Credit unions pride themselves on member service, yet they systematically withhold information about products that could save members thousands annually.

In this episode, hosts Joshua Barclay and Becky Reed welcome Anand Solanki, CFO and head of product management at Citadel Credit Union, to explore why the shift from service to sales culture starts with purpose, how Silicon Valley product thinking can transform credit union innovation, and what really drives merger decisions when there's no financial windfall waiting.

Key Topics

• Sales isn't a dirty word when members are leaving money on the table
• Credit unions move at the speed of snails while fintechs eat their lunch
• The merger question isn't about survival, it's about member impact

Key Takeaways

• Reframe sales as member education and value delivery
• Member expectations are set by their best digital experiences, not banking ones
• Innovation velocity matters more than scale in today's environment
• Merger decisions should be driven by member value, not leadership convenience

"We are doing our own members a disservice if we did not show them all of the value that our product offerings can have." - Anand Solanki

"Selling is service and service is selling." - Becky Reed

Visit growyourcreditunion.com to read the full transcript

Your apps are better, your processes smoother, your metrics stronger. But as members go increasingly digital, are you accidentally engineering yourself out of their lives?

In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union, host Joshua Barclay and co-host Becky Reed welcome Tim Schmitt, Chief Experience Officer at PFP Services, to explore why the biggest member experience mistake might be hiding in plain sight, how protection products can become trust-builders instead of payment-killers, and what's actually driving credit union growth.

A huge thanks to our sponsor, PFP Services.

Credit Unions know that engagement is key to success. PFP Services brings expertise, resources, and passion to help you build strong connections with your members. Our goal is to grow your credit union together, forming lasting bonds every step of the way. Partnering with us means a mutually beneficial relationship with absolutely no cost! Visit familysecurityplan.com/credit-unions/ to learn more.

Read the full show notes and full transcript on growyourcreditunion.com

When conditions get unpredictable, staying boring can be the boldest move if it’s part of a broader strategy. In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union, host Joshua Barclay and co-host Becky Reed are joined by Kevin Dougherty, COO at Addition Financial Credit Union, to break down how his team is adapting, from strengthening cyber resilience to scaling visibility with the next generation, while challenging the industry’s reliance on the status quo and pushing for smarter, faster responses to today’s biggest threats.

Listen now to stay ahead of what is shaping the movement.

Note: At the time of recording, Pam Cohen held the position of Chief Administrative Officer at Affinity Federal Credit Union. She has since transitioned to the role of Chief Operating Officer.

All links and a full transcript can be found on growyourcreditunion.com.

Some credit unions are waiting years to fix broken tech stacks. Others are launching AI tools in a weekend and proving that speed isn’t just about technology, it’s a leadership imperative that affects how credit unions serve, grow, and stay relevant.

In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union, host Joshua Barclay is joined by co-host Becky Reed and guest Pam Cohen, Chief Operating Officer at Affinity Federal Credit Union, to talk about simplifying tech stacks, reducing employee turnover, and using AI to expand financial inclusion.

Listen now to stay ahead of what’s shaping the movement.

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Some credit union leaders still treat the NCUA like an adversary—or an oracle. But the truth is, regulators are paying attention, especially when the feedback is thoughtful, specific, and backed by real solutions.

In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union, host Joshua Barclay and co-host Becky Reed are joined by guest Elizabeth Eurgubian, former Director of External Affairs and Policy Advisor to the chair of the NCUA, to talk about what the agency’s recent leadership shakeups really mean, how to be heard in the rule-making process, and why this is the right moment to reshape the relationship between credit unions and regulators.

Listen now to stay ahead of what’s shaping the movement.

Some credit union leaders are building small business programs, investing in community growth, and doing the hard work. Others are still hiding behind “we can’t”—and it might be costing the industry its future.

In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union, host Joshua Barclay is joined by co-host Becky Reed and guest John Holt, CEO of Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union, to talk about the controversy around CEO golden parachutes, the untapped opportunity in small business lending, and whether chasing CDFI grants is really worth it.

A huge thanks to our sponsor, PFP Services.

Credit Unions know that engagement is key to success. PFP Services brings expertise, resources, and passion to help you build strong connections with your members. Our goal is to grow your credit union together, forming lasting bonds every step of the way. Partnering with us means a mutually beneficial relationship with absolutely no cost! Visit familysecurityplan.com/credit-unions/ to learn more.

Listen now to stay ahead of what’s shaping the movement.

Check out the post for this episode of Grow Your Credit Union.

In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union, host Joshua Barclay is joined by co-host James McBride, CEO, Connects Federal Credit Union and guest Michael Powers, CEO of Garden Savings Federal Credit Union. Together, they discuss the following:

• Which regulations do the most harm,
• How to make financial advice stick digitally, and
• How to spot a merger that strengthens - not swallows - a credit union.

Thanks to our sponsor for this episode, PFP Services

Credit Unions know that engagement is key to success. PFP Services brings expertise, resources, and passion to help you build strong connections with your members. Our goal is to grow your credit union together, forming lasting bonds every step of the way. Partnering with us means a mutually beneficial relationship with absolutely no cost! Visit familysecurityplan.com/credit-unions/ to learn more.

Credit unions talk about being community-focused. But what if real connection meant showing up in the moments that matter, like when someone’s buying groceries?

In this episode of Grow Your Credit Union, host Joshua Barclay is joined by co-host Becky Reed and guest Jennifer Borowy, President and CEO of Michigan First Credit Union to talk about how mentorship can accelerate leadership, what lessons credit unions can borrow from banks, and whether in-store branches really drive growth.

Also, we talked with Bradley Hickey, Manager of Application Development at American Airlines Federal Credit Union, to hear why CU Build is a must-attend for any credit union team looking to innovate from within.

Register here: https://www.cubuild.org/register-now

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/growyourcreditunion/