Community finance is under pressure. On this episode of Credit Union Conversation, Mark Ritter sits down with Doug Wadsworth to unpack the realities facing small credit unions, including expanding regulatory burdens, rising compliance costs, and growing competition among credit unions. They discuss why credit union advocacy matters, how the cooperative model must evolve, and what […]
Join host Mark Ritter for a refreshing twist on Credit Union Conversations as Carrie Hutton, MBFS’s loan origination leader, trades business talk for outdoor adventures and friendly competition. From conquering fears on cliff-side hikes to camping in Montana’s stunning Glacier National Park, Carrie reveals her family’s passion for exploration before facing the ultimate challenge: an […]
Chrome Federal Credit Union CEO Bob Flanyak Jr. delivers a masterclass in authentic leadership and organizational culture. From collecting loans to building a 220 million dollar credit union recognized as Washington County’s best overall business, Bob’s journey reveals what truly matters in financial services. He shares powerful insights on succession planning, why employee relationships trump […]
Business lending expert Carrie Hutton shares her journey from military spouse to VP of documentation services at MBFS in this episode of Credit Union Conversations. Host Mark Ritter explores the critical components of the loan closing process, including essential entity documents, title work, and collateral valuations. Hutton reveals how proper documentation requirements for credit union […]
Discover how credit union strategies shape the future of cooperative banking in this compelling conversation between host Mark Ritter and Ancin Cooley, founder of Synergy Credit Union Consulting and CU Communities. From his early days as an OCC examiner to running a consulting practice focused on strategic planning and board development, Cooley shares candid insights […]
Credit union lending faces pivotal changes in 2026 as interest rates, inflation, and regulatory shifts reshape the landscape. In this episode of Credit Union Conversations, host Mark Ritter and MBFS COO Jeff Lyons make bold predictions about fed rate movements, treasury rates, and commercial lending growth. They discuss how rising delinquency rates may affect the […]
In this episode of Credit Union Conversations, host Mark Ritter sits down with Gord Baizley, Co-Founder and CEO of Judi.ai, to explore why small business lending remains one of the greatest untapped opportunities for credit unions—and how technology is finally making it scalable. Gord shares his unique career journey from law and investment banking to […]
Credit union predictions take center stage as Mark Ritter hosts Jeff Lyons on Credit Union Conversations to review their 2025 forecasts. The MBFS leaders analyze their interest rate forecasts, NCUA board changes, and tariff-negotiation predictions with a candid self-assessment. Throughout this engaging review, they explore Federal Reserve rate cuts, consumer lending trends, commercial lending stability, […]
In this episode of Credit Union Conversations, host Mark Ritter speaks with Josh Rodriguez of West Community Credit Union about authentic community engagement, storytelling through podcasting, and the evolving role of credit unions in a competitive financial landscape. Josh shares his 20+ year journey in the credit union industry—from phone teller to President & CEO […]
Commercial real estate lending saw unprecedented growth in 2025, defying expectations. In this episode of Credit Union Conversations, host Mark Ritter sits down with Kristina Paulson to explore the dramatic 30% increase in loan volume despite persistently high interest rates. They discuss evolving debt service coverage ratio requirements, the impact of rate resets on existing […]
MBFS is a Credit Union Service Organization jointly owned by American Heritage Federal Credit Union, American Spirit Federal Credit Union, Century Heritage Federal Credit Union, Clearview Federal Credit Union, West-Aircomm Federal Credit Union, Discovery Federal Credit Union, Launch Credit Union, Sun East Federal Credit Union, People First Federal Credit Union, Erie Federal Credit Union, Choice One Community Federal Credit Union, Eagle One Federal Credit Union, Service 1st Federal Credit Union, and AOD Federal Credit Union.