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.
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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.
In this session, we are "pre-gaming" for next week's Governmental Affairs Conference. Even if- especially if- you don't plan on attending the largest annual gathering of credit union leaders, we gathered info on your open questions and the burning issues you're most interested in hearing about. BIG's experts, as well as other colleagues, will then serve as your onsite "eyes and ears" to capture the key takeaways emerging on these topics.
Glen speaks with DePaul University professor and financial innovation expert Lamont Black about his recent work on a blockchain-based secondary loan market to unlock credit union liquidity and reduce costs. Also- Chase tries to keep Zelle in the “friends and family,” and 2024 payment stats beg the question “how fast is fast enough?”
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