CU Spotlight

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Shining a light on the credit unions, partners and nonprofits powering the movement.

6d ago

Beyond the Login Screen: What a Real Fintech Partnership Looks Like

What does it actually take to build a digital banking platform members love — and a vendor partnership that survives the tough moments too? In this episode of The Synergent Connect 2026 Conference series, host Jonathan Taylor sits down with Alexa Drass (AccessSoftek), Deb White Rideout, and Martha Ward (University Credit Union of Maine) to unpack their multi-year journey from mobile-only banking to a full omnichannel digital experience. Key takeaways: • Innovation only works with trust — University Credit Union upgraded not because they had to, but because continued innovation from their vendor made the choice easy. • Preparation prevents chaos — five months of cross-departmental testing meant their go-live needed almost no extended support. • Real partnership shows up in the hard moments — see how AccessSoftek went to bat with a third-party vendor (Plaid) even when there was no financial incentive to do so. • Member data drives the roadmap — credit unions and fintech partners are using AI and member feedback to find the "next biggest problem," not just the next product. Whether you're a credit union leader evaluating a platform switch or a fintech partner looking to deepen client relationships, this conversation is a real-world look at what long-term partnership in digital banking should look like. 🔗 Learn more about AccessSoftek: www.accesssoftek.com 🔗 Learn more about University Credit Union of Maine: www.ucumaine.com 👍 Like this episode? Subscribe to CU Spotlight for more conversations from Synergent Connect 2026 and beyond.
6d ago

I Want 'Clippy' Back - But For My Credit Union Account

Remember Clippy, the old WordPerfect assistant? Alexa Dress from Access Softek joins CU Spotlight live from Synergent Connect 2026 to explain how that same "helpful sidekick" idea is showing up in digital banking today — and it's a game-changer for credit union members. Key takeaways: • The Clippy comeback: Why JT thinks digital banking needs its own version of Clippy — a proactive assistant that flags overdrafts, calls out overspending, and gives advice before members ask for it. • AI with a job to do: Access Softek has already built ChatGPT into digital banking through "Transfer Assistant," helping members decide how to allocate funds or pay down loans without the guesswork. • Gamifying financial responsibility: Security badges, budgeting streaks, and small in-app "wins" are being used to nudge members — young and old — toward safer, smarter money habits. • Automating the hard decisions: Features like "Help Me Save" and "Help Me Budget" quietly move excess funds where they belong, taking the manual math out of staying on budget. • Tiered innovation for every credit union: With 150+ integrations, Access Softek built a scalable model so small "boutique" credit unions get the same innovation as larger institutions — without the enterprise price tag. If you work in credit unions, fintech, or just love a good AI-meets-nostalgia story, this one's for you. 👉 Learn more about Access Softek at www. accesssoftek.com or connect with them on LinkedIn. 🎙️ More episodes at cuspotlight.com — subscribe so you don't miss the next one!
Sep 13

Inside the Company Most Credit Unions Can’t Live Without

What does it actually take for a credit union to punch above its weight class? In this episode of CU Spotlight, recorded live at the Synergent Connect 2026 Conference in Portland, Maine, hosts Jonathan Taylor (JT) and Shirley Sinn sit down with Rebecca Higgins, Chief Growth Officer at Synergent, to unpack how a 55-year-old, credit union-owned CUSO quietly became one of the most successful in the country — now serving credit unions in 35+ states. *Key takeaways:* * The CUSO advantage: Why credit unions choose Synergent's version of the Jack Henry Symitar/Episys core over going direct to the source — hands-on guidance from day one through post-conversion support, not just a system connection. * Partnerships over products: Synergent shifted from building one-size-fits-all products to curating an ecosystem of vetted partners, because every credit union's member journey looks different. * Honesty as strategy: Synergent will tell a credit union when a partner isn't the right fit for their size or needs — protecting trust over chasing every deal. * Solving the after-hours gap: One of the most common pain points credit unions bring to Synergent is delivering a seamless member experience outside branch hours without feeling like a hand-off to a third party. * Scaling the boutique: A look at how Synergent has helped small, "boutique" credit unions grow from $20M to $120M+ in assets by supplementing staff and absorbing technical heavy lifting. * Culture as differentiator: Why the line between Synergent employees and Maine Credit Union League employees is nearly invisible — and why that "family" trust drives credit unions to open up about their real challenges. *Call to action:* If you know a credit union struggling with their core, their service experience, or just feeling unheard — this is your sign to make the connection. Reach out to Rebecca Higgins and the Synergent team at http://synergentcorp.com, and don't forget to follow CU Spotlight for more conversations from the credit union industry's biggest events.
Sep 3

