The Credit Union Sales and Marketing Podcast

Bill McKenna and Paul Robert
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Marketing
  • Updated Weekly

Each week, your hosts, Bill McKenna, Paul Robert, and their special guest, discuss what’s happening in the credit union sales & marketing world. While their focus is primarily on the credit union industry, many of the topics and discussions can also be applied to the community banking vertical. The primary goal of this podcast is to create engaging discussions about how you best align the efforts of sales and marketing teams at financial institutions. How do you get them to work more effectively to accelerate growth and maximize impact and earnings.

  1. Aug 11

    Leadership and Culture in Credit Unions

    In this episode, William McKenna and Paul Robert interview Bob Flanyak, the retiring CEO of Chrome Federal Credit Union, located in Washington, PA. They explore leadership, branding, community engagement, technology, and the importance of culture in credit unions, offering valuable insights for industry professionals. Takeaways: ·      Leadership and culture in credit unions ·      Building a strong community brand ·      The role of technology in member experience ·      Insights from Bob Flanyak’s career and leadership ·      The future of credit union leadership ·      Our evolving credit union industry ·      Succession at credit unions Key Words: #credit union #leadership #branding #communityengagement #technology #culture #banking #financialservices #CEO #retirement #successionplanning Hosts: Bill McKenna Paul Robert Guest: Bob Flanyak Former CEO, CHROME FCU

  2. Jun 8

    Empowering Families Through Financial Education

    In this episode of the Credit Union Sales and Marketing Podcast, hosts Bill McKenna and Paul Robert discuss the importance of financial education with Nicole Hood, co-founder and CEO of My First Nest Egg. The conversation explores the innovative family-first approach to financial wellness, emphasizing the need to educate both children and parents. Nicole shares insights on tailoring financial education for different age groups, the development of a Chore Allowance app, and the integration of financial literacy into classrooms. Takeaways: ·      Financial education can differentiate credit unions in the market. ·      A family-first approach to financial wellness is essential. ·      Parents often need financial education as much as their children. ·      Engaging parents helps reinforce financial concepts at home. ·      Tailoring education for different age groups is crucial. ·      Visual learning aids help children understand financial goals. ·      Engaged employees can champion financial education programs. Keywords: #financialeducation #creditunions #financialliteracy #youtheducation #MyFirstNestEgg #financialwellness Hosts: Bill McKenna Paul Robert Guest: Nicole Hood My First Nest Egg

  3. Mar 5

    The Power of AI in Strategic Planning

    In this episode, Bill McKenna and Paul Robert discuss the importance of strategic planning for credit unions with guest Dave Crocker, Chief Strategic Officer at Strategic Process Management. They explore the need for credit unions to challenge conventional thinking, align their goals within strategic planning, and understand the role of leadership and the board in this process. The conversation introduces ProStrategy.AI, a tool designed to enhance strategic planning by providing a structured process and utilizing AI to generate insights and align strategies, goals, and people with organizational objectives. Takeaways: ·      Strategic planning should extend beyond immediate goals ·      Alignment between leadership and the board is essential ·      ProStrategy.AI enhances the strategic planning process ·      AI can help generate new ideas and insights ·      Credit unions must focus on being elite, not just surviving ·      Cultural integration of strategic planning is vital ·      The Strategic Value Analysis is a key component of planning ·      Effective strategic planning is a continuous process Keywords: #creditunions  #strategicplanning #ProStrategy.AI #leadership #organizationalalignment #credituniongrowth #strategicvalueanalysis #corporateculture #innovation Hosts: Bill McKenna Paul Robert Guest: Dave Crocker Strategic Process Management ProStrategy.AI

  4. Feb 16

    Transforming Credit Unions with AI and Data Analytics

    In this episode of the Credit Union Sales and Marketing Podcast, hosts Bill McKenna and Paul Robert welcome Mitch Rutledge, CEO and co-founder of Vertice AI. The conversation explores the evolving landscape of community financial institutions and the increasing need for data-driven strategies to meet consumer expectations. Mitch shares insights on how Vertice AI empowers credit unions to understand and grow their member base through advanced analytics, personalized engagement, and innovative new member acquisition strategies. The discussion also addresses common misconceptions about AI and emphasizes the importance of proactive engagement in enhancing member relationships. Takeaways: ·      Consumer expectations have shifted, requiring smaller institutions to adopt data-driven strategies. ·      Community financial institutions must respond to consumer demands for personalized engagement. ·      Credit unions must understand and grow their member base through data analytics. ·      Data integration is crucial for credit unions to leverage existing member information effectively. ·      Member acquisition strategies that focus on leveraging existing member data to identify prospects. ·      Misconceptions about AI include the belief that extensive data and data scientists are necessary for implementation. ·      Personalized experiences are increasingly expected by consumers across all generations. Hosts: Bill McKenna Paul Robert Guest: Mitch Rutledge Vertice AI

