Fintech Unleashed: Unlocking Innovation in Finance

Join Virginia Heyburn, Director of Research, Insights, and Advocacy at Engage fi, as she discusses the future of financial institutions with industry experts Fabio Biasella and James White. Explore how economic trends, demographic shifts, and technological innovations will redefine strategies for banks and credit unions in 2026. Learn about the importance of data strategy, product innovation, and agile technology environments in staying competitive. Don't miss this insightful conversation on adapting to a rapidly changing financial landscape.Tell Us Your Thoughts

As we step in 2026, the financial services industry is facing a year defined by big questions, from economic uncertainty and shifting demographics to interest rates and accelerated technology innovation. In this episode of Leaders Give Back podcast, Virginia Heyburn is joined by our Executive Affiliates, John Cassidy, former CEO of Sierra Central Credit Union, Cathy Pace, former CEO of Allegacy Federal Credit Union, and Gene Pelham, former CEO of Rogue Credit Union to reflect on the hard lessons learned in 2025 and share fresh perspectives shaped by the defining forces of 2026. Some topics include the historic transfer of wealth, the rise of Gen Z in leadership, and the mainstream adoption of AI and generative AI.Tell Us Your Thoughts

In today’s financial landscape where AI is rapidly evolving, digital transformation never stops. Technology can no longer live in a silo and neither can the leaders who guide it. In our latest podcast, Virginia Heyburn is joined by Engage fi’s Executive Affiliate, John Cassidy, former CEO of Sierra Central Credit Union, to explore how technology and business strategy must now move in lockstep. They dive into the rise of technology leaders as true strategic partners and what that shift means for the future of financial institutions.Tell Us Your Thoughts

In this episode, Virginia Heyburn is joined by Engage fi’s Executive Affiliate, Cathy Pace, former CEO of Allegacy Federal Credit Union, to discuss mentoring the next generation of financial institution leaders. As a seasoned leader and now leadership educator, Cathy discusses the attributes that lead to sustainable leadership, the concerns she is hearing from young leaders, and what timeless lessons still matter most today.Tell Us Your Thoughts

Virginia Heyburn is joined by James White, Principal Strategist at Engage fi, for a deep dive into one of the most transformative and challenging topics in financial services: artificial intelligence. They explore what it really takes to build and execute an effective AI strategy, the most common mistakes we see, and what a true AI strategy actually looks like. With so many AI vendors entering the market, they cover key questions you should be asking and highlight some red flags that can signal trouble ahead. Most importantly, they look at all the ways AI can reshape rolls, lead to more optimized operations, and strengthen the member or customer experience.Tell Us Your Thoughts

In this episode, Virginia is joined by James White, Principal Strategist at Engage fi, for a deep dive into CRMs and AI. They explore how AI has transformed CRM from a static system of record into a dynamic tool that drives meaningful action. Virginia and James highlight the tangible results financial institutions are already seeing with AI-powered CRMs and look ahead at how AI driven and CRM driven banks and credit unions can future proof themselves against disruption in the financial services industry.Tell Us Your Thoughts

On this episode of Fintech Unleashed, Virginia Heyburn is joined by Fabio Biasella, Engage fi’s Director of Strategic Services, to discuss the economic outlook for the second half of 2025. They explore key trends shaping the landscape, including the employment market, interest rates, inflation, and the growing debt burden. They also take a closer look at where loan and deposit growth may be headed, the biggest risks currently facing banks and credit unions, and potential threats to the traditional banking model.Tell Us Your Thoughts

On this episode of Fintech Unleashed, Virginia Heyburn, Director of Research, Insights, and Advocacy, is joined by Jason Beckmann, Executive Vice President of Technology and Operations at Emprise Bank for an exciting conversation on emerging technology in banking. They dive into some of the hottest topics shaping the industry, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain, and banking as a service. They also explore how financial institutions can tap into fintech partnerships, navigate regulatory shifts, and take a proactive approach to managing risk.Tell Us Your Thoughts

Virginia Heyburn is back with another episode of Fintech Unleashed. On today’s episode, Virginia is joined by Joe Dugan, Strategic Advisor at Engage fi. Together, they explore the importance of operational efficiency, the challenges faced by banks and credit unions, and how channel optimization can enhance the member/customer experience and lead to significant cost savings.  They also discuss the need for a customer-centric approach and practical steps financial institutions can take to improve service delivery.Tell Us Your Thoughts

