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Serious brains, zero snooze—The Credit Union Connection dishes hot takes on fintech, compliance, strategy, politics & member magic for credit union leaders who get it.

Sarah Snell Cooke, CEO/Cofounder, The Credit Union Connection and Cooke Consulting Solutions

The Credit Union Connection Celebrates 5 Years

CUC Podcast with Nick Elledge, Stablecore

Merging onto the Crypto Autobahn: Why Credit Unions Can’t Afford to Cruise in the Slow Lane

A clean, professional promotional graphic from The Credit Union Connection features Jason Schwabline, Chief Commercial Officer at CheckAlt. The Credit Union Connection logo appears prominently in the upper-left corner. On the right, a professional headshot of Schwabline is displayed inside a large circular frame accented in teal. Below the portrait, the graphic identifies: Jason Schwabline Chief Commercial Officer CheckAlt The white background is decorated with glossy teal and orange circular elements that complement The Credit Union Connection’s signature branding while keeping the design polished and uncluttered. The image conveys themes of financial services leadership, payments industry expertise, credit union technology, executive insight, fintech, and professional thought leadership.

The Next Growth Opportunity for Credit Union Business Services

A humorous Western-style cartoon depicts an AI arms race between credit unions and fraudsters inside a credit union. Two cowboy-themed AI robots face each other in a classic Wild West showdown. On the left, the white-and-blue AI Fraud Detection robot represents the credit union’s defenses, equipped with real-time analytics, machine learning, behavioral analysis, device intelligence, and member protection. On the right, a dark, intimidating AI Fraud robot represents increasingly sophisticated criminals. Its arsenal includes deepfakes, automated attacks, synthetic identities, stolen identities, social engineering, and zero-day exploits. Credit union employees and members watch nervously from behind the counter as the two technologies prepare to face off. Above them, the headline delivers the punchline: “THIS TOWN AIN’T BIG ENOUGH FOR BOTH ALGORITHMS.” The cartoon illustrates how artificial intelligence has become a weapon on both sides of financial fraud—with credit unions using AI to detect and prevent attacks while criminals use the same technology to create faster, smarter, and more convincing scams. The image conveys themes of AI-powered fraud detection, financial crime, cybersecurity, deepfakes, synthetic identity fraud, real-time monitoring, member protection, and the escalating technological arms race between financial institutions and fraudsters.

Cartoon Of The Week: This Town Ain’t Big Enough

A clean, professional promotional graphic from The Credit Union Connection features Quentrece Smith, SVP of Member Experience at Ascend Federal Credit Union. The Credit Union Connection logo appears prominently in the upper-left corner. On the right, a professional headshot of Smith is displayed inside a large circular frame accented in teal. Below the portrait, the graphic identifies: Quentrece Smith SVP of Member Experience Ascend Federal Credit Union The white background is decorated with glossy teal and orange circular elements that complement The Credit Union Connection’s branding while maintaining a polished, uncluttered appearance. The image conveys themes of credit union leadership, member experience, executive insight, industry expertise, and professional thought leadership.

Youth Financial Literacy: Meeting Young Members Where They Are

Christopher Jones Executive Benefits Consultant and Founder PARC Street Group

Does Your SERP Help Close the Social Security Gap Projected for 2032?

CUC Podcast Sarah Snell Cooke Andy Jannng Overdrawn Documentary Series

Overdrawn: Six Years Later, People Are Still Mad or Silent

A high quality photorealistic editorial image of a credit union marketer or executive having a seamless, natural conversation with an intelligent financial dashboard in a bright modern office

Meet DOBI: The AI Agent That Actually Understands Your Bank’s Data (And Does Something About It)

WOCCU Global Bridges Exchange in Brasilia

Credit Unions Just Hit $4 Trillion in Assets—Here’s What That Actually Means for the Future of Finance

Gregory Samanez-Larkin, Ph.D., neuroscience professor, Duke University

This Duke Brain Scientist Is Teaching AI to Spot Financial Trouble Before It Happens

A high-quality polished editorial image blending Kansas City community imagery with modern financial graphics.

WeDevelopment Credit Union Merges with CommunityAmerica

A high-quality photorealistic editorial image featuring the U.S. Capitol dome and classical pillars blended with subtle financial and military motifs.

Why Defense Credit Unions Are Backing New CFPB Reform (With One Big Asterisk)

A high-quality photorealistic editorial photo of a welcoming credit union staff member warmly greeting a customer or member at a modern service counter.

Land of Lincoln Credit Union Just Got Bigger: Here’s What the Williamsville State Bank Acquisition Means

A vibrant high-quality photorealistic editorial photo of a diverse group of community members and volunteers actively engaging together in a warm, welcoming setting.

How One Credit Union Turned $225K in Grants Into a Visibility Goldmine for Local Nonprofits

A dramatic close-up of a judge’s wooden gavel resting on its sound block inside a courtroom. The polished dark-wood gavel features a brass accent and is sharply focused in the foreground. In the softly blurred background, an American flag, judge’s chair, and courtroom seal establish the judicial setting while keeping attention centered on the gavel. The image conveys themes of law, courts, legal proceedings, judicial decisions, litigation, regulation, rulings, and justice.

Three Credit Union Employees Banned for Life

A vibrant community development scene shows neighbors of different ages and backgrounds working together to improve their neighborhood. In the foreground, volunteers tend a community garden and build wooden raised garden beds. Behind them, other community members work together to paint a colorful outdoor mural, while children and families gather near a neighborhood playground. Homes, mature trees, green space, and a city skyline in the background connect the hands-on volunteer work with the broader community being strengthened. The image conveys themes of community development, neighborhood revitalization, volunteering, affordable and thriving communities, community gardens, collaboration, local investment, and people working together to create stronger neighborhoods.

