CU Town Hall Episode 139: Fun with Fraud- How AI is Changing the Game
Fraud has always been a moving target, but artificial intelligence is rewriting the rules at a scale and speed we’ve never seen before. From voice-cloning scams that can fool your own family members, to deepfake identities used to open accounts, to AI-powered bots that can run thousands of phishing attempts in seconds, the landscape is shifting fast.
In this interactive session, we’ll swap stories and insights about the new wave of fraud we’re all encountering. Come and find out from your peers what they’re experiencing because you’re likely next. If it’s happening to them, it’s going to happen to you. The goal isn’t just to learn what’s out there, it’s to connect the dots together so we can stay one step ahead. Because if fraudsters are having fun with AI, we need to be just as innovative, and a lot smarter.
CU Town Hall Episode 138: LIVE at ACU’s Strategic Growth Conference
Recorded live for the first time ever at ACU’s Strategic Growth Conference, this CU Town Hall took on a lively “Pardon the Interruption” format as John Best, Joe Keller (Visions), Karen Bejarano (TruWest), and Glen Sarvady (154 Advisors) tackled today’s most pressing industry issues. From the CFPB, open banking, stablecoins, AI & quantum, branch strategy, next-gen members/wealth transfer, fraud, and fintech partnerships—this fast-paced session delivered candid insights, audience interaction, and plenty of laughs.
Join John Best LIVE at the Strategic Growth Conference for the next CU Town Hall Monday, August 18th, 2025 at 3:30 PM ET
CU Town Hall 137: How Credit Unions Can Win Gen Z: Youth Banking with Marcell King
Marcell King, President and COO of Incent reveals how CUs can retain young members and families with youth banking, Baby Bonds, and fintech integration. See how Desert Financial CU grew youth deposits 22% in 6 months.
Utah Community Credit Union and TransWest Credit Union Complete Core-Systems Merger in Record Five Months, Supported by Best Innovation Group
PROVO, Utah–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Utah Community Credit Union (UCCU) and TransWest Credit Union today announced the successful completion of their core-systems merger just five months after signing the letter of intent. By partnering closely with Best Innovation Group (BIG) and blending UCCU’s member-service culture with BIG’s rapid-deployment methodology, the team delivered a seamless transition with zero member downtime.
CU Town Hall Episode 136: Headlines and Hot Takes
In this session, we dove into the chaos, in a good way. With everything from AI developments to economic curveballs making waves across the financial world, we opened the floor for a timely discussion on what’s happening now, what’s coming next, and how to stay ready for whatever the future throws at us.
CU Town Hall Episode 135: The Spring Circuit Rundown
As the dust settles on a packed spring conference season, John, Mike, Glen and Lou led a lively discussion on the top trends and takeaways from recent credit union and fintech events. From emerging tech to shifting compliance priorities, we unpacked what’s driving conversations and decisions across the industry.
CU Town Hall Episode 134: Mergers, Mayhem & The NCUA
In this session, we discussed the latest wave of credit union mergers, shakeups at the NCUA, shifting economic indicators, and other headlines that have been making waves across the industry. We explored what these developments could mean for your strategy, your members, and the future of the credit union movement.
DeepSeek, ByteDance, and the AI Arms Race
John Best sits down with Emma Zaballos, cybersecurity expert and Product Marketing Manager at CyCognito, to unpack one of the biggest surprises in generative AI: the emergence of China’s DeepSeek. Emma and John dive deep (pun intended) into the implications of DeepSeek’s rise, the broader cybersecurity concerns around AI, and what it all means for credit unions and financial institutions navigating the AI landscape.
CU Town Hall Episode 133: FDIC Opens the Crypto Door for CUs
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.