Want a sturdier path to relevance in credit union mortgages? We sit down with Andrew Harris, VP of Mortgage Development at Truity Credit Union in Oklahoma, to unpack how servant leadership, consistent culture, and innovative use of technology create durable member loyalty. Andrew shares the turning point in his career, from high-output producer to leader who listens first, removes roadblocks, and treats every file like a family’s future. His mantra, “one team, one member, one file,” becomes a practical system that connects development, operations, underwriting, and servicing around a single standard of care.

We get candid about the industry reality: big banks and brokers wield sophisticated tech stacks and aggressive pipelines. Credit unions can compete by pairing CRMs and automation with the one advantage others can’t clone: deep relationships. Andrew explains why he doesn’t “chase leads,” he “chases relationships,” and how a timely phone call, clear expectations, and proactive guidance turn rate shoppers into lifelong members. Along the way, we talk about hiring entrepreneurial spirits and wrapping them in a supportive framework, building a culture where challenge is welcomed, and sending daily leadership insights to every chair so the whole team leads.

If you care about credit union leadership, mortgage member experience, and sustainable growth, this conversation offers a roadmap: model the culture you want, modernize your technology without losing the human touch, and make consistency your brand. You’ll walk away with actionable ideas to strengthen service, increase referrals, and keep your credit union at the center of your members’ financial lives.

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Headlines keep screaming doom, but the data tells a different story. We sit down with Bill Bodner, Founder and CRO at Tabrasa, to unpack why last year was quietly strong for mortgages, how the spread between mortgage rates and the 10-year Treasury snapped back toward historical norms, and what that means for pricing, locks, and strategy right now. The big idea: measure behavior, not vibes. Applications and pending home sales say borrowers are in motion, even as sentiment surveys stay gloomy.

We dig into housing affordability and the growing menu of policy levers being floated, from tax code nudges that unlock down payments to targeted support for mortgage-backed securities. While not every proposal is a winner, the direction is clear and supportive. Add in the potential boost from a historically significant tax refund and steady business investment, and you’ve got real tailwinds that credit unions can turn into sustainable growth. We also get practical about risk: global bond markets can still spark volatility, but the U.S. remains comparatively strong. With the mortgage-to-Treasury spread back near its long-term range, the 10-year is once again a reliable north star for rate direction.

The playbook is straightforward and urgent. Stop waiting for the media to turn positive. Double down on member outreach now, educate borrowers on how spreads and the 10-year drive rates, and use timely data to guide decisions. Prioritize purchase-readiness and database marketing while capturing a major HELOC opportunity fueled by record home equity. Expect fits and starts in a generally declining rate environment, and be ready to move when the metrics move. If you’re looking for a grounded, actionable read on where mortgages are headed and how credit unions can win, this conversation delivers.

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A bed behind a safe door shouldn’t feel extraordinary, yet for many families it is. We sit down with former MMA fighter and Fight for the Forgotten founder Justin Wren to unpack how land, water, and shelter form a chain that pulls people from survival to stability. Justin shares the turn from fighting people to fighting for people, and the practical steps his team uses to help communities secure land rights, drill wells, build homes, and launch livelihoods. His stories of sweat equity, trust, and dignity reveal a blueprint for real change that resonates far beyond the rainforest.

We connect those lessons to the challenges facing U.S. homebuyers: constrained inventory, rising costs, and a lending culture that can feel distant. Our conversation explores how credit unions can honor risk while rebuilding the human connection, using coaching, transparent pathways, and “hand up” models that reward effort and readiness. We talk candidly about perception, why community lenders get labeled as overly strict, and how consistent action and clear stories shift that narrative over time.

From a grandmother opening the door to her first bed to a vocational hub training carpenters and welders, Justin shows what happens when purpose meets persistence. The message for lenders, members, and neighbors is the same: action beats talk. Join us for a grounded, hopeful look at homeownership, community impact, and the everyday choices that open doors, literally and figuratively. If this conversation moves you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review to help others find the show.

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The market didn’t get easier last year, so we sharpened our approach. We invited mortgage loan officer Allie Hager to discuss a year of stretching her skills, finding her voice at ACUMA's Make Your Mark Annual Conference in Denver, and transforming a 10-minute ACUMAx talk into a playbook for sustainable growth at a credit union. The big idea is bold and straightforward: grow where you’re rooted. Instead of chasing new logos or roles, Allie shows how to turn your current platform into a launchpad by doubling down on member trust, Realtor certainty, and workflows that make lending feel human again.

We walk through the realities of 2025 origination and the tactics that actually moved the needle: clean pre-approvals, proactive updates, and tech that removes friction without losing warmth. Allie shares her favorite moments from ACUMA's Annual Conference, including unexpected connections. She also opens up about ACUMAx. The prep, the nerves, and the momentum it created for a longer talk that blends mindset with execution. Along the way, we delve into why credit unions are uniquely positioned to excel in fairness, transparency, and local market knowledge.

If you’re a credit union leader, lender, or marketer looking for practical ways to grow when refis are thin and buyers feel stuck, this conversation delivers: better Realtor partnerships, member-first communication, and data-driven insight that keeps you relevant. We close with what’s ahead for 2026 VIEWpoint Regional Summits, community experiences, and a renewed commitment to collaboration over competition. Tune in, take notes, and tell us how you’re growing where you’re rooted this year.

