Credit Union Rock Stars are typically known for their selflessness and dedication to others. Sheri Szemplinski and Arnessa Belin are no exceptions.  Sheri Szemplinski, operations administrator for the business operations team in commercial banking at $2.3 billion asset CAP COM Federal Credit Union in Albany, N.Y., has committed her legacy to volunteer work, both at the credit union and in her personal life.  Arnessa Belin, call center supervisor at $28 billion asset BECU in Tukwila, Wash., has found that a career in cooperative financial services allows her to express herself while creating change within her workplace and community.  They’re among 31 credit union leaders named as 2021 Credit Union Rock Stars by Credit Union Magazine. Sponsored by Fiserv, the Credit Union Rock Stars program recognizes outstanding credit union professionals and volunteers from a wide range of disciplines for their exceptional creativity, innovation, and passion. 

CUNA News Podcast

Committed to service

The credit union industry has seen extraordinary evolution in the last 18 months. In addition to shifts in technology and member service practices, the branch environment has also undergone significant changes. Credit unions must consider new points of vulnerability as they continue to drive more efficient operational processes. This episode of the CUNA News Podcast features Kevin Mullins, vice president of emerging markets at 3SI. Mullins outlines best practices for preventing crime, protecting front-line employees, and navigating other aspects of physical safety in credit union branches. He also explains how to continue serving member needs in a challenging labor market—and much more. 

Turnaround experts

When credit unions think about ways to drive growth, marketing may not be the first thing that comes to mind. But marketing shows enormous potential in this area. If marketing integrates well with the rest of the credit union, it ensures that goals and messages are clearly understood across departments and communicated to members. This episode of the CUNA News Podcast features James Gilbert, head of marketing at CRMNext. Gilbert says that marketing needs to be the communication channel for every function of the credit union to break down siloes between departments and effectively reach members. He also emphasizes the importance of personalization and data, the roles of contact center representatives and tellers in engaging with members, and more.

Connecting with lawmakers

Financial well-being is at the heart of the credit union philosophy. PSCU, a CUNA associate business member at the premier level, recently completed a study that assessed the financial health of credit union members and employees against a national benchmark.  The study, “How Credit Unions Can Become Financial Health Providers,” found that more than 60% of credit union members surveyed struggle financially, and at least one-third live paycheck –to paycheck. More than 60% of credit union employees struggle financially. PSCU has taken the opportunity to engage its employees in deeper discussions about personal finance and make financial wellness part of its strategic mission. In this episode, Merry Pateuk, senior vice president of industry engagement at PSCU, describes how the company shares this message with the rest of the credit union system and uses its products and services to integrate financial well-being into the payments process. 

Exploring bank sales

With deadlines approaching and preparation to be done, CECL compliance needs to be top-of-mind for credit unions. However, credit unions might be concerned about the cost and complexity involved or have questions about how to get started. This episode of the CUNA News Podcast features Shawn O&apos;Brien, president of QwickRate. O&apos;Brien provides guidance for keeping CECL compliance simple. He also shares tips for putting a plan in place and highlights how credit unions can use practical tools to streamline the process.

Women who lead

Ask for a definition of a fintech and you’ll get many different answers. Some believe they’re startup companies while others will say well-established companies with a focus on innovation fit the description. “In the truest sense of the term, it’s a provider of financial technology and we can all agree to that,” says Micheal Herman, president of AdvantEdge Digital, a CUNA Strategic Services alliance provider. “However, I think it goes beyond that. It’s really the mashup of words that signify the innovation culture.” Herman says fintech disruptors operate with the mindset of continuous improvement through technology innovation. In this episode of the CUNA News Podcast, sponsored by AdvantEdge Digital, Herman speaks about what qualifies a provider to be called a fintech, what the future of disruption may look like, and how credit unions can prepare today for the challenges of tomorrow.

Women in leadership

According to a study by Oxford Economics, Generation Z, or the generation of Americans born after about 1996, is projected to grow to a population of 51 million by 2030. Gen Z already has collective spending power of $143 billion, making this group an important focus for financial institutions. Credit unions, too, must effectively reach Gen Z to build membership and generate growth. This episode of the CUNA News Podcast features Bolun Li, founder and CEO of Zogo, a CUNA Strategic Services alliance provider. At age 19, Li launched Zogo from his dorm room at Duke University after witnessing the challenges financial institutions face in connecting with students like himself. Li describes the current relationship between Gen Z and credit unions, explains why it’s important for credit unions to prioritize this generation, and shares how credit unions can attract Gen Z members.

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CUNA News Podcast

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