Connect & Collect Lexop

In this episode of Connect and Collect, we welcome Alisha Blondel, Director of Collections at FSU Credit Union.

What we're talking about in this episode:


Alisha's Career Journey: From starting as a Branch Teller in 2003 to becoming the Director of Collections, Alisha shares her professional growth story and the milestones along the way.
Empathetic Collections Approach: Learn about the shift towards a more understanding and empathetic approach to collections, which has proven effective in dealing with members compassionately.
Training and Performance Incentives: Alisha discusses innovative training techniques and performance incentives that motivate and empower collection teams.
Career Advice for Collection Professionals: Gain valuable insights and tips for both aspiring and current collections professionals looking to advance in their careers.
The CUCP Annual Conference: Hear about the impact of professional gatherings like the CUCP conference on community building and professional development within the credit union sector.
FSU Credit Union’s Community Impact: Explore how FSU Credit Union is making a significant impact in the community through educational initiatives and dedicated member service.

In this episode of Connect & Collect, we're joined by Lilly Megia and Janie Soto, Senior Vice President and Lending Manager at South Texas Credit Union. We discuss their career growth and evolution, the perspective women bring to the credit union industry internally and externally with members, and the importance of having a supportive network to lean on. 



The conversation also highlights their commitment to professional development, inspirational female figures that have shaped their life and careers, and the value of communication and support systems in fostering career growth and work-life balance.



What we're talking about in this episode:




The impact of mentorship and support to uplift women in your network
The unique strengths women bring to the industry
How to become better allies for women in the workplace
Advice for aspiring women leaders 

In this episode of Connect & Collect, Join Mark Avelar, Executive Vice President of Texas Bridge Credit Union and President of the Coastal Bend Chapter of Credit Unions, for a discussion on the importance of advocacy in legislative affairs, the power of community involvement and communication strategies to engage the younger generations.

We discuss the changing landscape of the credit union industry, particularly noting the need for empathy in member relations and an adaptive mindset in the face of ongoing technological advances. Mark also emphasizes the importance of connectivity both within communities and between credit union professionals.

What we’re talking about in this episode:

- The impact of legislative advocacy and community involvement on credit unions
- Overcoming the fear of change and the importance of internal adaptability
- Engaging and attracting younger generations and the value of empathetic communication
- How credit unions can help provide better financial literacy education

Visit out blog for more information and the transcript:

https://www.lexop.com/blog/podcast-championing-member-interests-through-legislative-advocacy-and-community-involvement

In this episode of Connect & Collect, we're joined by our very own, Sasha Bordonaro and Jordan Greenberg who have a chance to connect and speak with incredible credit unions (small and large) daily. We discuss the key trends and challenges faced by credit unions we're speaking with today. 



They highlight the importance of adopting technology to meet the changing needs of consumers, and the need to find solutions to address staffing shortages in the collections departments. 



What we’re talking about in this episode:

 


Embracing technology to adapt to members' evolving communication preferences.
The power of self-service payment options and analytics-driven decision-making.
Ways to combat staffing shortages, hiring challenges and improve employee well-being.



Visit out blog for more information and the transcript: https://www.lexop.com/blog/podcast-2024-trends-and-predictions-for-credit-union-collections

*Please note that the views and opinions expressed by our guests are solely their own and do not represent the views or opinions of their employer.



In this episode, Robert Keil, Chief Fintech Officer at FinWise Bank, dives into the fintech ecosystem and his role in exploring banking-as-a-service (BaaS) solutions to future-proof their community bank. We discuss various topics, including regulatory compliance, sustainable growth and profitability, effective risk management for delinquency control, and providing positive customer service experiences.



Visit out blog for more information and the transcript: https://www.lexop.com/blog/how-fintech-is-evolving-community-banking

Learn more about FinWise Bank 

*Please note that the views and opinions expressed by our guests are solely their own and do not represent the views or opinions of their employer.



In this episode, Alexandre Semenov, Customer Solutions Lead at SAS Institute, dives into accelerating digital transformation within financial services. Alexandre shares his expertise around overcoming the challenges of decision paralysis in adopting new technologies and his best advice to fail fast, learn and adapt quickly. We explore the increasing importance of data security and user-friendly customer experiences at every stage of the loan lifecycle.



Learn more about SAS Institute