TheOutlier Podcast

TheOutlier Podcast
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A podcast aimed at honoring The Outliers.

  1. MAY 12

    Building the AI Brain for Credit Unions ft. Anubhav, Co-founder & CPO of ShiftMate AI

    In this episode of the Outlier Podcast, host Anurag Mukherjee sits down with Anubhav — Co-founder and Chief Product Officer of ShiftMate AI — to unpack a journey that took him from a small town near the Odisha-Jharkhand border to building one of the most exciting FinTech platforms in the credit union space. Anubhav shares how his pivot from JP Morgan Payments to a U.S. master's program became the turning point that led him to fall in love with the credit union movement — an industry built on the simple but powerful idea of people helping people. In this conversation, we cover: Anubhav's journey from Odisha → engineering → JP Morgan → masters in the U.S. → co-founding ShiftMate AIWhat ShiftMate AI actually does: the growth brain that sits between a credit union's people and platformsWhy "bolting on AI" to every system is creating 10x activity but not 10x outcomesThe case for an orchestration layer that senses real-time member signals, executes value-first actions, and stays compliant and auditableWhy community banks and credit unions are the "third place" for members — and how that becomes their real competitive moat against the Bank of Americas of the worldThe biggest technological challenge facing credit unions today: great platforms, but no unifying growth brainWhere the credit union movement is headed amid industry consolidationAbout ShiftMate AIShiftMate AI is a Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO) built by credit union insiders, backed by credit union investors, and developed in partnership with credit unions themselves. Its platform turns real-time member signals into compliant, policy-driven, value-first actions — and closes the loop by measuring what strategies actually worked. Chapters00:00 Intro00:29 Meet Anubhav — from Odisha to the U.S.02:56 Life as a co-founder and CPO04:37 What is ShiftMate AI?06:45 Analytics, AI, and the frontier of LLMs08:14 Why bolting on AI doesn't 10x outcomes10:04 The mission: people helping people12:15 The biggest tech challenge for credit unions today13:51 Closing thoughts 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with outliers building at the edge of FinTech, AI, and community finance. #CreditUnions #FinTech #AI #ShiftMateAI #OutlierPodcast #CommunityBanking #ProductLeadership #Founders Want me to tighten this up, make it shorter, punch it up for a specific platform tone, or add anything (guest socials, sponsor mention, CTA links)?

    15 min

  2. MAY 8

    What's the Future of Community Banking? Brian McEvoy, CRO at Webster Five Bank

    How should community banks compete with fintechs, grow deposits, and rethink the branch in 2026? Brian McEvoy, Chief Retail Officer at Webster Five Bank, joins The Outlier Podcast to share a candid playbook for the future of retail and community banking. In this episode, host Anurag Mukherjee sits down with Brian — a retail banking leader with deep experience at TD Bank and Cynoverse before stepping into his current role at Webster Five — to unpack the strategic questions every community bank executive is wrestling with right now. What you'll learn in this episode: Why the era of the "primary bank" is fading, and what consumers' multi-bank wallets mean for community institutionsThe biggest underserved opportunity in retail banking today: small business customers stuck between branch-level micro accounts and full commercial bankingHow to balance deposit growth with new household acquisition — and why it's not a 50/50 splitWhy community banks can't afford to bet wrong on digital, and how Webster Five evaluates fintech API integrationsThe real role of data and hyper-personalization — and why blanket marketing campaigns no longer workBrian's honest take on the future of the bank branch: why physical locations still matter as a trust signal, even as transactions go digitalWhy "don't chase Chase" is the right mindset for community bank branch strategyHow small businesses still expect a relationship manager, and what that means for branch staffingKey moments: (00:00) Introduction to Brian McEvoy and Webster Five Bank(01:32) What keeps a retail banking leader going(02:53) The future of retail banking and the erosion of "primacy"(05:19) Small business banking: the biggest gap in community banking(06:00) Deposit growth vs. customer acquisition: how to prioritize(09:01) Competing with fintechs through human connection and digital(12:26) Data, AI, and hyper-personalization in retail banking(16:40) The evolving role of the bank branch(20:01) Why community bank stories deserve to be told About the guest:Brian McEvoy is the Chief Retail Officer at Webster Five Bank, a community financial institution based in Massachusetts. He oversees retail branches, the contact center, digital banking, wealth management, and small business banking. His career spans senior leadership roles at TD Bank and Cynoverse, giving him a rare dual perspective across national and community banking. About the host:Anurag Mukherjee hosts The Outlier Podcast, a series of candid, high-signal conversations with banking, credit union, and fintech leaders who challenge the status quo. Each episode is built to be operator-level, sharp, and packed with insight you can apply inside your own institution. Who this episode is for: Community bank and credit union executivesRetail banking and branch network leadersChief retail officers and heads of consumer bankingFintech founders selling into financial institutionsSmall business banking strategistsDigital banking, CRM, and data leaders in financial servicesIf you lead retail at a community bank, run a credit union, or build fintech products for financial institutions, this episode gives you a clear, contrarian view on where retail banking is heading — from someone running it day to day. Subscribe to The Outlier Podcast for more conversations with banking and fintech leaders who think differently. New episodes drop regularly, featuring practitioners who've actually built, scaled, and transformed financial institutions. Follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts to help more banking leaders find the show. Topics covered: community banking, retail banking, future of banking, fintech disruption, small business banking, deposit growth, customer acquisition, bank branch strategy, digital banking, hyper-personalization, banking data strategy, embedded finance, challenger banks, relationship banking, banking podcast, retail banking podcast.