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Housing policy is moving, stalling, and evolving all at once, so we brought in policy analyst Joel Herberman, from Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, to cut through the noise. We begin with the Road to Housing Act, its removal from the defense bill, and how the House’s Housing for the 21st Century Act could still deliver meaningful reforms. From streamlined permitting to higher FHA loan limits and modern definitions that encompass modular and prefab, we identify the areas of genuine bipartisan overlap and the sticking points that will require genuine negotiation and a reliable legislative vehicle to support them.

We delve into small-dollar mortgages and the affordability conundrum. Joel explains how points-and-fees adjustments or competent pilots could make sub-$200,000 loans workable again in markets that need them most. Credit unions are well-positioned to lead in this area, filling the gap where commission-driven models often overlook low-balance loans. Tie that to modular and prefab growth, and you get a practical pathway to expand entry-level homeownership without compromising safety and soundness.

Then we turn to the CFPB leadership extensions, legal battles over funding, and what lenders should watch while the courts weigh in. The Bureau’s agenda isn’t disappearing, but timing and intensity may swing. We conclude with the January shutdown odds, what a partial funding landscape means for agencies, and a forward look at 2026: renewed GSE reform efforts, potential stock market movements, and a push for federal-level AI rules to avoid a 50-state patchwork. Throughout, we share practical steps for credit unions and mortgage teams to stay resilient with strong cash management, clear member communication, and model governance as AI matures.

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Sponsored by Loan Vision.

Year-end reflections are only useful if they’re honest, and that’s exactly where we go. We relive the moments that truly moved our community, an after party that validated creative risk, a rock paper scissors icebreaker that turned strangers into allies, and a pet partners activation that brought calm and joy to a packed annual. Alongside the wins, we get candid about what fell short: convention center logistics that thinned out late sessions, AV and lighting cues that needed tighter coordination, and a reminder that food quality can influence how people feel about everything else in the day.

From there, we lay out a sharper 2026 playbook for credit union mortgage professionals: three experiential summits designed for practical learning and real connection. Dallas adds that honky tonk energy and live music for fast rapport, St. Louis pairs content with a behind-the-scenes look at Anheuser-Busch to mirror operational excellence, and Baltimore brings heritage and innovation together at the Inner Harbor and Guinness Open Gate. We also double down on our network meetings for servicing and underwriting, and expand YPN with monthly meetups so emerging leaders get more reps, more mentorship, and more visibility.

You’ll hear why we’re shifting back to integrated hotel venues to improve session stickiness and casual collisions, how we’ll sequence general sessions with big panels and solo voices for better rhythm, and what we’re changing about production prep to keep live moments crisp. We also open up about the personal side of delivery, time, balance, and the discipline to slow down when the calendar finally does. Through it all, our focus stays on tangible member value: cleaner messaging around data products like our HMDA-driven analysis, clearer “why now” framing, and formats that make people want to stay in the room.

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A budget standoff ends, the lights come back on in Washington, and the housing world braces for what comes next. We examine the real consequences for lenders and borrowers when Congress relies on short-term fixes, including delayed hearings, stalled reauthorizations, and programs like flood insurance that are repeatedly pushed to the next deadline. With the continuing resolution in place, HUD and the CDFI Fund are back to full strength, which is good news for credit unions serving underserved communities. However, the timeline only stretches to January, and the policy stakes are rising.

Our conversation turns to the CFPB’s funding uncertainty after a new DOJ opinion argues the Bureau can only draw from Federal Reserve profits. With the Fed operating at a loss, future transfers are at risk, and rulemaking could slow just as the market debates bold affordability ideas. We break down FHFA’s high-profile float of 50-year mortgages along with portable and assumable loans, explaining how each tool targets different pain points. Lower payments help some buyers but slow equity growth; portability and assumability fight the rate lock that freezes inventory. The throughline is suitability and guardrails; product design must pair with strong underwriting and clear disclosures to avoid past mistakes.

We also chart the path of the ROAD to Housing Act, a rare bipartisan package that passed the Senate Banking Committee unanimously and may be included in the NDAA. Even a slimmer version could deliver practical wins for supply, program efficiency, and access, with standalone options if the defense bill route falters. Along the way, we separate the myths from the mechanics: affordability is as much about access to down payments as it is about monthly payments.

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Ready to rethink mortgages as more than a product line? We sit down with Jerry Reed, President and CEO of Member First Mortgage, to unpack why home lending is the most powerful lever credit unions have to build member wealth, stabilize neighborhoods, and win long-term relationships. Jerry makes a compelling case that mortgages are more than just loans — they’re a mission. They collect the richest data in consumer finance, open the door to personalized guidance, and tie members to the institution at life’s most pivotal financial moment.

We delve into the roadblocks that prevent many credit unions from committing to mortgages, including regulatory burden, tech complexity, staffing fluctuations, and fear of market cycles, among others. Jerry shares a practical blueprint for entering or scaling with confidence: partner with a mortgage-focused CUSO for overflow fulfillment, compliance, and secondary execution; utilize purchase or INPP channels to add assets and income; then sequence hiring for loan officers, processors, and underwriters as volume and competence grow. Along the way, we discuss the tools that matter: LOS stability, pricing and hedging, and eClose, as well as why realtor outreach and consistent turn times are key to unlocking purchase market share.

The conversation also tackles mission drift. Jerry traces the movement from people helping people to growth-at-all-costs, and why board leadership must reset priorities around member outcomes: lower closing costs, transparent pricing, real education on credit and affordability, and broader access for first-time and underserved buyers. The payoff is more than brand goodwill; it’s sustainable member loyalty, stronger communities, and resilient balance sheets built on homes rather than hype.

If you lead lending, strategy, or member experience at a credit union, this is a playbook for acting with purpose and precision in today’s market. Tune in now!

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