Episodes

  • How First US Community Credit Union Is Driving Digital Growth

    How First US Community Credit Union Is Driving Digital Growth
    Apr 29 2026
    What does it take for a $500 million credit union to compete like a much larger institution? Live from Alkami Co:lab in San Diego, Jim Marous sits down with Shonna Shearson, President and CEO, and Diana La Point, Chief Growth Officer, of First US Community Credit Union. The conversation explores how the credit union is moving beyond being “the best kept secret” by prioritizing digital onboarding, member experience, data-driven engagement, stronger partnerships and internal culture. Shonna and Diana explain why digital transformation is not about buying more technology. It is about knowing who you are, understanding how your members are changing, reducing friction and making sure employees see themselves as the brand. For community banks and credit unions trying to grow with limited resources, this episode shows how smaller institutions can use focus, speed and the right partnerships to punch above their weight. Sponsored by Alkami Technologies. #FIsionaries #Alkami #CreditUnions #DigitalBanking #BankingTransformation #CommunityBanking #MemberExperience #BankingInnovation #FinancialServices #DigitalTransformation #CreditUnionGrowth #BankingLeadership #DataDrivenBanking
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    28 mins
  • 88% Digital with Zero Silos: Belco's Omnichannel Playbook

    88% Digital with Zero Silos: Belco's Omnichannel Playbook
    Mar 5 2026
    Most financial institutions talk about omnichannel. Belco Community Credit Union built it. With 88% of members active in digital banking and a 4.8-rated mobile app, Belco has achieved what many credit unions are still striving for: a seamless member experience where branch, contact center, and digital services function as one. But the real story isn’t the numbers. It’s the strategic alignment behind them. In this episode of FIsionaries™, Jim Marous talks with Brittany Bollinger, Digital Banking Analyst, and Heather Cluck, Director of Product Strategy and Development at Belco Community Credit Union, to explore how they eliminated channel silos, aligned their organization around a member-first vision, and created a digital experience that enhances the branch rather than replacing it. In this conversation: • The Strategic Alignment that reset Belco’s priorities • Why 88% digital adoption made their branches more relevant, not less • How web and mobile are designed as one unified experience • The data and feedback loops used to remove friction across every channel • Real examples of member input driving cross-channel change • What’s next on their 12 to 18-month roadmap If you lead retail banking, oversee digital, or are trying to make your branch and your app feel like the same institution, this conversation will reshape how you think about omnichannel.
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    42 mins
  • How OnPath Credit Union Turned a Merger into a Digital Growth Engine

    How OnPath Credit Union Turned a Merger into a Digital Growth Engine
    Jan 13 2026
    Most credit union mergers promise transformation. Few deliver it. Jared Freeman, CEO of OnPath Credit Union, turned a merger with Louisiana Federal Credit Union into something rare: an actual catalyst for change. While other institutions get bogged down in integration challenges, OnPath accelerated innovation, reimagined their digital experience, and scaled personalized service across a growing membership. This isn't a story about technology adoption or digital buzzwords. It's about using a moment of complexity to build something better. A credit union that combines the reach of scale with the intimacy of community banking. In this conversation, Jared shares how OnPath leveraged data to deepen member relationships, chose technology partnerships that aligned with their vision, and kept teams inspired through major organizational change. More importantly, he reveals the specific decisions and principles that allowed them to move fast when most institutions freeze. For credit union leaders wrestling with growth, digital expectations, and maintaining culture through change, this episode offers a blueprint grounded in execution, not aspiration.
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    36 mins
  • From Data to Delight: Building an Exceptional CX Journey

    From Data to Delight: Building an Exceptional CX Journey
    Sep 17 2025
    Right now, the greatest threat to banking isn’t fintechs or big tech—it’s member indifference. If your experience doesn’t engage, your members will quietly drift away. Your members don’t compare you to the credit union down the street. They compare you to Amazon, Netflix, and Apple. If your experience isn’t as seamless, you’re already behind. For banks and credit unions, falling short means disengagement, lost loyalty, and missed growth in a marketplace where switching has never been easier. On this episode of FIsionaries, I sit down with Jared Barr, Chief Experience Officer at Grow Financial Federal Credit Union, to explore how one institution is meeting this challenge head-on. Over the past eight years, Jared has helped Grow transform its approach to marketing, digital, and member services, culminating in his leadership of the entire customer journey as CXO. This conversation is both a wake-up call and a roadmap: competing on products and pricing is no longer enough. The real differentiator is experience. Jared shares practical strategies to break down silos, modernize engagement, and design journeys that don’t just meet expectations—but create loyalty, advocacy, and long-term growth.
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    38 mins
  • How Trustmark Bank is Combining Human + Digital in Treasury Management

    How Trustmark Bank is Combining Human + Digital in Treasury Management
    Jun 5 2025
    In this episode of the FIsionaries Podcast at Co:lab 2025, Ryan Hill, First Vice President and Product Director of Corporate Treasury Services at Trustmark National Bank, shares how Trustmark balances AI, technological advancement, and meaningful client engagement in commercial banking. Hill discusses the importance of communicating effectively with clients and internal teams, and how Trustmark approaches vendor partnerships to enhance its treasury management capabilities. Finally, Hill shares how Trustmark enhances security, improves client education, and prepares for an AI-driven future while maintaining the consultative approach that defines their business relationships.
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    32 mins
  • How American Eagle FCU Improves the Financial Wellness of Members

    How American Eagle FCU Improves the Financial Wellness of Members
    Jun 3 2025
    In this episode of the FIsionaries Podcast from Co:lab 2025, Pamela Villanova, SVP of Digital Services, and Mari Gadlin, Director of Digital Banking Services, from American Eagle Financial Credit Union, share how they're building a digital-first mindset focused on personalization and financial wellness. The conversation explores how a credit union of modest size evaluates and selects technology partners, builds internal enthusiasm for digital initiatives, and creates solutions that members may not even know they need. Their enthusiasm is infectious as they share the challenges and triumphs of creating meaningful digital engagement while maintaining the personal touch that members value.
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    24 mins
  • Mountain America's Member-Centric Digital Evolution

    Mountain America's Member-Centric Digital Evolution
    May 29 2025
    In this episode of the FIsionaries Podcast, we're joined by James Hilton, VP of Product Management for Digital Solutions, and Jesse Evenson, Director of Quality and Site Reliability, from Mountain America Credit Union in Salt Lake City. With a legacy of member-focused service primarily through branches, MACU is navigating the challenge of creating "a digital twin" of their acclaimed in-person experience. Hear how this credit union balances security with frictionless service, uses observability to measure member satisfaction, and why they believe anticipatory banking powered by AI will transform the member experience in the future. Our guests also share how traditional institutions can embrace digital transformation without losing their cultural identity.
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    33 mins
  • NASA Federal's Formula for Digital Transformation Success

    NASA Federal's Formula for Digital Transformation Success
    May 27 2025
    In this episode of the FIsionaries Podcast from Co:lab 2025, I'm joined by Liam Petraska, Digital Banking Manager at NASA Federal Credit Union. Petraska shares the remarkable story of how the $5.5 billion credit union transformed its member experience from a dated platform with 1.3-star reviews to a modern solution earning 4.8 stars in less than 18 months. He reveals the keys to their success, including strong leadership buy-in, cross-functional collaboration, clear communication strategies, and a culture that embraces continuous evolution. Tune in to discover how NASA Federal approaches vendor selection, manages organizational change, and maintains momentum in the constantly evolving landscape of digital banking.
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    38 mins