Virginia Heyburn is back with another episode of Fintech Unleashed. In today’s episode, Virginia is joined by Dr. Art Harper, Engage fi’s Strategic Consultant, Payments, to explore the role of AI in payment decision making. They discuss how AI-driven solutions can streamline processes, enhance personalized offers to strengthen customer/member relationships, and even support financial literacy initiatives.Tell Us Your Thoughts

Virginia Heyburn is back with another episode of Fintech Unleashed. On this episode, she is joined by Anne Miela, Engage fi’s Vice President of Implementations to explore core modernization as an efficiency strategy. They discuss what makes core conversions unique in today’s landscape, how financial institutions can leverage them to drive efficiency, and the key steps to ensuring a core conversion delivers the desired results.Tell Us Your Thoughts

Virginia Heyburn is joined by Fabio Biasella, Director of Strategic Services at Engage fi to discuss the top trends banks and credit unions should be prioritizing in 2025. As we look ahead to a new year, the industry continues to evolve quickly, bringing both challenges and opportunities. From modernizing operations and embracing artificial intelligence to engaging the next generation of customers and navigating open banking, they dive into key areas that demand attention. Tell Us Your Thoughts

Virginia Heyburn is back with another episode of Fintech Unleashed. On today’s episode, she is joined by Duncan Taylor, SVP, Chief Operating Officer at the Washington Bankers Association to explore Gen Z’s role in shaping the future of the banking industry. They discuss what financial institutions are prioritizing when hiring Gen Z, tackle common misconceptions this generation has about working in banking, and examine whether traditional recruitment models are equipped to attract the talent of tomorrow. Tell Us Your Thoughts

Many FIs struggle with sunsetting communications systems and outdated technology, causing a disconnect across all channels. Integrating communication platforms will enable FIs to streamline processes among employees, customers/members, and partners and create a second-to-none customer experience. Engage FI's Stacey McClure addresses the pain points FIs face in this arena and explains why NOW is the time to act and transform.Tell Us Your Thoughts

In this episode, Virginia Heyburn is joined by Engage fi’s Co-founder & CEO, Jenn Addabbo, to celebrate National Women's Small Business Month. They discuss Jenn’s journey to entrepreneurship, female leadership in a male dominated industry, the unique strengths women bring to the table, and how today’s leaders can support and mentor the next generation of female trailblazers.Tell Us Your Thoughts

In this episode, Virginia Heyburn is joined by Jenn Addabbo, Co-founder & CEO of Engage fi to discuss the evolving landscape of the payments industry. They dive into the latest trends, from emerging payment types like real-time payments and digital wallets, to the growing importance of fraud management in a world where security is paramount. Virginia and Jenn will also explore the foundational technologies driving these changes and how banks and credit unions are rethinking their portfolios to stay competitive.Tell Us Your Thoughts

Virginia Heyburn, Director of Research, Insights, and Advocacy is back with September's Ten in 10 where she addresses the most impactful news stories in the world of finance. In this episode, Virginia discusses significant developments in the regulatory landscape, profitability trends in fintech, lending challenges faced by credit unions, and the unprecedented amount of mergers between banks and credit unions. One of the most widely discussed topics this month is the Federal Reserve's long-awaited interest rate cut. Effective interest rate risk management is now critical for banks and credit unions. Will this move stimulate loan growth? And will financial institutions be able to significantly lower deposit rates in response? Tell Us Your Thoughts

On this episode of Fintech Unleashed, Virginia Heyburn is joined by Jim Roche, President of the Maine Bankers Association to discuss the most critical and timely topics impacting bankers today. They cover the evolving regulatory landscape, trends in bank mergers and acquisitions, and the future of banking technology.Tell Us Your Thoughts

In this episode Virginia Heyburn is joined by Fabio Biasella, Director of Strategic Services, and Joe Dugan, Strategic Advisor, to dive into one of the most pressing topics in financial services – the anticipated interest rate cut. They discuss its impact across the balance sheet, covering everything from deposits and loans to operations and strategic planning for banks and credit unions. Tell Us Your Thoughts

Randy Hultgren, President & CEO of the Illinois Bankers Association joins Virginia Heyburn to discuss the implications of the recently passed Interchange Fee Prohibition Act in Illinois, its broader national impact, and the importance of maintaining a level playing field and fair regulation for financial institutions. Tell Us Your Thoughts

Virginia Heyburn is back with this month’s Ten in 10, where she explores the top news stories impacting the financial services industry. On this episode, Virginia discusses the impact the presidential ballot has on financial institutions, the growth of real time payment networks, trends in bank earnings, and the state of the economy. The CrowdStrike incident shined a light on the importance of operational risk management and Virginia has thoughts.Tell Us Your Thoughts

Engage fi Co-Founder and CEO, Jenn Addabbo is joined by Carrie Birkhofer, President & CEO at Bay Federal Credit Union, Kathy Courtney, COO at Greenstate Credit Union, and Julie Kleffel, EVP & COO at Seacoast Bank. In this episode we shine a light on some of the incredible women who are making waves in the world of finance. We dive into their inspiring journeys to leadership, highlighting the importance of mentorship and balancing work and life. We also discuss how technology is impacting traditional banking operations with a special focus on the role of AI.Tell Us Your Thoughts

In this episode, Virginia is offering her insights into the evolution of Apple's Buy Now Pay Later feature, the results of the FDIC Quarterly Banking Profile for Q1, and the rise in corporate bankruptcy filings. This month brought positive news for credit card issuers and borrowers, hear Virginia's take on this development. Dominating the news cycle this month is the growing concern over security in the evolving fintech space. The Synapse bankruptcy has raised concerns about the safety and soundness of fintech's and the need for specific regulation in the banking as a service model. Data breaches at banks like Evolve Bank & Trust have further damaged trust in the fintech space. For the time-constrained banking professional, enjoy a recap of the most relevant tools impacting the market.Tell Us Your Thoughts

Renee Christoffer, President & CEO at Veridian Credit Union, Michele Dean, President & CEO at Suffolk Federal Credit Union and Whitney Woyke, EVP, Innovation & Strategy and Banking Services at Emprise Bank join Virginia Heyburn, Director of Research, Insights and Advocacy at Engage fi on part 1 of this exciting two part series. All these extraordinary women have broken the glass ceiling in the world of finance. They chat about their own journeys, success and challenges and look at where the financial industry is today.Tell Us Your Thoughts

Forming a strategic plan is more than checking a box. It gives your bank or credit union both direction and purpose. Successful strategic planning requires a well-informed approach and actionable initiatives to support your strategic vision. On this episode, Fabio Biasella, Director of Strategic Services, joins Virginia Heyburn to discuss the intricacies of the planning process, timing and how to translate tactical initiatives into actionable steps.Tell Us Your Thoughts

Andres Pasantes, President & Chief Operations Officer at Engage fi sits down with our new Director of Strategic Services, Fabio Biasella to discuss the growing need for strategic guidance within the financial services industry. Fabio’s extensive experience in retail banking with a focus on strategic and financial analysis will offer invaluable benefits to our clients as they look to innovate and grow. Tell Us Your Thoughts

Banking and fintech are coming together to redefine traditional banking models through Banking as a Service (BaaS). Virginia Heyburn is joined by Joe Dugan, Strategic Advisor at Engage fi, on the latest episode of the Fintech Unleashed Podcast to explore the exciting topic of BaaS. They discuss the opportunities, challenges, regulation concerns and the hallmarks of a successful BaaS partnership.Tell Us Your Thoughts

In this episode Virginia Heyburn offers her insights into the recently released first quarter earnings reports for banks and credit unions, the regulatory talk surrounding the Bank Merger Act, and the momentum gained by the FedNow Instant Payment Network. AI is once again dominating headlines and Virginia weighs in.Tell Us Your Thoughts

Financial institutions are harnessing the power of AI to revolutionize the member experience, streamline operations, and manage risks. Chris Harlan, President/CEO at University of Illinois Community Credit Union and Todd Peeples, SVP of Sales & Lending Administration at All In Credit Union join Virginia Heyburn to discuss the exciting topic of Artificial Intelligence in Banking. Tell Us Your Thoughts

We hear the term digital transformation all the time, but what does it mean? Raj Bandaru, SVP, Chief Information Officer at Kinecta Federal Credit Union joins Virginia Heyburn to explore how financial institutions can harness the power of technology to streamline operations, enhance the customer experience and stay ahead of the evolving market. Bandaru gives his insights on the importance of human connection amid technological advancements and dives deeper into Kinecta’s own digital transformation journey.Tell Us Your Thoughts

The CFPB's ban on excessive credit card late fees could cost issuers billions per year. The Federal Reserve is expected to lower rates three times this year- are we running out of time? Consumers are calling on their financial institutions to protect them more from scams which could mean your bank or credit union needs to invest in enhanced fraud management tools. In the Ten in 10 series, Virginia Heyburn highlights the top ten newsworthy topics impacting community banks and credit unions and offers insights into what they can be doing today to positively impact their tomorrow.Tell Us Your Thoughts

The Capital One and Discover merger could disrupt the financial services industry. Is the increased demand for loans signaling an improved economic outlook? AI continues to dominate the conversation and this time it could impact who you hire. In the Ten in 10 series, Virginia Heyburn highlights ten topics community banks and credit unions should be discussing and offers insights into what they can be doing today to positively impact their tomorrow.Tell Us Your Thoughts

In this month's "Ten in 10" video, Virginia Heyburn, Director of Research, Insights, and Advocacy, addresses M&A activity in the industry, the CFPB ruling to cap overdraft fees for institutions with greater than $10B in assets, and the growing urgency all industries face today to not only "reinvent" themselves but also alter the way they conduct business in the future.Tell Us Your Thoughts

Where will financial institutions spend their time and energy in the new year? With continued economic uncertainty in a high-interest-rate environment, coupled with lower savings rates, declining loan originations, and higher delinquencies, the possibilities are many. In Ten in 10: A Look Into 2024, Virginia Heyburn highlights ten topics community banks and credit unions should be discussing and offers insights into what they can be doing today to positively impact their tomorrow.Tell Us Your Thoughts

Virginia Heyburn, Director of Research, Insights, and Advocacy at Engage fi has the most newsworthy and trending fintech updates impacting banks and credit unions in November - we simply call it the “Top 10 in Ten”. Tune in to hear what she attributes to the sharp decline in Q3 earnings, learn why the NY Fed is concerned about the financial fragility of US households, and glean insight into what new census data is depicting regarding small businesses in the U.S. Tell Us Your Thoughts

The rapid rate of evolution in the payments landscape is encouraging financial institutions to pay close attention to agreements related to both network and brand. In, Managing Brand and Network Partnerships with Purpose, Engage fi’s Payments team holds a Q&A session highlighting key topics surrounding brand and network and identifies trends taking shape in the industry. From selecting the appropriate network partner to the reasons behind evaluating vendor contracts earlier in the life of the contract, this session touches on opportunities that payments professionals are addressing and offers insights to continue to grow these important programs. Please tune in to hear more about how to maximize savings opportunities that can positively impact the bottom line.  Tell Us Your Thoughts

This week's episode features a candid conversation with Matt McCombs, CEO of Vibrant Credit Union, and Virginia Heyburn, Director of Industry Insights and Research, as they explore how Generation Z is shaping the financial workforce. Matt shares what he looks for in Gen Z candidates, what is paramount to the hiring process, how he recommends offsetting high turnover rates, and his approach to compensation.  Enjoy the open dialog that is both timely and useful for bank and credit union executive looking to attract talent entering the workforce today.Tell Us Your Thoughts

Technology investments remain one of the top spends for banks and credit unions seeking to be competitive and relevant in their communities.  Whether that be core processing or digital banking, this episode will help you identify strategies that your financial institution can implement when selecting a key vendor.Tell Us Your Thoughts

In this episode, Virginia Heyburn gets candid with Andrea Rusnak, Director of Payments at Engage fi. The conversation centers on the benefit of creating a future-ready payments strategy, how the industry will respond to the FedNow instant payments offering, and what today's consumer is using as a digital payments channel. Ms. Rusnak emphasizes the value of knowing what clients and members prefer from their payment experience, how managing risk and reward directly impact an enterprise strategy, and why paying special attention to Gen Z and how it views payments will be a great opportunity for banks and credit unions alike.  Tell Us Your Thoughts

Welcome to Fintech Unleashed! In this introduction episode, you'll hear from Jennifer Addabbo, CEO and Co-Founder, and Andres Pasantes, President and COO of Engage fi as they discuss what you can expect to hear in the coming episodes. Tell Us Your Thoughts