The CUInsight Network – Details, episodes & analysis

“I can have significance in my life and my career in terms of helping credit unions and in some small way leave the world in a better place.” - Chris Tissue

Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest on today’s show is Chris Tissue, Chief Operating Officer at CUCollaborate, and he joins me for this episode to discuss something that can really spark some strong opinions across the industry—mergers. Listen in as he shares how his career path (from growing up in Pittsburgh in a family of entrepreneurs to working at Callahan & Associates, Deloitte, and Grant Thornton) eventually led him back to the credit union movement and into a role where he helps institutions think strategically about growth.

In our conversation, we start with Chris’s early career journey and how a liberal arts graduate who once dreamed of entrepreneurship found himself immersed in the credit union world. That experience ended up coming full circle when he joined a former colleague to build out the consulting practice at CUCollaborate.

Along the way, he and I discuss what the organization does day-to-day, and we also, of course, spend a good portion of the conversation discussing mergers, with Chris explaining how the industry historically viewed mergers as emergency solutions for struggling institutions. Nowadays, however, more financially healthy credit unions are considering mergers as a strategy to compete effectively and invest in the future, and Chris shares how his team approaches this work with a clear principle in mind: if a merger doesn’t meaningfully benefit members, it just should not happen.

As we wrap up the episode, we touch upon Chris’s craft beer passion, the leadership influence of his grandfather, why Chicago in the summer tops his travel list, and more! Enjoy my conversation with Chris Tissue!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Chris:
Chris Tissue, Chief Operating Officer at CUCollaborative
cucollaborate.com
Chris: LinkedIn
CUCollaborate: LinkedIn

Book mentioned: Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity by Kim Scott

Book series mentioned: The Witcher

“The exciting part of life is innovating—creating, filling the gap where previously there was a void.” - Har Rai Khalsa

Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest on today’s show is Har Rai Khalsa, Co-Founder and CEO of Swaystack. He joins me for a conversation about a challenge which many credit unions quietly wrestle with: turning new accounts into real, active relationships. Har Rai’s path into fintech wasn’t exactly the one he imagined as a kid. Like a lot of young athletes, he once pictured himself going pro, inspired by legends such as Derek Jeter. Instead, his career began in lending, where he spent years learning the mechanics of onboarding, underwriting, and the systems which power financial institutions. He also explains how that experience eventually led him to build technology solutions for financial institutions and ultimately launching Swaystack.

In our conversation, Har Rai shares how his team approached building their company and how—rather than assuming that they knew what credit unions needed—they began by asking a lot of questions. In their early conversations with credit unions, a surprising theme revealed itself: growth wasn’t actually the real problem. Many institutions were opening plenty of accounts, but far too many of those accounts were going inactive within months. We discuss why those first 90 days after opening an account are so incredibly important. Hear how onboarding responsibilities are scattered across departments such as marketing, retail, lending, and digital—yet no one actually owns the outcomes that matter most: balances, transactions, and direct deposit adoption.

As we wrap up the episode, Har Rai talks about how he appreciates a nice car, the cities he loves to visit, a book recommendation, and more! I hope that you enjoy my conversation with Har Rai Khalsa!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.
Connect with Har Rai:
Har Rai Khalsa, Co-Founder and C.E.O. of Swaystack
swaystack.com
Har Rai: LinkedIn
Swaystack: LinkedIn

“AI is going to be transformational for the credit union industry.” – Steve Rick

Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. 

Today's episode is the second part of a very special four-part series brought to you by TruStage! My guest on today’s show is Steve Rick, Chief Economist at TruStage. Listen as he takes a good look at what 2026 may have in store for credit unions and the members they serve. We start with where inflation, GDP, and the labor market appear to be heading—as well as why tariffs and immigration policy are likely to show up in everyday prices sooner than expected. Steve explains why inflation could push past 3% in early 2026 and how that reality continues to shape the Federal Reserve’s cautious approach to interest rates.

Steve gets into what many leaders are watching the most closely: rate cuts. He breaks down why the Fed is expected to gradually ease rates throughout 2026, how close we are to what economists consider a “neutral” rate, and why concerns about rising unemployment are guiding such decisions. From there, our conversation turns to credit unions, with Steve sharing his outlook for loan growth, deposits, and earnings, and we talk about consumer uncertainty, the impact of loans made during the ultra-low-rate years, and what all of this means for balance sheets this coming year.

