Behind the Vault

Hosted by Mindspan Systems

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Latest episode

Jan 2025

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EN-US

About the show

Welcome to Behind the Vault: Conversations with Customer-Driven Bankers, the podcast dedicated to empowering CEOs, Presidents, and CMOs in the community banking and credit union industry. In this digital era, your role as a leader in these financial institutions is more crucial than ever. Join us as we explore the stories, strategies, and successes of fellow industry leaders, providing you with actionable insights to drive your institution toward unparalleled success. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://podcast.mindspaninc.com/podcast-guest.

Listen to episodes

51 recent

January 22, 202524 min

Transforming a Century-Old Bank for the Future with Fist International Bank and Trust CEO Peter Stenehjem

What happens when a century-old community bank embraces fintech innovation? In this episode of Behind the Vault, Peter Stenehjem fourth-generation CEO of First International Bank & Trust, shares their journey of growth and transformation. Key topics from our conversation: Leading a 115-year-old family-owned bank Balancing tradition with innovation Strategic expansion through acquisitions Moving into payment fintech offerings Developing Banking-as-a-Service Managing risk in real-time payments The episode provides essential insights for: Community bank leaders Family-owned business executives Fintech innovators Banking transformation leaders Risk management professionals For more info: First International Bank and Trust Kotapay Peter's LinkedIn profile

January 15, 202523 min

Creating a Community FI CD Marketplace with John Blizzard of Seattle Bank and CD Valet

When Seattle Bank couldn't find the right solution for asset growth, they built one themselves. In this episode of Behind the Vault, CEO John Blizzard shares how they created CD Valet, a marketplace helping community banks compete for deposits nationwide. Key topics from our conversation: How Seattle Bank identified the CD marketplace gap Building and scaling a fintech solution as a community bank Raising $150 million in deposits in 10 weeks Technology and team requirements for nationwide reach Taking CD Valet from an internal solution to a standalone business The episode provides essential insights for: Bank executives seeking deposit growth strategies Community banks exploring fintech opportunities Financial institutions evaluating CD strategies Banking innovators and product developers For more info: Seattle Bank CD Valet John's LinkedIn Profile

January 8, 202524 min

Redesigning the Institution at Travis Credit Union with CEO Kevin Miller

When called upon to transform an organization, it's often a delicate and ever-changing balancing act. This requires delivering outcomes that not just meet expectations but will win in the market and operate within the realities of the institution's resources and capabilities. In this episode, we sit down with Kevin Miller, CEO of Travis Credit Union, to discuss their journey of such an effort. Kevin walks through the ambitious goals for the CU and its approach to people, processes, and technology. He shares insights and lessons learned almost 3 years into the process. Key topics from our conversation: Building and maintaining transformation momentum Managing board relationships during major change Balancing growth ambitions with operational realities Practical approaches to digital transformation Creating sustainable organizational change For more info: Travis Credit Union Kevin's LinkedIn Profile

December 18, 202424 min

Building a Digital Strategy on Feedback with Addition Financial Kevin Dougherty

Being led by the needs of your customers and members is a given. Being confident of what those needs are is another matter. And making big bets on things like your digital experience is increasingly becoming make or break for an institution's relevance. Addition Financial's COO Kevin Dougherty shares how their team turned member insights into actionable requirements, avoiding costly missteps and building features their members truly needed. Kevin shares their member-first approach to digital transformation, where extensive surveys and feedback loops created the roadmap for their success. Key topics from our conversation: Turning survey data into actionable requirements Avoiding costly technology missteps Measuring success through member response Building features members actually use Whether planning a digital transformation, evaluating new technology, or looking to understand your members'/customers' needs better, this episode offers practical insights on making smarter technology decisions. For more info: Addition Financial Kevin's LinkedIn Profile

December 11, 202426 min

Staying Ahead of Regulatory Change- Insights from Jim McCarthy

How is fintech changing financial regulation, and what does it mean for your institution? In this episode of Behind the Vault, Jim McCarthy draws on his unique experience as a founding CFPB member and former FDIC regulator to help us understand where consumer financial regulation is headed. Key topics from our conversation: Evolution of consumer financial regulation Using sentiment data to predict compliance risks Impact of fintech on regulatory expectations Open banking and Rule 1033 implications Strategies for staying ahead of regulatory changes Jim's perspective and advice can be invaluable to: Bank and credit union executives Compliance officers Risk management professionals Fintech leaders Banking strategists For more info: Jim's firm, McCarthy Hatch Jim's LinkedIn Profile Financial Forward Podcast

