Credit Union Special: The Minds Behind the Members

How do credit unions stay competitive in a rapidly evolving financial world? In this special episode of The Bank Tellers, we sit down with Sterling Nielsen, CEO of Mountain America Credit Union, to discuss the future of credit unions, their role in financial inclusion, and how they’re leveraging technology to compete with big banks.

Tune in to hear:
-The secret to Mountain America’s growth and success
-Digital transformation and member experience
-The credit union difference and community impact
-Future trends shaping the financial landscape

Mountain America Credit Union
https://www.macu.com/

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https://www.linkedin.com/in/sterling-nielsen-69064a7/

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Credit Union Special: The Minds Behind the Members

Zach Anderson Pettet, Money20/20's VP, Fintech Strategy, interviews Shruti Miyashiro, President & CEO of DCU (Digital Federal Credit Union).

Tune in to learn how DCU's organic growth has made it one of the largest credit unions in the US, and how its intent to merge with First Tech is poised to create a $30 billion financial institution.

Key topics covered:
-DCU 's growth trajectory
-The impact of the intended First Tech merger on financial services and members
-Why understanding consumer needs is crucial for innovation
-The key to attracting and retaining top talent
-How innovation at DCU comes from every team, not just tech
- Important leadership lessons on creating a legacy, empowerment, and fostering curiosity

DCU
https://www.dcu.org/

Follow Shruti:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shrutismiyashiro/

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How do you build a digital bank that truly serves the underserved? In this episode of The Bank Tellers, Zach Anderson Pettet sits down with Rachel Freeman, Chief Growth Officer at Tyme, to explore how the company is redefining digital banking in emerging markets.

Tyme is proving that financial inclusion can be both impactful and profitable. Rachel shares the company’s hybrid approach, which combines digital banking with in-person onboarding through kiosks in retail stores. She discusses Tyme’s expansion from South Africa into the Philippines and Indonesia, explaining how partnerships with major retailers have been key to their success.

She also reflects on the challenges and opportunities of financial inclusion, the role of technology in making banking more accessible, and the lessons learned from building a bank entirely over Zoom during the pandemic.

Learn About:
-Expanding digital banking in emerging markets
-Why financial inclusion is key to unlocking human potential
-The role of retail partnerships in driving adoption
-Lessons from scaling a bank remotely during COVID
-How fintech innovation is reshaping the global banking landscape
And much more!

Tyme

https://www.tyme.com/

Follow Rachel

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-freeman-9372151/

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In this episode of The Bank Tellers, we sit down with Sarah Billings, EVP and Head of Global Payments at PNC, to explore the evolving landscape of payments, technology, and banking innovation. From strategic investments in real-time payments to the importance of "brilliantly boring" banking, Sarah shares how PNC is driving innovation while keeping risk management and compliance at the core. Plus, she shares her thoughts on executive leadership, career growth, and the future of payments.

Tune in to hear:

• How PNC is bridging traditional and modern payment solutions
• The role of banks as technology companies in today's financial world
• Why asking the right questions is key to success in financial services
• And much more!

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How do you lead digital transformation at a top-10 U.S. bank while keeping innovation at the forefront? In this episode of The Bank Tellers, we sit down with Kelly Buchanan, EVP & Divisional CIO of Enterprise Payments & Wholesale Technology at Truist, to discuss her journey from MasterCard to banking, how Truist is redefining innovation in wholesale banking, and why operational efficiency is just as critical as cutting-edge technology. Plus, don't miss Kelly's unfiltered takes on why fun in the workplace is a non-negotiable, why drinking soda is a major no-no, and the art of balancing work and family life.

Key Topics:
-Driving digital transformation at a major financial institution
-The intersection of innovation and operational efficiency in payments
-How Truist is shaping the future of wholesale banking
-Lessons on leadership, career growth, and taking smart risks

Truist
https://www.truist.com/

Follow Kelly:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrskellybuchanan/

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On the latest episode of The Bank Tellers, Ian Horne, Head of EU Content at Money20/20, sits down with Emma Hagan, CEO of ClearBank, to explore how the UK’s first new clearing bank in 250 years is shaking up financial services.

Emma shares insights on embedded banking, fintech partnerships, and innovation in payments, plus what it takes to lead a cloud-native, API-driven institution.

Learn about:
-How ClearBank is transforming embedded banking
-The role of fintech partnerships in driving financial innovation
-Why being “comfortable with being uncomfortable” is key to leadership

ClearBank:
https://clear.bank/

Follow Emma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-hagan-86ba9b10/

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Axos Bank is one of the OG digital banks, but how do they stay ahead in a world where every financial institution is going digital?

In this episode of The Bank Tellers, Zach Anderson Pettet sits down with Michael Pfau, Chief Digital Officer at Axos Bank, to dive into the future of digital banking, how to balance innovation with efficiency, and why being uncomfortable is the key to growth.

Topics Covered:
-The challenge of running a branchless, digital-first bank
-How Axos builds and scales its own tech to stay ahead
-The secret sauce behind Axos’ efficiency and customer experience
-What it takes to be a successful Chief Digital Officer in today’s fintech world
-Lessons from Michael’s time in the Navy and consulting that shaped his leadership

Axos Bank:

https://www.axosbank.com/

Follow Michael:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-pfau-bb03493/

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On the latest episode of The Bank Tellers, Zach Anderson Pettet, VP, Fintech Strategy at Money20/20, sits down with Erica Khalili, the Chief Legal & Risk Officer at Lead Bank.

This unfiltered and honest convo dives into the bank’s transformation from a traditional community bank to a fintech-forward institution.

Erica shares the unique journey that led her and her co-founders—who come from tech, data science, and fintech backgrounds—to acquire Lead Bank. She explains why they saw an opportunity to bridge the gap between fintech and banking and how they’re working to make bank-fintech partnerships more transparent, efficient, and scalable.

Key topics include:
- Why banks and fintechs often struggle to work together—and how to fix it
- The role of AI and automation in compliance, risk management, and fraud detection
- Whether fintechs should actually pursue bank charters or just partner with banks instead
- How regulatory uncertainty is shaping the future of embedded finance
- How fintech thinking is reshaping traditional banking

Plus, tune in for the real debate: Who has the best BBQ in Kansas City?!

Lead Bank
https://www.lead.bank/
Follow Erica
https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-khalili-48138570/

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