As we wrap up the episode, Steve and I spend time talking about workforce trends and AI, where productivity gains are changing hiring patterns, reshaping call centers and lending teams, and even impacting recent college graduates trying to enter the job market. I hope that you enjoy my conversation with Steve Rick!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Steve:
Steve Rick, Chief Economist of TruStage
trustage.com
Steve: LinkedIn
TruStage: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

In this episode:
[0:52] - Steve reveals how tariffs and tighter immigration push prices higher, potentially lifting inflation above 3% in early 2026.
[2:17] - Expect gradual Fed rate cuts toward a neutral 3% as officials guard against rising unemployment.
[4:05] - Steve explains how loan growth improves to about 5%, while deposits rise 6%.
[5:25] - Earnings improve as margins widen and costs stay in check, with AI playing an expanding role.
[6:48] - AI-driven efficiency slows hiring, cutting projected workforce growth to roughly 1% next year.
[7:59] - Steve further touches upon how recent graduates face tougher entry as unemployment nears 10%.

“Serve your members while also maintaining and monitoring your loan portfolio.” - Dan Price

Thank you for tuning in to episode 37 of The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight.com. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest today is Dan Price, President at 2020 Analytics. Dan was a guest on the podcast last year and in this episode we dive right into the state of the economy, CECL, and rising interest rates. Dan shares insights on how credit unions and members are affected by these factors along with inflation and housing affordability. He believes credit unions are well positioned to help borrowers in this economy as well as continue building trusting relationships. The team at 2020 Analytics aims to help credit unions grow assets, improve returns, and save time. Dan shares his specialized insight of data management and algorithms for credit unions in this period of economic uncertainty.

In this episode, Dan speaks about the power of data and properly managing a diversified portfolio. Learn how data tracks the ripple effect of economic setbacks, such as the correlation between interest rates, unemployment, and delinquency. Dan explains that credit unions have the ability to be flexible when it comes to member purchasing power. He offers suggestions that maintain high-quality member service and also keep the pipeline open. 

Tune in to hear how 2020 Analytics plans to innovate for the future. Listeners will hear Dan emphasize the importance of using data to focus on creating convenience for borrowers. He also shares his thoughts on trends around risk management, member experience, and how credit unions can prosper in a bull market.

As we wrap up the episode, Dan gives a huge shout out to his children, shares what he enjoys about Spotify’s algorithm, and explains how he handles work-life integration. Enjoy my conversation with Dan Price!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Dan:
Dan Price, President at 2020 Analytics
dprice@ttadata.com
https://ttadata.com/   
Dan: LinkedIn | 2020 Analytics: LinkedIn  

“We have to be careful to not be chasing the shiny object.” - Doug Burke

Thank you for tuning in to episode 36 of The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight.com. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest today is Doug Burke, CEO at Aux. Aux is a CUSO that started as a shared branching network and has since expanded their services based on feedback from clients. Now, Aux offers a robust suite of credit union back-office services, such as accounting, compliance, and data analytics. Aux is committed to helping credit unions, specifically small- and medium-sized credit unions survive and thrive.

Doug started his career in the credit union industry over 30 years ago. In this episode, he explains how Aux takes the “people helping people” philosophy a step further as the ones helping credit unions so they are more equipped to help their members. Aux supports small and medium credit unions by taking on back-office tasks so their teams can focus on strategic growth.

Tune in to hear Doug speak about the growing team at Aux and how they maintain company culture in the midst of major shifts. He explains their team dynamics as a fully remote organization and how they stay connected. Doug emphasizes how their remote structure allows for increased talent pools and greater accessibility for their credit union clients. He shares his thoughts on how to keep team members motivated and emotionally healthy in a remote environment. During our conversation, you’ll also hear about trends for the future and how Aux plans to innovate to stay ahead of these challenges and meet the needs of credit unions and their members.

