operating Rules and Guidelines that govern ACH transactions. That’s true in 2026, as many changes are being implemented to improve readiness, fraud prevention and consistency. So, let’s take a look at the 2026 ACH rule changes

From Innovation to Accountability: Why AI Auditing is a Must in Financial Services

Risk Management

From Innovation to Accountability: Why AI Auditing is a Must in Financial Services

When it comes to using artificial intelligence (AI) internally and across products and services, great power comes with great responsibility. For financial institutions (FIs) and financial services organizations, the stakes around AI are particularly high: operational risk, compliance risk, reputational risk — and even ethical risk — are all wrapped up in

Data Warehouses – A Dumpsite or a Goldmine?

Innovation & Technology

Data Warehouses – A Dumpsite or a Goldmine?

Data warehouses, data lakes, data marts—data everything. With the continued growth of a data-driven world, it has never been more apparent that data is becoming the centerpiece of most organizations. However, having data is not the same as using it well. That is where data warehouses have become a

Cybersecurity Investigations: Do You Have the Missing Piece of the Puzzle?

Risk Management

Cybersecurity Investigations: Do You Have the Missing Piece of the Puzzle?

Have you ever thought any of these things to yourself when you see something that’s just not right? “I don’t want to bother them with it.” “What I saw can’t be that important.” “I’m sure I’m wrong.” When it comes to cybersecurity, many people inadvertently

Personalization – The Path to Member Loyalty

Innovation & Technology

Personalization – The Path to Member Loyalty

Imagine asking your members when they last received a message from your credit union that felt like it was written just for them. If you’re afraid their answer might be “never,” you’re not alone, and you should keep reading. For many credit unions, “spray and pray” is still

The 3 Questions Every Board Asks Their CISO and How MDR Built for Banking Answers Them

Risk Management

The 3 Questions Every Board Asks Their CISO and How MDR Built for Banking Answers Them

Boards demand clarity on security, proof and risk. Learn how banking-specific MDR delivers the metrics, evidence and insight CISOs need to lead with confidence. The Boardroom Pressure Test Every chief information security officer (CISO) in banking knows the drill. You spend months strengthening defenses, fine-tuning alerts and preparing reports. Then

Beyond Compliance: Why Record Retention Matters

Risk Management

Beyond Compliance: Why Record Retention Matters

It’s true that audits are more complex than ever and security threats lurk around every corner. But did you ever consider that the antidote to these risks is one thing you probably give the least amount of thought to? I’m talking about record retention, and why its importance

A Balance Sheet Snapshot: What 2025’s Final Quarter Trends Signal for 2026

Money Management

A Balance Sheet Snapshot: What 2025’s Final Quarter Trends Signal for 2026

As we close out 2025 and look ahead to the opportunities in 2026, I thought it would be helpful to reflect on recent balance sheet trends. The current market environment has prompted notable shifts across most credit unions. Overall, loan generation has been lower than the levels seen in the

Vizo Financial Webinars: Answers to Your Frequently Asked Questions

Vizo Financial Webinars: Answers to Your Frequently Asked Questions

With a myriad of no-cost webinars, 80+ CPE credits awarded annually and more than 1,800 views to our on-demand recordings, it’s no secret that Vizo Financial is known for our credit union education. It’s also no surprise, then, that you may have some questions when it comes