    18 min

  3. MAY 4

    "The $10 Billion Credit Union Blueprint | Anil Choudary, CIO Keesler Federal"

    How does a CIO lead a credit union from $5 billion to $10 billion in assets? In this episode of The Outlier Podcast, host Anurag Mukherjee sits down with Anil Choudary, Chief Information Officer at Keesler Federal Credit Union, to unpack the real playbook behind large-scale technology transformation in financial services. With a career that spans GE (where he helped build a digital bank), Goldman Sachs, CIBC, and Alliant Credit Union, Anil brings a rare blend of enterprise software engineering, big-bank strategy, and credit union pragmatism. Now leading end-to-end technology at one of the fastest-growing credit unions in the U.S., he shares exactly how he plans to scale Keesler Federal through core banking modernization, API strategy, data lakehouse build-out, automation, and AI. This is a candid, tactical conversation for CIOs, CTOs, banking executives, and fintech leaders trying to navigate the same transformation curve. In this episode, we cover: • Why a CIO's role is to drive both member trust and long-term growth • The 5 building blocks of a modern credit union tech stack: operating model, core banking, API strategy, data and AI strategy, and digital strategy • Why "no-regret decisions" matter most when choosing core banking platforms • How to balance buy vs. build in a vendor-heavy organization • Why data strategy must come before any AI strategy • Why automation should come before agentic AI on your roadmap • How to extract real ROI from every technology dollar invested • Why point solutions break down at enterprise scale • How regional culture and demographics shape technology strategy • What separates credit unions that will reach $10B from those that won't Standout quotes from Anil: "Culture eats strategy for breakfast, lunch, and dinner." "Without a foundational data strategy, you cannot deliver value through AI." "Digital is how you deliver a connected experience across all channels — not just web and mobile." "If you're investing a dollar, you need to extract at least 80 cents of value. Hopefully a dollar ten." About the guest: Anil Choudary is the Chief Information Officer at Keesler Federal Credit Union, leading end-to-end technology transformation. His career spans senior leadership roles at GE, Goldman Sachs, CIBC, and Alliant Credit Union, where he has built digital banks, modernized core platforms, and led enterprise-scale transformation programs. About the host: Anurag Mukherjee hosts The Outlier Podcast, a series featuring conversations with forward-thinking technology and business leaders driving real transformation across financial services, banking, and the credit union movement. Who this episode is for: Credit union CIOs, CTOs, CDOs, and CEOs; banking and fintech technology leaders; digital transformation executives; core banking modernization strategists; data and AI leaders; and anyone scaling a financial institution from $1 billion to $10 billion and beyond. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more leaders discover the show. Topics: credit union technology, CIO leadership, digital banking transformation, core banking modernization, API strategy, data lakehouse, member experience, enterprise AI, agentic AI, banking automation, Keesler Federal Credit Union, Alliant Credit Union, Goldman Sachs, CIBC, buy vs build, member 360, data governance, $10 billion credit union, banking culture.

