Sunday, May 25

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“Washington Gone Wild: What’s Next?” by John McKechnie

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The new Trump Administration and Republican majorities in both chambers on Capitol Hill has spelled change for the status quo in our Nation’s Capital.  Veteran Washington credit union advocate John McKechnie will take a look at what’s happening on Capitol Hill, and at NCUA and CFPB…and try to sketch out what may come next.  You won’t want to miss this wide-ranging look at what the reshuffled political deck will mean for you and your credit union.

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“Life Over Debt, Cancer Care Debt Relief” by Ron Smith

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Cancer. It’s a word that makes us cringe—whether it touches our lives personally, affects a family member, a friend, or even someone we’ve never met. It carries with it fear, uncertainty, and often, overwhelming financial strain.

This is a journey no one should have to face alone. That’s why a unique partnership between Enbright Credit Union, Andy Janing, and Life Over Debt was formed—to create a groundbreaking program that offers both hope and help to those impacted by cancer. This innovative initiative combines compassionate support with practical financial education, empowering individuals and families to navigate the challenges of a diagnosis and strengthen their path to recovery. It’s the ultimate example of the credit union philosophy in action: People Helping People—especially when they need it the most. Join Enbright Credit Union’s President and CEO, Ron Smith, for an inspiring look at how credit unions can stand beside their members in life’s most difficult moments—and truly make a difference.

 

Monday, May 26

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“Economic Outlook 2025: Industry Trends and the Challenges Ahead” by Steven Reider

 

Join Steven Reider for an economic overview of the financial services industry.  He will be presenting key statistics regarding deposit, demographic and economic trends across the U.S to help credit unions understand their markets and identify prospective markets for expansion.  The Outlook includes statistics on deposit growth, branching activity, household demographics and economic measures, both at the metro-area level and for the U.S. overall, to support branch capital deployment decisions.  The Outlook also offers advice for the year ahead, including the challenges surrounding channel-investment allocation decisions, uncertainties in the interest rate environment, and the slowing pace of household growth.   

 

“The Role of the Branch in the Age of Automated Banking” by Steven Reider

 

Despite the rampant growth in alternate channels, the branch remains the predominant venue for new account sales. Further, ask any credit union or community bank executive what differentiates their institution and you’ll hear “our people.”  And no channel places “our people” with our members like the branch. The branch continues to offer significant value in both member recruitment and in building an institution’s brand.   As the most visible embodiment of the institution, the branch channel remains critical: branches still matter, and effective branches remain at the heart of successful financial institutions. The role of the branch is changing as in-branch transaction volumes erode.  Alternate channels and payment mechanisms have reduced in-branch transaction volumes by as much as 50% at some institutions.  Yet the physical distribution channel remains prominent: despite increases in alternate channels, the branch remains the predominant channel for client acquisition, processing upwards of 90% of all account opens at most banks and credit unions. Location convenience remains the top institution selection criterion for consumers; and research confirms competitors with larger branch networks continue to capture a disproportionate share of deposits.

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Tuesday, May 27

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"Navigating the Fraud Frontier: Risks, Scams, and Security Challenges Facing Credit Unions” by Zachary Douglass

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As credit unions continue to grow and innovate, so too do the fraud risks and scams targeting their members and operations. In this session, we will dive into the latest trends in financial fraud, from phishing and identity theft to sophisticated scams impacting both members and the institution itself. Leave the session with actionable insights on how credit unions can strengthen their security posture, mitigate risks, and protect their assets from evolving threats. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of the fraud landscape and practical tools to safeguard their credit union and its members from emerging risks.

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"AI Policy: Are You Asking the Right Questions?” by Diane Reed

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As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in financial services, credit unions must navigate the opportunities and risks of AI technologies with clarity, responsibility, and member trust in mind. This session is designed to help credit union professionals build and implement AI policies that align with ethical standards, regulatory expectations, and organizational goals.

Participants will gain practical knowledge on how to design comprehensive AI governance frameworks and integrate them into existing risk and compliance structures. Through real-world examples, regulatory insights, and implementation strategies, attendees will leave equipped to lead AI adoption with accountability and confidence.

Key Takeaways:

• Understand the unique risks and benefits of AI in the credit union sector

• Learn the core components of an effective AI policy: fairness, transparency, accountability, and data privacy

• Explore current and emerging regulations impacting AI use in financial services

• Discover best practices for implementing AI governance frameworks and risk controls

• Review case studies of AI applications in lending, fraud detection, member service, and more

• Develop a roadmap for internal AI policy design and cross-functional collaboration

Interactive Components:

• Live Q&A

• Policy framework template walkthrough

• Group discussion on credit union-specific AI use cases

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"Designing Effective Performance Standards for Your CEO” by Diane Reed

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Session Overview:
A strong, productive relationship between a credit union board and its CEO begins with clear, measurable, and mission-aligned performance expectations. This 90-minute training session will guide credit union leaders through the process of designing and implementing performance standards that are fair, transparent, and tailored to the unique goals of their organization. Furthermore, we'll discuss how CEO performance standards should flow through the entirety of the credit union's performance evaluation system, affecting the entire organization all the way down to cleaning staff and tellers.

Participants will explore how to create a performance evaluation system that fosters CEO accountability, supports professional growth, and drives strategic results. With a focus on governance best practices and practical tools, this session will empower volunteers and CEOs to engage in thoughtful, future-focused performance management that supports long-term organizational success.

Key Takeaways:

• Understand the role of the board in CEO performance evaluation and oversight

• Learn how to align CEO performance standards with your credit union’s mission, strategy, and KPIs

• Explore methods for setting measurable, realistic, and balanced performance goals

• Identify key categories for evaluation, including financial performance, leadership, culture, member impact, and innovation

• Review effective timelines, tools, and communication practices for performance reviews

• Gain sample templates and real-world examples of successful performance standards in action

Interactive Components:

• Peer discussion on common challenges and solutions

• Walkthrough of a customizable CEO performance standards framework

• Live Q&A with a human resources, governance and leadership expert

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Wednesday, May 28

 

 “Succession Planning Deep Dive” by David Reed

 

Succession planning is important for all senior leadership positions at the credit union.   In fact, the NCUA has issued a new rule to ensure your credit union has an effective plan.  How will the next generation of potential leaders be identified and prepared? These are challenging times for credit unions and volunteer recruitment and development has never been more important.  Do not wait until it is too late to start developing the credit union leaders of tomorrow.   There are simple steps that you can take today to begin attracting, evaluating and preparing your future leaders. This session explores ways to enhance the experience of all key stakeholders while assuring you will have a capable pool of candidates eager to serve.

 

Learning Objectives:

• ·      Understand Regulatory Requirements 

• ·      Appreciate the Elements of a Succession Plan 

• ·      Customizing Your Program for Executives and Volunteers

• ·      Review Best Practices in Recruitment

• ·      Avoid Common Landmines

 

“CU Governance Tune Up” by David Reed

 

Governance is the glue that holds your credit union together and good governance does not happen by accident. It starts with your bylaws and flows through your policies and practices. From the relationship with members to Board duties and Supervisory Committee powers to delegation of duties to management, governance controls the essential elements of your affairs. Add to this meeting mechanics, committee structure and key stakeholder expectations and you have the moving parts of governance.  It is never the correct answer to say, “this is always the way we have done it.” Your governance process must meet the changing needs of your credit union as well as pass regulatory scrutiny. Will yours pass the test?

Leaning Objectives:

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• Regulatory Requirements

• Understanding Your Bylaws

• Review Popular Governance Models

• Key Governance Decision Points

• Governance Best Practices