In this episode, Christina is joined by Asia Edwards, the Senior Director of Loan Servicing at NFF, a national community development financial institution (CDFI). With a rich career spanning notable roles at Fortune 500 banks, smaller community banks, and even local government services, Asia brings valuable insights into the collection and loan servicing industry.

Asia takes us on her journey from starting as an in-house collections representative at Bank of America to her current leadership role at NFF. She discusses the significance of customer-centricity in collections and loan servicing, emphasizing the importance of building relationships and understanding clients' situations to provide tailored solutions.

The episode delves into the evolution of customer-centric strategies, from the early days of her career to the present, highlighting how technology, such as self-service loan management systems and ACH authorizations, has enhanced client interactions while ensuring low delinquency rates.

Asia also shares her thoughts on the balance between technological advancements, like AI, and the irreplaceable value of human touch in financial services. Tune in to hear Asia's expert perspective on the future of customer-centric strategies and how her team consistently strives to meet borrowers' needs with a 24-hour response goal.

Timestamped Overview:
00:00 Intro
00:33 Started in finance, focused on delinquency management.
04:42 Customer-first approach, problem-solving payment plan established.
07:28 Bank of America implemented internal self-service loan management.
12:33 Relational approach preferred over AI in finance.
14:42 Meeting customer needs quickly with personalized service.