Épisodes

  • Shouldn't Every Decision Be About the Member?
    Oct 22 2025

    Join Dan Daggett and Melanie Munsey as they sit down with Tansley Stearns, CEO of Community Financial Credit Union and recent inductee into the Herstory Exhibit at America's Credit Union Museum. This powerful conversation explores how credit unions can stay relevant by making listening a superpower, creating innovation through member stories, and remembering the humble roots of the cooperative movement.

    Featured Guest
    • Tansley Stearns - CEO of Community Financial Credit Union, former Filene Research Institute leader, Herstory Exhibit inductee, champion of financial wellness and collaborative innovation
    Key Topics Covered
    • Listening as a Superpower
    • The Relevance Crisis
    • Innovation Through Collaboration
    • Revenue Diversification and CUSOs
    • The Humility Factor
    • The Chapter Meeting Era vs. Today
    • Mental Health and Financial Well-being Connection
    • The Regulatory Balance
    • Getting Back to Stories Over Scores
    • Success Stories and Initiatives
    • Collaborative Legacy

    Want to keep more, earn more, and serve better? Discover how Credit Unions First helps credit unions build stronger, more profitable communities at creditunionsfirst.org.

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    22 min
  • How Are Credit Unions Doing Managing Uninsured Collateral Losses?
    Sep 11 2025

    The uninsured driver crisis is creating catastrophic exposure for credit union auto portfolios across America.

    In the latest episode of the Members First Mindset podcast, hosts Dan Daggett, Chief Strategy Officer at Credit Unions First, and Melanie Munsey, CEO, Credit Unions First speak with Scott Eckerty, President of HUB Financial Services, who brings 33 years of experience helping credit unions manage insurance risks.

    They reveal the shocking reality that 35.7 million Americans drive without insurance due to affordability issues, while credit unions face $40,000-$75,000 total loss claims on performing loans when borrowers drop coverage. They expose the "teaser pricing" problem plaguing the insurance industry and show how transparent, collaborative partnerships protect credit union portfolios through monthly stewardship and member education.

    Need transparent insurance partnerships that prioritize your members? Contact Hub Financial Services at HubFinServices.com to learn how their collaborative approach protects credit union portfolios.

    Want to keep more, earn more, and serve better? Discover how Credit Unions First helps credit unions build stronger, more profitable communities at creditunionsfirst.org.

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    27 min
  • The Power of Branding and Marketing With the CUSO M3 Group
    Sep 2 2025

    Building a powerful brand starts with understanding who you serve and why you exist.

    In the latest episode of the Members First Mindset podcast, hosts Dan Daggett, Chief Strategy Officer at Credit Unions First, and Melanie Munsey speak with two marketing leaders transforming how credit unions connect with their communities:

    Tiffany Dowling, CEO of M3 Group, brings 23+ years of credit union marketing expertise and shares her journey from independent agency owner to CUSO leader. Melissa DeMott, Senior Client Strategist at M3 Group, leads their innovative pod system that delivers dedicated marketing teams to credit unions nationwide.

    They reveal how their M3 Method—Magnify, Motivate, Mobilize—helped Credit Unions First grow from 17 LinkedIn followers to nearly 1,000 in one year. They show how authentic branding rooted in research creates lasting member connections and drives measurable growth.

    Ready to transform your credit union's marketing? Contact M3 Group at M3group.biz

    Want to keep more, earn more, and serve better? Discover how Credit Unions First helps credit unions grow stronger communities at creditunionsfirst.com.

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    30 min
  • Mission-Driven CUSOs: Members Mobile, Reseda Group, and FI SAFE
    Jul 21 2025

    Host Dan Daggett, Chief Strategy Officer of Credit Unions First, is joined by guest co-host Emily Jorgensen, Manager of Training and Development at Credit Unions First, for a conversation with two leaders driving innovation in the credit union space:

    • Ben Maxim, Chief Technology Officer at MSU Federal Credit Union and Chief Operating Officer of Reseda Group
    • Jonathan Taylor, Executive Vice President of Partnerships at Members Mobile and founding partner of FI SAFE

    They explore how Members Mobile started as a way to help domestic violence survivors regain financial control and has grown into a credit union-owned mobile network. Ben shares why Reseda Group invested in the project, seeing it as a new delivery channel for financial services. Together, the group discusses how bundling mobile service with checking accounts and loans can deepen member engagement and improve financial inclusion.