    23 min

  4. APR 30

    Agentic AI, Contact Centers & Onboarding: Amit Nandy on ESFCU's Real AI Strategy

    How does a modern financial institution move from legacy "bottlenecks" to an Agentic AI future? In this episode, host Anurag Mukherjee sits down with Amit Nandy, Chief Information Officer at Educational Systems Federal Credit Union (ESFCU). With over two decades of experience spanning credit unions and community banks, Amit provides a masterclass on balancing technical innovation with human-centric leadership. Amit breaks down his "measured approach" to AI, explaining why a foundational policy must precede any "arms race." He also introduces a powerful metaphor for modern organizations: IT as the spine—the nervous center that touches every limb of the business. The Reality of Agentic AI: Moving beyond the hype to practical use cases in ambassador onboarding and contact center modernization. The Legacy Bottleneck: How to navigate technical debt and the importance of a robust Reference Architecture. Build vs. Buy: Utilizing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) to make high-stakes investment decisions. The CIO Journey: Why stepping "outside the bubble" into community banking is the secret to strategic leadership. Leading Through Failure: Adopting a "fail fast" mentality and the art of recalibration. Amit Nandy is the CIO of Educational Systems Federal Credit Union, serving the MD/DC education community. His career highlights include leading large-scale digital transformations and navigating complex M&A integrations. Follow Anurag Mukherjee on LinkedIn for more insights into fintech and community banking. Subscribe to stay updated on the latest episodes featuring C-Suite innovators. Keywords: Credit Unions, Amit Nandy, ESFCU, AI in Banking, CIO Strategy, Digital Transformation, Agentic AI, Fintech Leadership, Legacy Systems, EOS.

    23 min

  5. APR 28

    Stablecoin, Gen AI & the Future of Credit Unions | Steve O'Donnell | One Nevada Credit Union"

    What does it take to rise from a frontline teller to the President and CEO of one of Nevada's most forward-thinking credit unions? In this episode of the Outlier Podcast, host Anurag Mukherjee sits down with Steve O'Donnell, the newly appointed President and CEO of One Nevada Credit Union, based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Steve's story is rare in financial services. He has spent nearly three decades inside the same organization, moving through roles from teller to CFO to COO and now to the corner office. That journey has given him something most new CEOs simply do not have — a deep, firsthand understanding of every layer of the institution he now leads. But this episode is not just about where Steve has been. It is about where he is taking One Nevada next. What You Will Learn in This Episode In his first four months as CEO, Steve has already introduced stablecoin concepts to his board of directors, joined a fintech stablecoin pilot program, and begun reshaping how One Nevada thinks about member experience, data, and long-term strategy. He is asking the hard questions that every credit union leader needs to be asking right now. How do you compete with Chime, which captured 13% of new checking accounts in Q3, outpacing even Chase at 8%? How do you build a culture of innovation without losing the foundation that made your credit union great? How do you measure member sentiment when NPS scores no longer tell the full story? And how do you prepare your organization for technologies and disruptions that do not even exist yet? Steve answers all of this and more in one of the most candid and forward-thinking conversations we have had on the Outlier Podcast. Episode Highlights Steve's 28-year journey from teller to President and CEO of One Nevada Credit Union Why Chime beating Chase in new checking accounts should alarm every credit union leader How Steve introduced stablecoin to his board and why deposit disintermediation is his number one risk concern One Nevada's stablecoin pilot program and what they are learning from it Why Gen AI is no longer optional for credit unions and financial institutions The problem with going digital first and how it creates new member experience gaps Why Steve is moving away from NPS and building sentiment data instead How to build a three to five year strategic plan in an industry changing faster than ever What a healthy credit union culture looks like and how to evolve it without breaking it What success looks like at the end of Steve's first year as CEO Who Is This Episode For This episode is essential listening for credit union executives, community bank leaders, board members, fintech professionals, financial services strategists, and anyone who wants to understand how mission-driven financial institutions can stay relevant, competitive, and member-focused in a rapidly changing world. If you lead a team, manage organizational change, or are trying to figure out how traditional institutions compete with digital-first challengers, this conversation will give you real frameworks, real thinking, and real inspiration. About Steve O'Donnell Steve O'Donnell, MBA, CCE, is the President and CEO of One Nevada Credit Union, one of Nevada's leading member-owned financial institutions based in Las Vegas. With nearly 28 years at the organization, Steve brings unmatched institutional knowledge combined with a bold, forward-looking vision for the future of credit unions. He is a recognized leader in the credit union movement and a passionate advocate for financial wellness and member-first banking. About One Nevada Credit Union One Nevada Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial institution headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. Committed to improving the financial lives of its members, One Nevada offers a full range of banking products and services with a strong focus on innovation, digital experience, and community impact.

