In this session, we discussed the FDIC’s recent decision to ease restrictions on cryptocurrency activities for financial institutions and its impact on credit unions. With prior approval no longer required, credit unions have new opportunities to explore crypto services—but also face risks like market volatility, security threats, and regulatory uncertainty. Join us as we break down the key challenges, benefits, and compliance strategies for navigating this evolving landscape.
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The number of Executive Orders emerging from President Trump’s Oval Office has been unprecedented. Many have been far-reaching and, in the eyes of some, over-reaching. Others have been just… weird. March 25’s EO mandating that the Federal Government cease issuing paper checks falls in the latter category.
Glen speaks with Nacha’s Stephanie Prebish and Devon Marsh about the upcoming Smarter Faster Payments conference in New Orleans, as well as Same Day ACH’s remarkable sustained growth and the rising tide that lifts all riverboats. Also- First reflections on Americas Credit Unions’ leadership change, and… No Tariff Talk!
Glen speaks with Frank Diekmann, Founder and Publisher of the newly minted The CU Daily, about his latest venture and the need for “hard news” reporting in the credit union space. Also- a ray of light for CDFIs, grandstanding against paper checks, and splitting hairs on CBDCs.
In this session, we are honored to welcome back Roger Grimes, renowned cybersecurity expert and author of Taming the Hacking Storm: A Framework for Defeating Hackers and Malware. Roger shared practical strategies from his latest book, providing credit union employees with the tools they need to strengthen cybersecurity defenses and protect against evolving threats.
Glen connects with the Defense Credit Union Council’s Jason Stverak to discuss the dual threats- not-for-profit tax treatment and CDFI designation- facing the industry, and the bizarre misrepresentations surrounding each. Also- Klarna’s IPO parade, and an acclaimed entry in the Credit Union Film Festival.
The term “existential threat” has been coming up a bit too often for comfort- and this time it may not be hyperbole.
Our second wave of interviews from the recent Governmental Affairs Conference features Glen’s interviews with company founders Paul Fiore (CU WealthNext) and Kian Sarrashteh (InvestiFi), plus Candescent’s new Chief Product Officer Gareth Gaston on digital banking lessons to be gleaned from fields like travel.
The 2025 Governmental Affairs Conference has wrapped up, and now it’s time to break it all down. In this session, we unpacked all the key moments from GAC, diving into the latest policy developments, industry trends, and the moments that had everyone talking. Whether you attended in person or followed from afar, we’ve recapped what we think matters most to you and your credit union.
Record-setting attendance of more than 6,000 is a nice headline, but it only begins to convey the story. Last week’s Governmental Affairs Conference featured heightened levels of energy and urgency that transcended badge counts- and not for entirely happy reasons.
Glen recaps an action-packed Government Affairs Conference, featuring our annual interview with America’s Credit Unions’ Economics Team on the coming year’s outlook. An “existential threat” to the industry’s income tax exemption headlined a packed agenda, but the CFPB, NCUA and interchange legislation were also on the menu- not to mention tariff whiplash and market uncertainty.
Glen quizzes John about his initiative leveraging social media app BlueSky’s open source architecture to create a moderated, inclusive platform for credit union dialogue and experimentation. Also- threading the needle at the Governmental Affairs Conference.
Meet The BIGcast Network
The fintech industry is evolving rapidly, and the BIGcast is here to delve into its impact on the credit union industry. Our esteemed guests from across the financial, technology and security sectors will provide thrilling perspectives on the latest fintech innovations that are poised to revolutionize the way we handle our finances. Each week join thought-leader, John Best and subject matter expert, Glen Sarvady as they take a quick dive into the financial industry’s current breakthroughs and latest hot topics.
John Best
CEO, Best Innovation Group
Glen Sarvady
Managing Principal, 154 Advisors