  5. Feb 2

    The Evolution of Credit Unions and Business Lending

    In this episode of the Credit Union Sales and Marketing Podcast, hosts Bill McKenna and Paul Robert welcome Mark Ritter, CEO of MBFS, to discuss the evolving landscape of business lending within credit unions. Mark shares his extensive experience in small business lending, the importance of building relationships with members, and how credit unions can effectively serve their local business communities. The conversation highlights the growing interest in business lending, the types of loans in demand, and the role of CUSO in supporting credit unions. Takeways: ·      Building relationships is key in business lending. ·      Credit unions serve their members, including small business owners. ·      The landscape of business lending is evolving post-pandemic. ·      Credit unions can enhance their bottom line through business lending. ·      Proactive communication is essential for cultivating business relationships. Keywords: #creditunions #businesslending #MarkRitter #commerciallending #smallbusiness #CUSO, #financialservices #communitybanking Hosts: Bill McKenna Paul Robert Guest: Mark Ritter MBFS

  6. 12/22/2025

    Navigating the Credit Union Marketing Landscape

    In this episode of the Credit Union Sales and Marketing Podcast, hosts Bill McKenna and Paul Robert welcome Mark Arnold, of On the Mark Strategies. The conversation covers Mark's journey in the industry, the importance of execution in marketing strategies, and the challenges faced by credit unions, particularly small to mid-sized ones. They discuss the 'knowing-doing gap' in marketing, the significance of internal branding and culture, and the evolving definitions of service in the financial sector. The episode emphasizes the need for clarity and simplicity in branding, the role of data in marketing, and the importance of follow-up in member engagement. Takeaways: ·      Mark Arnold's industry journey ·      The importance of execution in marketing strategies for credit unions ·      Understanding the 'knowing-doing gap' in marketing execution ·      The Brand Triangle Model: leadership, employee engagement, and member satisfaction ·      Challenges faced by small to mid-sized credit unions in marketing ·      Leveraging data for actionable insights in marketing strategies

  7. 12/15/2025

    The Evolution of Credit Unions and Business Lending

    In this episode of the Credit Union Sales and Marketing Podcast, hosts Bill McKenna and Paul Robert welcome Mark Ritter, CEO of MBFS, to discuss the evolving landscape of business lending within credit unions.Mark shares his extensive experience in small business lending, the importance of building relationships with members, and how credit unions can effectively serve their local business communities. The conversation highlights the growing interest in business lending, the types of loans in demand, and the role of CUSO in supporting credit unions.Takeways:·      Building relationships is key in business lending.·      Credit unions serve their members, including small business owners.·      The landscape of business lending is evolving post-pandemic.·      Credit unions can enhance their bottom line through business lending.·      Proactive communication is essential for cultivating business relationships.

  8. 09/22/2025

    Harnessing AI for Reputation Management

    In this episode of the Credit Union Sales and Marketing Podcast, hosts Bill McKenna and Paul Robert welcome back Jason Causa, the founding partner of Reviews Up, to discuss the critical role of reputation management in the credit union industry. They explore how AI technology can enhance reputation strategies, the importance of building trust and member loyalty, and the often-overlooked significance of employee reviews. The conversation emphasizes the need for credit unions to focus on perceived outcomes, realistic rating goals, and the integration of employee feedback into their overall reputation management strategy. Takeaways: ·      Reputation management is crucial for credit unions. ·      AI can enhance how credit unions respond to reviews. ·      Building trust is essential for member loyalty. ·      Employee reviews significantly impact overall reputation. ·      Perceived outcomes influence member decisions. ·      Striving for a 4.5 rating is more realistic than perfection. ·      NPS should complement, not replace, reputation management. ·      A positive culture can drive better member experiences. ·      Online reviews directly correlate with member acquisition.

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About

Each week, your hosts, Bill McKenna, Paul Robert, and their special guest, discuss what’s happening in the credit union sales & marketing world. While their focus is primarily on the credit union industry, many of the topics and discussions can also be applied to the community banking vertical. The primary goal of this podcast is to create engaging discussions about how you best align the efforts of sales and marketing teams at financial institutions. How do you get them to work more effectively to accelerate growth and maximize impact and earnings.

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