It was another great year for the CUInsight contributor community. We're thankful for the industry folks who continue to write great content that keeps our readers informed about the issues that are most affecting credit unions today.
Without further ado, let's count down the top 25 community posts of 2024!
by. Nanci Wilson, Luminate
"Sending staff to events is not just a checkmark that you can put on your excel spreadsheet and then consider it done."
by. Ty Schwamberger, Lending Solutions Consulting
"The rising delinquency rates pose several challenges for credit unions. First and foremost is the potential impact on their financial health."
by. Christie Smith, Acclaim Federal Credit Union
"Our members, much like me, crave recognition and personalized service. They want to feel valued, known, and appreciated."
by. Randy Pennington, Armstrong Speakers
"High performing cultures consistently focus on serving the member. Cultures in distress look internally at all the things that are going wrong."
by. Corrin Maier, TruStage
"Embedded lending enables credit unions to compete in this space, seamlessly incorporating their loan offers and services into non-financial platforms to get offers in front of people when they are most receptive."
by. Cameron Madill, PixelSpoke
"The most effective credit union leaders I know are not laser focused on asset size and financial growth, but give equal weight to the environmental, social, and economic health of the communities they serve."
by. Jill Nowacki, Humanidei
"All it really takes is listening to our employees, investing in their achievement of important goals, showing appreciation, and caring for them as whole humans."
by. Nicole Kern, Zogo
"Artificial intelligence (AI) is making financial education more personalized and accessible."
by. Carl Clark, Humanidei
"You can’t have spelling errors and typos on your resume. It can jade someone’s perception of you."
by. Becky Reed, BankSocial
"Small credit unions just cannot adopt newer technologies to enhance both the member and the employee experience because their core just can’t handle it!"
"Credit unions aren't charging credit card late fees to maximize revenue. Credit unions are not-for-profit financial cooperatives. They charge them to cover the cost of doing business."
by. Randy Ralston, DaLand CUSO
"If your institution isn’t actively considering how Bitcoin custody, blockchain integration, or decentralized finance fits into your future strategy, you’re already behind."
"Creating, maintaining and leading a 'people first' culture takes work. And the results will far outweigh the work when you build relationships AND drive results."
by. Caroline Willard, Cornerstone League
"Modernizing FOM rules is a crucial step toward making affordable financial products and services accessible to those who need it most."
by. Shawn Melamed, Spiral
"Meet younger members where they are—with the right message."
by. Bill Partin, The Leadership Bet
"Creating, maintaining and leading a 'people first' culture takes work. And the results will far outweigh the work when you build relationships AND drive results."
by. Darren Smith, ATM USA
"Community engagement is becoming increasingly crucial for credit unions looking to attract new members, particularly younger generations."
by. Brian Schools, Chartway Federal Credit Union
"The mission of America’s Credit Unions is to advocate for and advance an environment where credit unions thrive."
by. Shawn Melamed, Spiral
"The shift towards AI-driven personalized banking isn't just a change for credit unions—it's a transformative opportunity."
by. Nanci Wilson, Luminate
"I’m a teller. Not ‘just’ a teller. I’m a front line first responder for our members to trust."
by. Lauren Culp, CUInsight
"Countless female peers and I have heard the gamut over the course of our careers. Everything from 'too young' and 'too old,' to biased feedback like 'too confident' and 'not humble enough,' to unsolicited pet names like 'honey' and 'kiddo.'"
"Yes, convenience is good … until it compromises member relationships. Remember chatbots, phone trees and more can frustrate consumers. Don’t sacrifice your brand reputation at the altar of AI."
by. Randy Ralston, DaLand CUSO
"Today, consumers expect the convenience of digital transactions, and the ability to manage their finances at the touch of a button."
by. Randy Ralson, DaLand CUSO
And the number one CUInsight community post of 2024 is...
by. Tansley Stearns, Community Financial Credit Union
"It's risky to be fully you. There will be those who wish to dim your light. They'll take a hammer to the bulb when you've flipped the switch back on too many times. Instead of slipping into the dark, laugh as loudly as you can, light a candle, and watch the room glow in your radiance."
