CU Spotlight

What if the key to financial freedom isn't just better banking — it's better education, stronger technology, and the courage to tell the truth?DescriptionIn this episode of Tempathy Talks, hosts JT and Shirley welcome Sarah Cooke from The Credit Union Connection for a wide-ranging conversation that goes far beyond banking. Together they explore democratized education and how access to financial knowledge is being reshaped for everyday people. They dive into FI SAFE and what it takes to build real, member-first financial security in an era of rising threats. The conversation unpacks the role of technology in modern credit unions — and why truth in storytelling matters more than ever when institutions and communities depend on each other. Along the way, they also explore the documentary OVERDRAWN, which chronicles a credit union fraud case and its devastating community fallout — a powerful reminder of what happens when trust breaks down.Key Takeaways1. Democratized education is changing who gets access to financial knowledge — and how they receive it.2. FI SAFE represents a proactive approach to financial security that puts members first.3. Technology is both a shield and a tool — it can protect members or leave them exposed, depending on how it's used.4. Truth in storytelling builds the trust that credit unions and communities depend on to survive and grow.5. The OVERDRAWN documentary is a cautionary tale — when trust collapses, the damage reaches far beyond bank accounts.6. Empathy in financial services isn't soft — it's the foundation of everything a credit union is supposed to be.Call to ActionWatch the full episode to hear a conversation that bridges finance, technology, and human truth. Then subscribe to CU Spotlight and Tempathy Talks here on YouTube and on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen — and share this with someone who cares about the future of financial empowerment.For more information on The Credit Union Connection: www.thecreditunionconnectionFor more information on CU Spotlight: www.cuspotlight.comFollow us and help us shine a light on the empowering stories of the credit union movement.

The Great Wealth Transfer is not just about money. It is about what families experience before, during and after a loss—and whether their financial institution is there when they need it most.In this episode of Tempathy Talks, co-hosts Jonathan “JT” Taylor and Shirley Senn welcome Tom Kazar, Strategic Operating Partner at Empathy, to explore how the fintech is helping families navigate caregiving, loss and the overwhelming responsibilities that follow.Shirley also shares her deeply personal experience using Empathy while caring for her father at the end of his life, supporting her mother with Alzheimer’s and managing the emotional, financial and logistical realities of loss. Through Empathy’s technology and human care managers, she found practical guidance, 24/7 support and a place to breathe when she felt she had nowhere else to turn.In this conversation, you’ll discover:• Why the Great Wealth Transfer is also a caregiving and member-experience challenge• How Empathy combines technology with real human support• Why caregivers need resources focused on their own well-being• How caregiving, grief, estate responsibilities and finances collide• Why families often move inherited assets away from a loved one’s financial institution• How credit unions can support members before, during and after a loss• Why showing up during life’s hardest moments can create lifelong loyaltyThis is more than a conversation about transferring assets. It is about building the support system that helps families navigate the moments surrounding that transfer—and giving them a reason to remain with their credit union for generations.Watch the full episode, visit empathy.com to learn more and share this conversation with a credit union leader, caregiver or family who needs to know this support exists.Subscribe to Tempathy Talks for more conversations about how technology and empathy can work together for the betterment of members and the credit union movement.www.empathy.comwww.cuspotlight.com

What does it actually take to build a digital banking platform members love — and a vendor partnership that survives the tough moments too?In this episode of The Synergent Connect 2026 Conference series, host Jonathan Taylor sits down with Alexa Drass (AccessSoftek), Deb White Rideout, and Martha Ward (University Credit Union of Maine) to unpack their multi-year journey from mobile-only banking to a full omnichannel digital experience.Key takeaways:• Innovation only works with trust — University Credit Union upgraded not because they had to, but because continued innovation from their vendor made the choice easy.• Preparation prevents chaos — five months of cross-departmental testing meant their go-live needed almost no extended support.• Real partnership shows up in the hard moments — see how AccessSoftek went to bat with a third-party vendor (Plaid) even when there was no financial incentive to do so.• Member data drives the roadmap — credit unions and fintech partners are using AI and member feedback to find the "next biggest problem," not just the next product.Whether you're a credit union leader evaluating a platform switch or a fintech partner looking to deepen client relationships, this conversation is a real-world look at what long-term partnership in digital banking should look like.🔗 Learn more about AccessSoftek: www.accesssoftek.com🔗 Learn more about University Credit Union of Maine: www.ucumaine.com👍 Like this episode? Subscribe to CU Spotlight for more conversations from Synergent Connect 2026 and beyond.

Remember Clippy, the old WordPerfect assistant? Alexa Dress from Access Softek joins CU Spotlight live from Synergent Connect 2026 to explain how that same "helpful sidekick" idea is showing up in digital banking today — and it's a game-changer for credit union members.Key takeaways: • The Clippy comeback: Why JT thinks digital banking needs its own version of Clippy — a proactive assistant that flags overdrafts, calls out overspending, and gives advice before members ask for it. • AI with a job to do: Access Softek has already built ChatGPT into digital banking through "Transfer Assistant," helping members decide how to allocate funds or pay down loans without the guesswork. • Gamifying financial responsibility: Security badges, budgeting streaks, and small in-app "wins" are being used to nudge members — young and old — toward safer, smarter money habits. • Automating the hard decisions: Features like "Help Me Save" and "Help Me Budget" quietly move excess funds where they belong, taking the manual math out of staying on budget. • Tiered innovation for every credit union: With 150+ integrations, Access Softek built a scalable model so small "boutique" credit unions get the same innovation as larger institutions — without the enterprise price tag.If you work in credit unions, fintech, or just love a good AI-meets-nostalgia story, this one's for you.👉 Learn more about Access Softek at www. accesssoftek.com or connect with them on LinkedIn. 🎙️ More episodes at cuspotlight.com — subscribe so you don't miss the next one!

What does it actually take for a credit union to punch above its weight class? In this episode of CU Spotlight, recorded live at the Synergent Connect 2026 Conference in Portland, Maine, hosts Jonathan Taylor (JT) and Shirley Sinn sit down with Rebecca Higgins, Chief Growth Officer at Synergent, to unpack how a 55-year-old, credit union-owned CUSO quietly became one of the most successful in the country — now serving credit unions in 35+ states.*Key takeaways:** The CUSO advantage: Why credit unions choose Synergent's version of the Jack Henry Symitar/Episys core over going direct to the source — hands-on guidance from day one through post-conversion support, not just a system connection.* Partnerships over products: Synergent shifted from building one-size-fits-all products to curating an ecosystem of vetted partners, because every credit union's member journey looks different.* Honesty as strategy: Synergent will tell a credit union when a partner isn't the right fit for their size or needs — protecting trust over chasing every deal.* Solving the after-hours gap: One of the most common pain points credit unions bring to Synergent is delivering a seamless member experience outside branch hours without feeling like a hand-off to a third party.* Scaling the boutique: A look at how Synergent has helped small, "boutique" credit unions grow from $20M to $120M+ in assets by supplementing staff and absorbing technical heavy lifting.* Culture as differentiator: Why the line between Synergent employees and Maine Credit Union League employees is nearly invisible — and why that "family" trust drives credit unions to open up about their real challenges.*Call to action:* If you know a credit union struggling with their core, their service experience, or just feeling unheard — this is your sign to make the connection. Reach out to Rebecca Higgins and the Synergent team at http://synergentcorp.com, and don't forget to follow CU Spotlight for more conversations from the credit union industry's biggest events.