What does it really take to grow a business lending CUSO in 2026? Mark Ritter and Jeff Lyons pull back the curtain on eight years of organizational evolution, honest reflections on artificial intelligence, and where credit union technology is finally delivering results. From Microsoft Copilot upgrades that went from frustrating to impressive, to AI-assisted hiring wins, to the unfiltered reality of conference networking, this conversation is refreshingly direct. If you work in fintech or credit unions and want a perspective grounded in real experience rather than buzzwords, this episode is for you.

IN THIS EPISODE:

  • 00:00 Jeff Lyons reflects on eight years of credit union growth and his evolving COO role
  • 05:14 History of artificial intelligence, from Clippy to ChatGPT and credit union technology
  • 09:44 Honest take on Microsoft Copilot, AI adoption struggles, and real business efficiency gains
  • 14:21 How AI adoption improved hiring via smarter job descriptions and operational efficiency
  • 16:16 The changing reality of conference networking, trade show etiquette, breakfast buffets, and industry trends observations
  • 21:52 Wrapping up favorite conferences and final thoughts on AI adoption in credit union growth

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Artificial intelligence tools like Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT are no longer aspirational. Teams willing to invest in better prompting and consistent use are delivering real gains in business efficiency right now.
  • AI adoption works best in small, practical steps. The MBFS team saw direct results when they used AI to sharpen a job posting, proving that credit union technology need not be complex to create a measurable impact.
  • Conference networking remains valuable for credit union growth, but the purpose has shifted. Today, the goal is to maintain relationships and digital marketing visibility, not to generate new business from the booth floor.

RESOURCE LINKS:

Mark Ritter – LinkedIn
First Heritage – Website
Jeff Lyons – LinkedIn

Mark Ritter is the CEO of MBFS and an expert in credit unions and business lending. His primary role at MBFS is overseeing the strategy of helping credit unions assist members with business needs and consulting with credit unions on planning the delivery of services to their membership.