From Lego Reselling to Reinvesting Auto Loans

Jonathan Taylor (JT) and Shirley Senn interview husband-and-wife duo Shawna and Chris Schutt of Ancorum Credit Union — Chris, VP of Lending, and Shawna, VP of Risk Management for a wide-ranging conversation about balancing a career and marriage at the same credit union, their wild side-hustle reselling Lego sets to pay off their mortgage, and how Ancorum keeps landing on the leading edge of innovation-- from Maine's first unmanned branch to a new residual-based auto financing partnership with AFG that's already saving members thousands. Key Takeaways: Small, consistent actions add up: the Schutts paid off their mortgage early by reselling Lego sets and making extra principal payments.Working with your spouse at the same organization can work — Shawna and Chris share how they keep work and home life separate while still supporting each other.Ancorum has a track record of innovation, including launching Maine's first unmanned credit union branch in Bowdoinham.Their new AFG residual-based auto financing program has closed 20 loans and saved members an average of $200–$300/month, helping combat rising car payments (some now stretching to 96-month loans).The AFG program is especially valuable for B/C credit members and those in high-risk lending who want newer, more reliable vehicles without unaffordable payments.Call to Action: Enjoying CU Spotlight? Share this episode with someone in the credit union movement who needs to hear it — and reach out to Shawna and Chris directly to learn more about the AFG auto financing program or partnering with Ancorum Credit Union. Thanks to Synergent for sponsoring the podcast!
Sep 3

The 4-Letter Word Killing Credit Union Growth: Why Beta Isn't an Option

Ever wonder why some credit unions scale past $300M in assets while others stay stuck? It usually comes down to one thing: friction. In this episode of CU Spotlight, host Jonathan Taylor (JT) and co-host Shirley Sehn sit down with Alec Green and Stacy Johnson of Clutch — live from the Synergent Connect 2026 Conference in Portland, Maine — to unpack how fintech partnerships are reshaping the credit union experience from the inside out. Key Takeaways: Two-sided friction problem: Clutch tackles both the member experience (faster, less painful loan applications) and the staff experience (reducing manual legwork after applications are submitted).Rethinking the LOS: Clutch is betting big on a new lending automation system designed to reimagine what a loan origination system should look like for the future.Security without sacrificing speed: A partnership with Alloy's fraud engineering platform lets staff focus only on true edge cases, balancing speed with safety — a must in a regulated industry.AI built for empathy, not just efficiency: Clutch's AI voice tool "Emma" handles high-volume collections calls with an empathetic approach, freeing up human staff for one-on-one conversations that need a personal touch — a genuine win-win for members and staff alike.Fintechs aren't just for the big players: Clutch's team was built specifically to serve growing, mid-size, and smaller credit unions — not just billion-dollar institutions.Trust through vetting: As a CUSO themselves, Clutch understands the credit union perspective and thoroughly vets integrations before bringing solutions to market — because "beta's a four-letter word for a reason."Seamless integration: Clutch works smoothly across core systems (including Symitar) and is open to partnering with virtually any core on request.Call to Action: We all suffer from a crisis of awareness — if you know a credit union leader who needs to hear this conversation about digital transformation, AI, and reducing friction, share this episode with them. Learn more about Clutch at withclutch.com, and thank you to Synergent for sponsoring this episode.
Aug 26

25 Years, One Core Conversion: How Maine Savings FCU Turned "Credit Union" Into a Growth Engine

What does it take to grow from $250M to $850M in assets — with almost zero core conversions along the way? Raymond Mayhew, VP of IT Operations at Maine Savings FCU, has spent 25 years answering that question, and in this episode of CU Spotlight he pulls back the curtain on the strategy behind it. Recorded live at the Synergent Connect Conference 2026 in Portland, Maine, hosts Jonathan Taylor (JT) and Shirley Senn sit down with Raymond to unpack how a rebrand from "Barco Federal Credit Union" to Maine Savings helped shed the stigma around the word "credit union" — and why that branding bet paid off in trust, mortgages, and business lending growth. Key takeaways: Rebranding for resonance — Why dropping "credit union" from the public-facing name (while staying true to the mission) helped attract members who associate "bank" with mortgages and business loans.The 20-year Synergent partnership — How treating vendors as true partners (not just service providers) helped Maine Savings avoid repeated, costly core conversions for two decades.AI adoption, crawl-walk-run style — Raymond's take on why "you have to use it to know it," how Copilot became a daily habit, and how internal AI wins get shared in weekly team show-and-tells.People helping people, credit unions helping credit unions — Why peer roundtables and user groups — where asset size doesn't matter — are where the real, unfiltered insights happen.Scaling with CUSOs — How strategic CUSO partnerships fueled growth from ~30 employees to nearly 180, and from a regional player to an 850M+ institution.If you're in credit union IT, leadership, or marketing and want a real-world playbook for balancing legacy trust with modern technology adoption, this conversation is packed with hard-won lessons. Call to action: Enjoyed this episode? Share it with someone in the movement who needs to hear it — because as JT always says, our biggest challenge isn't competition, it's a crisis of awareness. Subscribe to CU Spotlight for more conversations from the credit union world, and check out Maine Savings at mainesavings.com.
Aug 26