As we wrap up the episode, Doug shares his travel “must have” item, the nuclear shadow of Rocky Flats, and cycling with his son. Enjoy my conversation with Doug Burke!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Doug:
Doug Burke, CEO at Aux
dburke@auxteam.com
https://auxteam.com 
LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook

“When you look at the underlying  data, you are able to tell a better economic story of members.” - Pankaj Jain

Thank you for tuning in to episode 35 of The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight.com. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest today is Pankaj Jain, President and Co-Founder at Scienaptic AI. Pankaj shares his story and the experiences that inspired him to develop this technology and create Scienaptic AI, an AI-powered instant loan decision-making platform. We talk about how the Scienaptic team helps credit unions leverage data to better understand the background of each member, allowing credit unions to approve more loans while minimizing risk.

In this episode, Pankaj shares how Scienaptic supports underwriting efforts through alternative credit scoring and the positive impact it can have on ROI. In an effort to change the narrative of, “Every person is a risk,” Pankaj shares his vision of credit unions moving toward an “Every person gets credit” narrative. We discuss the impact Scienaptic can have on product offerings, loan processes, and the overall digital member experience.

Tune in to hear Pankaj provide insight on streamlining services to capture opportunities and exceed expectations. He discusses the importance of AI and creating a digital member experience that is easy to use and delivers instant gratification to users, specifically Gen Z. During our conversation, you’ll also learn how Scienaptic innovates to avoid disruption in the financial services industry and how they can add value to credit unions so they can stay ahead of these trends and thrive in the industry as well.

As we wrap up the episode, Pankaj talks about a recent purchase he can’t live without, what he finds inspirational about Elon Musk, and spending time in nature with his family. Enjoy my conversation with Pankaj Jain!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Pankaj:
Pankaj Jain, President and Co-Founder at Scienaptic AI
pankaj.jain@scienaptic.com
https://www.scienaptic.ai/
LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

“The more information you can empower employees with, the better the whole organization is.” - Ben Stangland

Thank you for tuning in to episode 34 of The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight.com. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest today is Ben Stangland, President and COO at Strum (previously Weber Marketing Group). After going through brand updates, Strum is now building upon their legacy with their two companies, Strum Agency and Strum Platform. Strum Agency is a full service marketing agency helping credit unions build growth strategies through naming, branding, and marketing. Strum Platform is a financial marketing analytics software that helps credit unions better understand their members through data.

Ben has been with Strum for over twenty years. In this episode, he describes how Strum works with credit unions to help create focus in their growth strategy. He shares the importance of understanding and reaching the credit union’s target member, while staying true to the mission of the organization. Ben puts great emphasis on helping credit unions through the process of renaming and rebranding as they evolve. He discusses the adaptation of machine learning, artificial intelligence, and cloud-based computing. Ben also gives key insights on the significance of sharing data within the organization rather than keeping it siloed. 

Tune in to hear Ben discuss trends that he finds important for the future of the movement and ways credit unions can innovate to meet those needs. Strum helps credit unions utilize the data they already have and supplement it with additional information to gain a better understanding of their members. During our conversation, you’ll also hear more about the rebranding process that Strum went through as they evolved from Weber Marketing Group into the robust organization they are today.

As we wrap up the episode, Ben talks about bullet journaling, jazz music, and spending time with his family. Enjoy my conversation with Ben Stangland!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Ben:
Ben Stangland, President and COO at Strum
ben.stangland@strumagency.com
https://www.strumagency.com
https://strumplatform.com
LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

“We create a great member experience while achieving compliance goals.” -Tony Repanich

Thank you for tuning in to episode 33 of The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight.com. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest today is Tony Repanich, President and COO at Shield Compliance. Shield Compliance works to transform how credit unions manage risk, comply with regulation, and satisfy growing operational demands associated with serving the legal cannabis market. Shield’s core platform technologies automate the compliance process and give credit unions the structure they need to monitor, measure, and control operations. Their Shield Assure, Shield Engage, and Shield Transact products ensure efficiency and reliability so credit unions can remain compliant while taking risks in a new line of business.

