Saturday, July 11

 

“The Terrain Is Changing: How Credit Union Leaders Can Navigate What Comes Next” by Bill Fournet

 

Credit unions are facing a level of disruption not seen in decades. AI is reshaping member expectations. Fintechs are redefining convenience. Workforce demographics are shifting. Regulatory pressures continue to increase. Yet many organizations are still relying on strategic planning processes designed for a more stable world. The challenge is no longer creating a plan. The challenge is learning how to navigate when the terrain changes faster than the map. In this interactive session Bill Fournet, CEO and leadership strategist, shares practical tools that help boards and executive teams move beyond annual planning and build an organization capable of sensing change, making better decisions, and turning change into a sustained strategic advantage. Participants will learn how high-performing organizations create clarity amid uncertainty, align around strategic intent, and turn disruption into opportunity.

This session includes practical frameworks that can be immediately applied to strategic planning, governance, and organizational leadership.

​

Participants Will Learn How To:

• Distinguish between predictable trends and emerging signals that could impact the future of their credit union

• Improve decision-making when information is incomplete or changing

• Build a leadership system that adapts faster than the environment around it

• Shift from annual planning cycles to a more agile approach to strategic execution

• Create a shared strategic intent that aligns boards and leadership

 

“The Next Member Shift: How Changing Member Expectations Are Reshaping Credit Union Strategy” by Bill Fournet

​

For decades, credit unions have built loyalty through relationships, trust, and service. Those foundations remain critical. But member expectations are changing fast. Today's members compare their credit union experience not just to other financial institutions, but to the digital convenience, personalization, and responsiveness they experience everywhere else. While generational differences often dominate the conversation, the larger challenge is understanding how evolving expectations are reshaping member behavior across all age groups. Convenience, digital access, financial wellness, personalization, and speed are becoming strategic differentiators that influence growth, retention, and relevance. In this interactive session, join Bill Fournet as he explores the emerging shifts that will shape the next decade of credit union growth. Participants will examine changing member expectations, the role of technology and AI, and the strategic decisions boards and executive teams should be considering today to remain competitive tomorrow. This session helps leaders move beyond demographic assumptions and focus on the deeper trends that are redefining the member experience.

​

Participants Will Learn How To:

• Identify the major shifts influencing member expectations and loyalty across generations

• Understand which emerging trends are likely to have the greatest impact on growth, retention, and member engagement

• Distinguish between temporary fads and long-term strategic changes

• Evaluate how AI, personalization, and digital experiences are changing expectations for service and convenience

• Align board and executive leadership around the strategic choices needed to remain relevant and competitive

​

Sunday, July 12

 

"Delivering Member Value: A Leadership Perspective for Executives and Directors" by Thomas Back

​

As member-owned cooperatives, credit unions exist to serve their members, but what does “member value” really mean in practice, and how do leadership decisions shape it? This session explores how executives and directors can evaluate, strengthen, and communicate the value their credit union delivers—from competitive rates and lower fees to financial education, community impact, and an exceptional member experience. We’ll examine how member value connects to strategic priorities, operational execution, financial sustainability, and the cooperative difference that sets credit unions apart. Attendees will gain insights into how effective collaboration between the board and executive team can drive long-term member success while ensuring the credit union remains relevant, resilient, and mission-focused.

 

"Steering Through Disruption: Credit Unions, Fintech Partnerships, Stablecoins, and the New Regulatory Landscape” -A Fireside Chat with Rodney Hood & Patrick Adams

​

Building the Credit Union of Tomorrow: Innovation, Partnerships, and Regulatory Evolution by Rodney Hood

As technology transforms financial services and policymakers reshape the regulatory landscape, credit unions have a unique opportunity to strengthen member service, expand access, and drive innovation through strategic partnerships. In this forward-looking session, former Acting Comptroller of the Currency and former NCUA Chairman Rodney E. Hood offers a unique dual-regulator perspective on the forces shaping financial services in 2026 and beyond.

Drawing on leadership experience across the OCC and NCUA, Mr. Hood will explore the evolution of fintech partnerships, emerging stablecoin frameworks, the implications of the GENIUS Act, and the broader regulatory shift toward responsible innovation. Attendees will gain practical insights into managing risk, navigating supervisory expectations, and positioning their institutions for long-term success in an increasingly digital financial ecosystem.

Featuring opening remarks, a fireside chat, and audience Q&A, this session will equip credit union leaders with the strategies and perspective needed to build the credit union of tomorrow.

​

Monday, July 13

​

"An Industry Outlook" by Steven Reider

 

This session will discuss demographic, economic, and distribution trends affecting the financial services industry, to help support your credit union’s strategic planning decisions.  The session will also present specific industry trends on datapoints such as deposit growth, credit quality, and liquidity to help you anticipate the environment ahead and set realistic performance goals for your institution.

 

"Bolstering Business Banking at Your Credit Union" by Steven Reider

 

With many large banks reducing service offerings to smaller businesses, credit unions nationwide are striving to fill the void created by those events by augmenting business-banking products and sales efforts.  This session will provide guidance for launching or improving business banking initiatives at your credit union, including strategic rationale, product design, definition of target market segments, market sizing, establishing an organizational framework, and business-case analysis to assess the financial impact of adding business-banking services.

 

 

Tuesday, July 14

​

"Inside the NCUA: Understanding the Agency, the Process, and What’s Ahead" by Justin Anderson

​

Gain an insider’s perspective on how the NCUA operates and what every credit union leader should know about working effectively within the regulatory framework. This session will explore the agency’s structure behind the scenes, provide practical insights for building productive relationships with examiners, and explain how regulations are developed—including how credit unions can influence policy through the comment letter process. Participants will also receive updates on current issues affecting the industry and have the opportunity to engage in an open question-and-answer discussion on the topics most important to them.

Topics include:

• The NCUA’s structure and how the agency operates behind the scenes

• Building effective relationships with your examiner

• Understanding the rulemaking process and submitting impactful comment letters

• Current regulatory developments and industry issues

• Interactive Q&A with attendee questions and discussion

This candid and informative session offers a valuable look inside the agency and provides practical guidance for navigating today’s evolving regulatory landscape.

 

"Stablecoins, the GENIUS Act, and the Future of Regulation" by Justin Anderson

​

Stablecoins are rapidly moving from the fringe to the financial mainstream, bringing with them new opportunities, risks, and regulatory questions. This session provides credit union leaders with a practical overview of payment stablecoins and the emerging framework designed to govern them. Attendees will explore the key provisions of the GENIUS Act, who may issue payment stablecoins, and the roles federal regulators are expected to play in supervising this evolving marketplace. The session will also examine the NCUA’s proposed framework and discuss what developments may lie ahead. The program concludes with an interactive Q&A, giving participants the opportunity to explore the implications for their institutions and members.

Topics include:

• Understanding stablecoins and their role in the financial system

• Key provisions and implications of the GENIUS Act

• What qualifies as a payment stablecoin

• Who may issue payment stablecoins and under what authority

• The role of federal regulators in oversight and supervision

• An overview of the NCUA’s proposal

• Proposal I – Licensing requirements

• Proposal II – Standards for licensed issuers

• Emerging developments and what may be coming next

• Interactive Q&A and discussion

This timely session will help credit union leaders better understand the evolving digital asset landscape and prepare for the regulatory and strategic issues shaping the future of payments.