    Learn more at:
    membersmobile.com
    resedagroup.com
    creditunionsfirst.org

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    35 min
  • Reimagining Credit Unions: NACUSO's Roadmap for Collaboration and Growth
    Jan 27 2025

    In this episode of Members First Mindset, hosts Dan Daggett and Melanie Munsey welcome Adam Lee, Head of Innovation at NACUSO and Ronaldo Hardy, Former President, NACUSO to discuss the future of credit unions, the ever-growing fintech landscape, and how NACUSO's "Reimagine" approach is setting the stage for 2025 and beyond. From embracing rapid change to supporting diverse leadership, you'll learn how NACUSO is uniting credit unions, CUSOs, and other industry partners to ensure the movement thrives for decades to come. They also share personal credit union stories that highlight the very real, human impact of putting members first.

    Points of interest
    • (00:00) Welcome to Members First Mindset

    • (02:07) The Elephant in the Room: Why Credit Unions Struggle

    • (06:35) Leadership & Mindset Shifts

    • (08:55) Reimagine 2025: NACUSO's Strategic Growth Conference

    • (11:12) Fun, Creativity, and the "Walls-Down Ecosystem"

    • (13:25) Collaboration: NACUSO, Reseda, and CUS

    • (16:15) NACUSO Business Services

    • (21:40) Personal Stories & Member Impact

    • (30:10) Parting Thoughts

    • (32:00) Wrap-Up

    Disclaimer: This episode featuring Ronaldo Hardy was recorded prior to his departure from NACUSO. We have decided to air this episode in it's entirety as we believe his insights and perspectives remain highly valuable to our audience and the credit union movement.

    If your credit union is ready to enhance member experience and streamline operations, consider exploring the benefits of Blanket LSI for your collateral protection program. Connect with us to learn how Credit Unions First can help you "Earn more, keep more, and serve better."

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    35 min
  • Blanket LSI is a Win-Win for Member Experience and Credit Union Growth
    Oct 29 2024

    In this follow-up episode of Member's First Mindset, host Dan Daggett, Chief Strategy Officer, Credit Unions First and guest co-host Jon Jorgenson, Co-Founder, Credit Unions First continue the discussion from "Is Your Collateral Protection Program Hurting Your Members?"

    Joined again by AMOCO Federal Credit Union's CFO, Jeremy Silva and COO, Ashley Carner, they explore how transitioning from force-placed CPI to Blanket Lender's Single Interest (LSI) insurance has brought meaningful improvements to member experience, operational ease, and financial outcomes.

    Dan, Jon, Jeremy, and Ashley share updates on their journey over the past 18 months, focusing on how this innovative program empowers credit unions to "Earn more, keep more, and serve better."

    Points of interest

    • 00:00 Introduction and Recap of Previous Episode
    • 00:21 Meet the Hosts and Guests
    • 01:08 Jon's Path from Force-Placed Insurance to LSI
    • 03:21 Discovering Blanket LSI: A Solution with Impact
    • 04:30 Building Transparency with the Navigator Platform
    • 05:38 AMOCO's Transition Journey with Blanket LSI
    • 08:58 Improved Member Experience and Operational Ease
    • 09:49 Financial Impact on Repossession and Loan Performance
    • 10:54 Insights Gained: Reduced Delinquencies and New Efficiencies
    • 13:45 Net Benefit Calculations: Measuring the Financial Impact
    • 14:34 Real-Time Premium Adjustments and Loss Ratio Control
    • 15:51 Reflections on Success and the Road Ahead
    • 18:00 Final Thoughts

    If your credit union is ready to enhance member experience and streamline operations, consider exploring the benefits of Blanket LSI for your collateral protection program. Connect with us to learn how Credit Unions First can help you "Earn more, keep more, and serve better."

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    21 min
  • Even If A Business Decision Is Legal, Is It Ethical?
    Aug 12 2024

    Join Dan and Mel as they talk about business ethics with industry leader Mike Kelly, President and CEO of TeamOnUp.

    In this episode, you'll learn about:

    • The challenges credit unions face in making decisions that are both legal and ethical.
    • The complexities of long-term contracts
    • The importance of keeping members at the forefront of decision-making.

    This discussion spans personal experiences, mission management, and the critical balance between profitability and ethical stewardship. We hope you enjoy.

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    32 min
  • The Passion Behind The Credit Union Movement
    Jun 3 2024

    In this episode Dan and Mel are joined by Jennifer Audette, CEO of Polam Federal Credit Union, and Stephanie Smith, Executive Director of America's Credit Union Museum to discuss the rich history and unwavering passion of the credit union movement, emphasizing the 'people helping people' mantra. Filled with heartfelt anecdotes and reflections, this episode highlights how credit unions make a lasting difference in their communities

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    31 min