Vendor to Partner: Bayer Heritage FCU Is Fighting Fraud Launching Early ACH & Beating Payday Lenders

Think your credit union has fraud figured out? AI-powered scammers can now clone your website and text messages down to the exact font — and most members can't tell the difference. In this episode of CU Spotlight, host Jonathan Taylor sits down with Rachael Graham, Member Services Manager at Bayer Heritage Federal Credit Union (~$800M, branches across WV, TX, SC & OH), live from the Synergent Connect Conference 2026 in Portland. Key takeaways: The new face of fraud — spoofed local phone numbers and near-perfect fake websites/text messages are tricking members; Bayer Heritage is fighting back with proactive member education and stronger online banking safeguards.Early ACH is coming — an earned wage access program letting members access their pay a day early, aimed at keeping people out of payday lender traps.High-yield savings that actually rewards saving — a tiered program earning up to 10% on the first $1,000, designed to help members build real savings habits.AI adoption, early days — currently leaning on Copilot, with a new IT manager driving plans to integrate AI more deeply.The human touch still wins — a 10-person contact center ensures every member call reaches a real person, not a bot.A 10-year partnership — how Bayer Heritage's relationship with Synergent evolved from vendor to true partner.Call to action: Want to connect with Rachael or learn more about Bayer Heritage FCU? Visit bayrhfcu.com or reach out on their Facebook page. If this episode resonated, hit that like button, subscribe to CU Spotlight, and share it with someone in the credit union movement who needs to hear it. Let's keep shining a light on the stories that deserve to be told. www.cuspotlight.com
Aug 26

AI Is the New Force — Are Credit Unions Ready to Fight the Dark Side?

Your credit union's biggest threat isn't the competition — it's the assumption that "we're too small to be a target." Mitch Ryan, VP of Information Systems at Synergent, joins CU Spotlight at the Synergent Connect Conference 2026 to explain why that mindset is exactly what bad actors are counting on. In this candid conversation, Mitch pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to keep credit unions secure, scalable, and future-ready in the age of AI. Key Takeaways: Small doesn't mean safe — smaller credit unions are often bigger targets precisely because attackers assume weaker infrastructure.AI is a double-edged sword — the same technology powering innovation is being weaponized for fraud, and the pace of advancement means yesterday's defenses won't cut it tomorrow.Foundations matter most — Synergent's current focus is on disaster recovery, scalability, and system reliability, building a stable "house" before chasing flashy features.Education beats hesitation — waiting for AI to "mature" is a losing strategy; understanding the technology now is the only way to keep pace with those exploiting it.It takes a village — cybersecurity and AI readiness can't rest on one CIO or CEO. Boards and leadership across the organization need to be engaged and informed.Collaboration is the real differentiator — what sets a CUSO like Synergent apart isn't just the core system, it's the ability for credit unions to talk, share solutions, and push change back to leadership together.Offense meets defense — new AI-driven security tools can proactively lure and mislead attackers instead of just reacting to breaches.Call to Action: Don't let a crisis of awareness put your credit union at risk. Share this episode with your team and board, start the AI conversation today, and reach out to Synergent at synergentcorp.com to learn how they're helping credit unions of every size prepare for what's next. Like, subscribe, and pass this along — the more informed our community is, the stronger we all become.

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Shining a light on the credit unions, partners and nonprofits powering the movement.

Creator

CU Spotlight
Years Active

2026
Episodes

45
Rating

Clean
Show Website

CU Spotlight

CU Spotlight

Episodes

Beyond the Login Screen: What a Real Fintech Partnership Looks Like

I Want 'Clippy' Back - But For My Credit Union Account

Inside the Company Most Credit Unions Can’t Live Without

From Lego Reselling to Reinvesting Auto Loans

The 4-Letter Word Killing Credit Union Growth: Why Beta Isn't an Option

25 Years, One Core Conversion: How Maine Savings FCU Turned "Credit Union" Into a Growth Engine

Vendor to Partner: Bayer Heritage FCU Is Fighting Fraud Launching Early ACH & Beating Payday Lenders

AI Is the New Force — Are Credit Unions Ready to Fight the Dark Side?

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