Ashley Kohlrus: Credit Union Innovation Strategy for AI, Stablecoins & Beyond

Join us for an insightful conversation with Ashley Kohlrus, Chief Operations Officer at Members Development Company (MDC), as she shares her unique perspective from spending over two decades in credit unions before transitioning to leading innovation at scale.What You'll Learn:Credit Union Innovation StrategyAshley discusses how credit unions can accelerate innovation through collaboration rather than competing alone. Learn why working together as an industry creates competitive advantages against major banks and fintechs like Revolut and Chime.The Role of CUSOs in Credit Union SuccessDiscover how Credit Union Service Organizations like MDC help credit unions innovate faster by providing scale, resources, and shared solutions that individual institutions struggle to develop independently.Key Innovation Areas for 2025-2026Business banking onboarding improvementsDeepfake detection and prevention solutionsAI implementation strategies and sandbox environmentsStablecoin and tokenized deposit explorationData sharing and analytics optimizationChange Management InsightsAshley shares her expertise in organizational change management, emphasizing the importance of constant communication, patience, and recognizing the emotional component of transformation initiatives.Data and AI in Credit UnionsLearn about the opportunities and challenges credit unions face with data utilization, including how to move from data-rich to insight-driven decision making, and the potential for industry-wide data collaboration.Key Takeaways:Credit unions must leverage collaboration as their competitive advantageInnovation must be "innovation for impact" with measurable resultsThe pace of change requires credit unions to work together through consortiumsMember experience expectations demand faster implementation of modern solutionsFuture-readying credit unions requires addressing legacy systems while embracing new technologiesAbout Ashley Kohlrus:Ashley brings 24+ years of financial services experience, with 22 years spent inside credit unions including nearly two decades at Allegacy Federal Credit Union as Chief Operations and Digital Officer. Now at MDC, she leads owner engagement and operations for a network of 90+ credit unions, including some of the largest in the country.About Members Development Company (MDC):MDC is a premier innovation partner for credit unions, focused on helping owners compete and grow through innovation and collaboration. The organization provides early access to fintech solutions, R&D opportunities, and strategic support across critical industry challenges.Topics Covered:Credit union innovation | CUSO operations | Digital transformation | Business banking solutions | Deepfake prevention | AI in financial services | Stable coins and tokenized deposits | Change management | Data analytics | Credit union collaboration | Fintech partnerships | Financial services technology | Member experience | Credit union strategy | Organizational developmentWhy This Matters:As credit unions face increasing competition from traditional banks and digital-first challengers, understanding how to accelerate innovation while maintaining the cooperative mission is critical. This conversation provides actionable insights for credit union executives, technology leaders, and anyone interested in the future of community-based financial services.Recorded: Q4 2025 (Post-Money 2020)Host: Anurag MukherjeeGuest: Ashley Kohlrus, Chief Operations Officer, MDC#CreditUnions #FinancialInnovation #CUSO #DigitalTransformation #AI #Stablecoins #CreditUnionTechnology #FinancialServices #Innovation #ChangeManagement #DataAnalytics #MemberExperience #Fintech #CommunityBanking💡 Subscribe for more conversations with credit union leaders and innovators shaping the future of community financial services.