Small Credit Unions Just Got a Serious Boost: NSCUA’s New Community Development Program Explained

A charitable giving-themed graphic features a close-up of two open hands holding four wooden letter tiles that spell “GIVE.” The image is framed against a dark textured background, with the Tucson Federal Credit Union logo displayed in the lower-left corner and Sandoval branding in the upper-right. The simple imagery emphasizes generosity, giving back, charitable support, community involvement, philanthropy, and the credit union philosophy of helping others.

How Tucson Federal Credit Union Just Put $216K Where Their Mouth Is

A motivational year-end planning image focuses on finishing 2026 goals strong while preparing for 2027. A desk features a 2026 Goals checklist with priorities such as growing membership, improving member experience, expanding services, strengthening community impact, and driving financial growth, alongside a year-end checklist for reviewing results, celebrating wins, learning, and planning next steps. A 2027 planning calendar looks ahead to new opportunities, innovation, stronger relationships, and greater impact, while an open notebook outlines goals for the coming year. The headline “Finish 2026 Strong. Prepare for 2027.” reinforces the theme of maintaining momentum through year-end while building a strong foundation for the year ahead. The image conveys themes of year-end goals, strategic planning, credit union growth, performance, leadership, preparation, goal setting, and looking ahead to 2027.

How to Crush Your 2026 Goals Before December Hits

A colorful back-to-school resource display features a wide variety of essential items to help students start the school year prepared. Several brightly colored backpacks surround a table filled with notebooks, pencils, crayons, colored pencils, glue and other classroom supplies. The display also includes new shoes, jeans, shirts, sweatshirts and other clothing. Alongside the school supplies are everyday essentials such as toothbrushes, personal-care products, bottled water and food items, including peanut butter, soup, macaroni and cheese and snacks. A large chalkboard in the background reads “Back to School — Supporting Students. Building Futures.” A smaller sign emphasizes providing backpacks, school supplies, shoes, clothing, food and other essential resources for students. The image conveys themes of back-to-school assistance, student support, school supply drives, food assistance, clothing donations, community outreach and helping families prepare children for the new school year.

This Texas Credit Union Just Dropped $70K on Back-to-School Essentials for Kids Who Need Them Most

A professional commercial lending image highlights how credit unions can help businesses finance growth and expansion. The scene features a business loan application on a desk with financing needs including working capital, equipment, expansion, and real estate. A laptop displays an upward-trending growth chart, while a credit union coffee mug reinforces the financial institution setting. In the background, a commercial building, delivery truck, and city skyline represent the types of businesses and projects that commercial lending can support. Across the top, icons emphasize key commercial lending benefits including competitive rates, local decisions, lasting relationships, and solutions that help businesses grow. The image conveys themes of commercial lending, business loans, economic growth, working capital, equipment financing, commercial real estate, business expansion, and credit union lending.

MBC Gets a Makeover: Fresh Brand and Website Aim to Connect Credit Unions with Commercial Lending Opportunities

A custom Florida A&M University (FAMU) themed debit card features the university’s signature dark green and orange color scheme. The center of the card prominently displays a large FAMU Rattlers snake graphic, with the snake’s head shown in orange and black with its mouth open and fangs exposed. The textured green background gives the card a bold, distinctive appearance. The Addition Financial logo appears in the upper-left corner, while the FAMU logo is positioned prominently in the upper-right. A contactless payment symbol and EMV chip appear on the left side of the card. Across the bottom, the phrase “FOREVER A MEMBER” reinforces the connection between FAMU students, alumni, and the university community. The card is identified as a Visa debit card in the lower-right corner. The image conveys themes of college pride, FAMU school spirit, university-affiliated banking, credit union membership, student and alumni engagement, and personalized debit cards.

FAMU Students Just Got a Debit Card That Actually Gives Back — And Free Financial Coaching Too

RMJ Foundation Bite of Reality App

Bite of Reality App Gets a Glow-Up (And Students Are Going to Love It)

A sleek, modern split-screen or overlay concept showing human touch points (hands over a tablet, executives collaborating, warm human connection)

Robots, Humans, and Hope: Inside Eltropy’s Leadership Summit Where AI Met Reality

Robins Financial CU Haven Hope House

Robins Financial Credit Union Spreads $260K Across a Dozen Local Nonprofits Making Real Change

A high-quality close-up overhead flat-lay photograph of colorful creative supplies arranged neatly and artfully.

How a Credit Union is Turning Self-Care Into Community Care This September

Photos of Krista Rousseau, Kaelixte Wagner, and Leiyina Tavarez

Two Credit Unions Announce New Hires; First Financial FCU President Named to The Daily Record’s MD500

A warm, realistic scene inside Women’s Animal Center highlights dogs and cats waiting for adoption as part of the Clear the Shelters nationwide pet adoption event. Several shelter animals—including an energetic young dog, a relaxed golden-colored dog, and multiple cats—are gathered in a comfortable adoption area. The animals are the main focus of the image, emphasizing the pets that are looking for permanent homes. A sign in the background identifies Women’s Animal Center as a participant in Clear the Shelters and notes support from Inspire Federal Credit Union. The sponsorship is kept secondary to the animals and adoption message. A simple sign in the foreground reads “Every pet deserves a second chance,” reinforcing the purpose of the event. The image conveys themes of pet adoption, animal rescue, shelter animals, second chances, community involvement, Clear the Shelters, and finding loving homes for dogs and cats.

Inspire Federal Credit Union Makes Pet Adoptions Free at Clear the Shelters Event

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