    17 min

  6. APR 22

    Why Branches Still Matter in a Digital Era | Chris Boler, CXO at ORNL FCU

    What makes human banking irreplaceable in an age of AI? Chris Boler, CXO of ORNL Federal Credit Union, shares lessons on member experience, branch strategy, culture, and leading with purpose. Full Description: What does it take to build a $4.5 billion credit union rooted in genuine human connection — in an era where technology can do almost everything? In this episode of the Outlier Podcast, Anurag Mukherjee sits down with Chris Boler, Chief Member Experience Officer at ORNL Federal Credit Union in Knoxville, Tennessee. With nearly two decades in financial services — beginning at HSBC Consumer Finance and finding his professional home in the credit union world after the Great Recession — Chris brings a rare perspective on what it means to lead with both business strategy and human purpose. ORNL Federal Credit Union started in 1948 with just $50 on deposit. Today it stands at over $4.5 billion in assets, serving the East Tennessee community through a growing branch network, cutting-edge digital tools, and a culture built on the simple but powerful mission: Together We Thrive. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL HEAR: → How Chris went from offering 24% personal loans at HSBC to falling in love with the mission-driven credit union model → Why ORNL's branches are busier than ever — and why the credit union keeps investing in brick and mortar even as digital banking grows → The Jamie Dimon quote that Chris thinks about constantly: people like to live close to their money → How ORNL uses Net Promoter Score and real member comments to drive strategy and shape the member experience → The massive branch expansion underway across East Tennessee — remodels, ground-ups, and more coming → What Chris learned at Disney Institute that changed how he thinks about frontline service culture → The one leadership insight that stuck: it is okay to be off task as long as you are on purpose → What legacy truly means — and why growing the people around you matters more than any metric WHO SHOULD LISTEN: This episode is for credit union professionals, community banking leaders, financial services executives, and anyone passionate about building cultures where people and purpose come first. Whether you are a CEO, a branch manager, a teller, or someone just starting out in financial services — there is something in this conversation for you. ABOUT ORNL FEDERAL CREDIT UNION: Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, ORNL Federal Credit Union has grown from $50 in deposits to over $4.5 billion in assets. ORNL serves the East Tennessee community with a strong branch network, digital banking solutions, and an unwavering commitment to member financial wellness. ABOUT THE OUTLIER PODCAST: The Outlier Podcast celebrates leaders in the credit union and financial services ecosystem who break the mold, challenge convention, and make a real difference — one member at a time. Every guest is someone who does not just follow the path but helps build a better one. Hosted by Anurag Mukherjee. CONNECT & FOLLOW: If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone in your network who leads with purpose. Your support helps us bring more conversations like this one to the credit union community. KEYWORDS: Credit Union Leadership, Member Experience, Community Banking, Human Banking, Credit Union Culture, Branch Banking Strategy, Financial Wellness, Banking Innovation, Credit Union Podcast, ORNL Federal Credit Union, Net Promoter Score, Disney Institute, Together We Thrive, East Tennessee Banking, Chief Experience Officer The Outlier Podcast — For leaders who make the world a little better, one member at a time.

    17 min

  7. APR 10

    Sean VanHandel: The CIO Strategy Transforming Member Experience

    What does it actually take to modernize a $4.1 billion credit union without breaking everything in the process? In this episode of the Outlier Podcast, host Anurag Mukherjee sits down with Sean VanHandel, Chief Information Officer of CoVantage Credit Union based in Antigo, Wisconsin. Sean brings nearly three decades of technology experience spanning healthcare, manufacturing, and financial services — and he doesn't hold back. From wrapping a 40-year-old legacy core with a modern API strategy, to deploying AI agents, to building a real-time Member 360 — Sean walks us through how CoVantage is quietly building one of the most forward-thinking technology stacks in the credit union space. But what really stands out? His refreshingly honest take on data governance. Before you let AI anywhere near your data, you better make sure it's clean, classified, and governed. As Sean puts it — bad data in, bad data out. In This Episode You'll Hear: 🔹 Why CoVantage chose to "wrap the core" instead of replacing it🔹 How they built a data warehouse and API strategy from the ground up🔹 What a real Member 360 looks like — and why most credit unions aren't there yet🔹 Sean's take on AI agents, Foundry, and where AI actually creates efficiency🔹 Why data governance is everyone's responsibility — not just IT's🔹 How CoVantage plans to open 75-90% of accounts digitally within two years🔹 What stable coins and the Genius Act mean for credit unions right now🔹 The leadership philosophy behind balancing innovation and operational discipline Who This Episode Is For:This conversation is for credit union executives, fintech leaders, CIOs, CTOs, data practitioners, and anyone navigating digital transformation inside a traditional financial institution. Whether you're just starting your AI journey or deep in core modernization, Sean's insights are grounded, practical, and immediately actionable. About Sean VanHandel:Sean VanHandel is the Chief Information Officer at CoVantage Credit Union, a $4.1 billion member-owned financial institution in Antigo, Wisconsin. With nearly three decades in technology — including infrastructure, information security, and enterprise IT leadership across healthcare and manufacturing — Sean has been leading technology strategy at CoVantage for over six years. About CoVantage Credit Union:CoVantage Credit Union is a member-owned financial institution serving communities across northern Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula with over $4.1 billion in assets. About the Outlier Podcast:The Outlier Podcast features candid, unfiltered conversations with technology and business leaders across the credit union and financial services industry. No buzzwords. No fluff. Just real talk about what it takes to lead in a rapidly changing world. Follow the Outlier Podcast on Spotify to never miss an episode.New episodes drop weekly. Keywords:Sean VanHandel, CoVantage Credit Union, credit union technology, CIO podcast, AI in banking, data governance, core modernization, digital transformation, member experience, fintech, credit union leadership, API strategy, artificial intelligence, community banking, Outlier Podcast