Tony has been in the financial services industry for over two decades. In this episode, he talks  about how Shield Compliance can unlock new business opportunities and add value to credit unions. He discusses the economic advantages of cannabis banking and how they can provide the technology needed to mitigate and manage risk. Tony addresses the concerns facing the cannabis banking industry, including regulatory requirements, risk assessments, and personal viewpoints. 

Tune in to hear Tony discuss ways to satisfy the regulatory and risk side while supporting access to banking for legal enterprises. Tony also shares ways credit unions in areas with legalized cannabis industries can help make their communities safer by providing access to banking for these cash-heavy businesses. During our conversation, you’ll also hear Tony dive into the cannabis banking playbook that he created to help credit unions understand the logistics of this new environment and frame out what they can expect.

As we wrap up the episode, Tony talks about the magic of Starbucks, his go-to podcast, and his favorite Peloton instructor. Enjoy my conversation with Tony Repanich!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Tony:
Tony Repanich, President and COO at Shield Compliance
tony@shieldbanking.com
www.shieldbanking.com     
LinkedIn | Facebook

“A great member experience is going to be holistic and involve everyone.” - Taylor Wells

Thank you for tuning in to episode 32 of The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight.com. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest today is Taylor Wells, Experience Director at On the Mark Strategies. The core mission at On the Mark Strategies is to guide credit unions in their strategic planning, branding, and building their member experience so they can succeed. The team has many years of credit union experience and truly believes in helping credit unions thrive in a competitive environment. On The Mark Strategies differentiates itself through its  core values, the three E’s: Engage, Educate, Entertain. 

In this episode, Taylor discusses the significance of the member experience and how On The Mark Strategies can help credit unions create a customized, authentic, and consistent experience for both employees and members.  Taylor shares the ways his team works with credit unions to understand and improve their member experience across multiple channels. He explains that the team starts with data collection and demographic work to understand the current state of the member experience and hosts multi-day workshops for the credit union team to recreate their ideal member experience. 

During our conversation, Taylor speaks to the disconnect between front and back-office employees and ways to generate buy-in from all levels of the organization.  He also shares the effects hiring, growth, and retention can have on the member experience. Taylor recommends credit unions also look outside of the industry to bring in new talent, while not overlooking ways they can promote from within.  To maximize ROI and brand impact, Taylor advises credit unions to align their community involvement and charitable donations with their brand values and target audiences.  As we wrap up the conversation, Taylor calls out the importance of actionable strategic plans, organizational health, effective marketing, and more.

Tune in to hear Taylor talk about his growing hat collection, his favorite Michael Jordan quote, and the book he recommends everyone read. Enjoy my conversation with Taylor Wells!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Taylor:
Taylor Wells, Experience Director at On the Mark Strategies
taylor@markarnold.com
https://www.markarnold.com   
LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter 

“Disruption comes in all shapes and sizes.” - Dania Buchanan

Thank you for tuning in to episode 31 of The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight.com. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest today is Dania Buchanan, the President at SmartVault. The core mission at SmartVault is providing businesses with a central document destination that enables the adoption of a fully digital, fully automated document workflow. The SmartVault system is also highly secure and supports regulatory compliance mandates. They focus on reducing or eliminating routine and repetitive tasks associated with document workflows, serving small and mid-sized businesses like credit unions.

While she originally wanted to be a journalist, in this episode Dania discusses the inspiration that led to founding SmartVault and taking on the role as President. She shares that product disruption is exciting to her, as her team turns traditional document management on its head. We explore ways that integrating document management into the apps and workflows credit unions are already using can make them more competitive.

Dania always works to create a culture where staff can do the best and most vibrant work of their careers. Throughout the episode, we talk through the needs of employees to be able to collaborate whether working from the office, at home, or in a hybrid of the two. Dania expresses how important community service is to her as a leader and how she intentionally builds structures for her whole team to participate. As technology continues to evolve, Dania recommends building the foundation first and leveraging incremental change instead of trying to redo everything at once.

As we wrap up the episode, Dania shares a favorite beverage, her go-to podcasts, and the person she thinks of first when she hears the word “success.” Enjoy my conversation with Dania Buchanan!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Dania:
Dania Buchanan, President at SmartVault
dbuchanan@smartvault.com
https://www.smartvault.com/
LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram