Banking Transformed with Jim Marous

Today, we have the privilege of interviewing Tim Wheeler, Chief Lending Officer with Tennessee-based Fortera Credit Union for the Banking Transformed podcast. Time shares how Fortera has leveraged technology, challenged traditional thinking, and eliminated unnecessary friction points to create a seamless, efficient, and member-centric lending experience.Wheeler emphasizes the importance of a data, analytics and a digital-first mindset and the role of leadership in driving change within the organization. He also highlights how Fortera's stable and forward-thinking management team has been instrumental in fostering a culture of innovation.By understanding member behavior and anticipating their needs, the credit union aims to provide personalized recommendations and proactive support at key moments in their members' financial lives.This episode of Banking Transformed Solutions is sponsored by MeridianLinkMeridianLink® (NYSE: MLNK) powers digital lending and account opening for financial institutions and provides data verification solutions for consumer reporting agencies. MeridianLink’s scalable, cloud-based platforms help customers build deeper relationships with consumers through data-driven, personalized experiences across the entire lending life cycle.MeridianLink enables customers to accelerate revenue growth, reduce risk, and exceed consumer expectations through seamless digital experiences. Its partner marketplace supports hundreds of integrations for tailored innovation. For more than 20 years, MeridianLink has prioritized the democratization of lending for consumers, businesses, and communities. Learn more at meridianlink.com.

In today's episode of Banking Transformed, our guest is Nicole Zimmermann, founder and CEO of ZELOCIN & Partners, a marketing communications consultancy. Nicole will share her insights on how legacy banking organizations can best assess their current branding, marketplace messaging, and marketing execution to move from the past to the future.She will also discuss the importance of leveraging customer data and analytics to provide personalized communication and experiences and the impact on long-term loyaltyFinally, Nicole shares her expert insights on assessing current marketing efforts, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing effective strategies to bridge the gap between the past and the future of banking.

In this episode of the Banking Transformed podcast, we're excited to bring you an insightful conversation with three leaders from Meriwest Credit Union, a $2B community financial institution serving the Greater Bay Area of California and Pima County, Arizona.Despite the challenges posed by an uncertain economic environment, Meriwest Credit Union has demonstrated the ability to innovate at speed and scale, largely due to their strategic partnership with Terafina, a leading provider of digital banking solutions.Join us as we explore how this forward-thinking credit union has leveraged digital capabilities to transform their operations, enhance member experiences, and position themselves for long-term success.This episode of Banking Transformed is sponsored by Terafina, an NCR VOYIX Company’Terafina, an NCR VOYIX Company, provides digital onboarding and omnichannel salessolutions that are simple and secure to financial institutions. Terafina’s omnichannel sales platform is a multichannel product suite offering consumer deposits and lending, real estate, small business deposits and lending, commercial deposits, merchant services, and cryptocurrency account opening—across digital, branch, and call center channels.For more information visit https://terafina.com/

CEO of LendingClub, Scott Sanborn, discusses the company's growth post-acquisition, exiting regulatory agreements, marketplace model benefits, AI optimization, data in banking evolution, and banking costs vs. consumer perception.

In the rapidly evolving world of financial institution marketing, staying ahead of the curve requires a deep understanding of consumer preferences, market trends, and the effectiveness of various strategies. One of the most powerful tools in a financial institution marketer's arsenal is testing – a data-driven approach that enables banks and credit unions to optimize their marketing efforts and maximize results. But where do you start?In this episode of the Banking Transformed Podcast, we are excited to welcome Erin Allen, VP of Insurance Distribution and Market Strategy at Franklin Madison. Through real-world examples and practical advice, Erin sheds light on the transformative power of testing and its potential to drive unparalleled marketing results for any sized organization.This episode of Banking Transformed is sponsored by Franklin MadisonFranklin Madison builds financial security for individuals and families by delivering industry-leading insurance products and marketing services through banks and credit unions. We provide an end-to-end insurance program for their consumers by choosing the best insurance carrier products, using data and multi-channel marketing to reach those consumers most likely to enroll, and providing concierge service. Franklin Madison helps generate increased loyalty and incremental revenue for financial institutions.https://franklin-madison.com/

In today's episode of Banking Transformed, we're excited to have Devesh Khare, Chief Product Officer at MeridianLink, on the show. In this episode, we'll be discussing the challenges financial institutions face today and how organizations are working to solve these challenges?Devesh also shares how the partnerships with solution providers have changed over time and what organizations are looking for in a third-party provider. Finally, he shares the keys to success for banks and credit unions in the short and long term.This episode of Banking Transformed Solutions is sponsored by MeridianLinkMeridianLink® (NYSE: MLNK) powers digital lending and account opening for financial institutions and provides data verification solutions for consumer reporting agencies. MeridianLink’s scalable, cloud-based platforms help customers build deeper relationships with consumers through data-driven, personalized experiences across the entire lending life cycle.MeridianLink enables customers to accelerate revenue growth, reduce risk, and exceed consumer expectations through seamless digital experiences. Its partner marketplace supports hundreds of integrations for tailored innovation. For more than 20 years, MeridianLink has prioritized the democratization of lending for consumers, businesses, and communities. Learn more at meridianlink.com.

Sriram Natarajan, President of Quinte Financial Technologies, discusses moving AI from hype to practicality in banking operations. Topics include streamlining processes, customer-centric strategies, regulatory adherence, and the role of digital transformation. The conversation emphasizes creating value with AI tools, human-centric AI implementation, and navigating organizational change in digital transformation.

In today's episode of Banking Transformed, we have the privilege of speaking with Rodney Williams, the president and co-founder of SoLo Funds, a groundbreaking community banking platform. Rodney's personal journey and the mission of SoLo Funds are truly inspiring, as they work to empower financial inclusion and provide access to credit for those who have been traditionally underserved by the banking system.Rodney shares his vision for the future of finance and wellness for less represented communities and also offers advice for aspiring entrepreneurs seeking to create innovative financial solutions that promote inclusion and empowerment.This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of finance, technology, and social impact.

Chris Maloof from MeridianLink discusses how banks can navigate digital transformation challenges, utilize data for personalized solutions, and create seamless customer experiences. The podcast explores strategies for enhancing customer relationships, driving digital transformation, and emphasizing speed and personalization in consumer decision-making.

Allison Cerra, Chief Marketing Officer at Alkami, and Casey Hogarth discuss the launch of the Digital Sales & Service Maturity Model Assessment for financial institutions. They highlight the importance of understanding digital maturity and offer insights on navigating digital strategies. The podcast explores the impact of the assessment tool on revenue growth, refining key survey questions, enhancing digital maturity, leveraging partnerships and data analytics, and upcoming studies on commercial digital maturity.