    19 min

  8. MAR 30

    Why the Best-Performing Banks Are the First to Modernize | Jody Bhagat, President NA, Engine by Starling

    What does it actually take to modernize a bank — and why are the best-performing institutions the ones moving fastest? Jody Bhagat, President of North America at Engine by Starling, joins The Outlier Podcast to answer that and much more. About This EpisodeThe banking industry is at a genuine tipping point. Neobanks like Chime are capturing over 40% of new checking account openings nationally — outpacing JPMorgan Chase despite having zero physical branches. Super-regional and national banks are encroaching on tier two and tier three markets. Legacy core systems are consuming up to 80% of IT budgets while providing zero competitive differentiation. And a transformative wave of banking M&A is approaching that will permanently separate leaders from laggards. In this episode, host Anurag Mukherjee and guest Jody Bhagat go deep on what banks must do — strategically, technologically, and operationally — to come out ahead. About Jody BhagatJody Bhagat is President of North America at Engine by Starling. He is a former McKinsey & Company Partner, spent 7+ years as Global Banking Head at Personetics, and held senior operating roles at Citizens Bank (where he led a 1,000-person digital and call center division), Wells Fargo, and US Bank. He brings a rare combination of operator, strategist, and fintech leader experience to every conversation. What You Will Learn— The real difference between a core upgrade and a bank modernization program, and why it determines how you scope, fund, and lead the initiative— Why Chime captured ~13% of new US checking account openings in Q3 versus Chase at ~9%, and what that signals for the industry— How Engine by Starling has deployed full technology stacks — core, digital front end, CRM, AML, FinCrimes, and workflows — in under 12 months— Why Starling Bank operates at approximately $70 OPEX per customer versus ~$400 for a typical US regional bank, and how much of that gap is capturable— How a bank with 500,000 customers saving $50 per customer unlocks $25 million to reinvest into growth and differentiation— Why Tangerine Bank — a 2.2-million-customer subsidiary of Scotiabank and 14-time JD Power award winner — selected Engine for a landmark 10-year modernization partnership— What "hollowing out the core" means in practice and why it works as a phased modernization strategy— Why AI readiness in banking is not about use cases — it is about having a unified data model and a modern platform that lets you deploy and scale models rapidly Key Data Points— Chime: ~13% of new US checking accounts in Q3— Neobanks: 40%+ of all new checking account openings nationally— Legacy core maintenance: up to 80% of bank IT budgets— Banks citing core transformation as top priority: 67%+ (McKinsey)— Starling Bank OPEX per customer: ~$70— US regional bank OPEX per customer: ~$400— Engine full-stack deployments: completed inside 12 months— Tangerine Bank customers: 2.2 million Who Should ListenThis episode is essential for bank executives, chief digital officers, CIOs, heads of retail banking, compliance leaders, fintech founders, and anyone working inside or alongside financial institutions navigating transformation. ConnectEngine by Starling: enginebystarling.comStarling Bank: starlingbank.comTangerine Bank: tangerine.ca The Outlier Podcast covers banking, fintech, data, and transformation — featuring the leaders shaping the future of financial services.

    30 min
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About

A podcast aimed at honoring The Outliers.

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  • Creator
    TheOutlier Podcast
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    49
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © TheOutlier Podcast
  • Show Website
    TheOutlier Podcast