December 4, 202425 min

The Transformed Banking Experience - Sandy Spring Bank's Digital Journey

In this episode, we dive deep with Sandy Spring Bank's Chief Digital Officer Chris Orr and Director of Omni-Channel Strategy Jeff Weidley as they share their journey of leading digital transformation at a $14B institution. Through their unique paired leadership approach, Chris and Jeff reveal how they've orchestrated comprehensive changes in digital banking capabilities while maintaining focus on customer experience. They discuss the evolution of their technology stack, the challenges of post-pandemic modernization, and their innovative approach to in-house software development. The conversation illuminates how executive leadership, organizational alignment, and continuous customer feedback create the foundation for successful digital transformation. Key topics from our conversation: Integration and platform orchestration for enhanced customer experience Building and scaling in-house software development capabilities Managing organizational change across departments and reporting structures Leveraging monthly releases for continuous improvement Balancing legacy stability with digital innovation Whether you're a banking executive, IT strategist, or financial services professional, this episode offers valuable insights into how a 150-year-old institution successfully navigates the challenges of digital transformation while maintaining its commitment to customer service excellence. For more info: Sandy Spring Bank Chris Orr's LinkedIn Profile Jeff Weidley's LinkedIn Profile

November 27, 202414 min

Better Experience through Design Thinking for Community FIs

Financial institutions worldwide will spend over $9 billion on digital banking solutions this year, yet more than half of these initiatives fail to meet expectations. In this episode of Behind the Vault, we explore why this happens and how community banks and credit unions can build better digital experiences through design thinking. Key topics from our conversation: Why digital transformation often falls short How design thinking applies to banking Creating low-fidelity prototypes to test ideas Balancing customer needs with regulatory requirements Building differentiated value in digital experiences Actionable takeaways from this episode: Building systematic customer observation practices Creating frameworks for capturing insights Evaluating digital initiatives against strategic differentiation Practical steps to start implementing today Whether you're a banking executive, digital transformation leader, or technology decision-maker, this episode provides practical frameworks for making smarter technology investments that truly serve your community. For more info: Design thinking overview : Standford d.School toolkit Design of Everyday Things : Beyond Good IDEO Finance Services case studies Gartner survey of digital transformation

November 20, 202432 min

Marketing as a Growth Engine- Insights from Nymbus CMO Jody Guetter

In this episode, we hear from Jody Guetter, Chief Marketing Officer at Nymbus, about the lessons learned in consumer engagement from a career in consumer brand marketing, community banking, and fintech. Jody shares insights on the evolution of marketing roles in community banking, the importance of data-driven strategies for growth, and the often missed uses of technology in marketing. She delves into the verticalization strategy, illustrating how narrowing focus can expand market reach and improve service offerings. This episode offers valuable lessons on balancing risk, optimizing growth strategies, and leveraging data and technology for financial institutions. Key topics from our conversation: Transforming marketing from cost center to growth driver Using data to understand and reach specific market segments How vertical strategies can expand rather than limit growth Building effective marketing technology stacks Measuring marketing ROI in financial services Whether you're a bank executive, credit union leader, or marketing professional, this episode offers valuable insights on creating focused growth strategies that deliver results. For more info: Nymbus Labs Jody's LinkedIn Profile

November 13, 202427 min

Aligning Growth and Purpose with Beneficial State Bank's Randell Leach

In this episode of Behind the Vault, we hear from Randell Leach, CEO of Beneficial State Bank. Beneficial State Bank is proving that banks can be profitable and purposeful. It has grown into a $1.5 billion CDFI while staying disciplined in the business it pursues and avoids and focused on accessibility to underserved communities in the US Northwest. Key highlights from our conversation: How Beneficial State Bank measures success through a triple-bottom-line approach The unique challenges and opportunities of operating a mission-driven bank Their approach to unionization efforts Creating profitable growth while prioritizing community impact This episode challenges conventional wisdom about banking and provides a blueprint for how financial institutions can drive positive change while maintaining strong financial performance. Tune in to learn about: Why they are structured as a for-profit bank owned by a nonprofit foundation Balancing profitability with community development goals How technology investments support both efficiency and accessibility Measuring success beyond traditional banking metrics Links: Beneficial State Bank Beneficial State Foundation Randell's LinkedIn Profile

November 6, 202425 min

Leading Innovation with Golden 1 Credit Union's Mike Daum

In this episode, Mike Daum, Chief Marketing Officer of Golden 1 Credit Union, shares his fresh perspective on driving change at one of America's largest credit unions. As a recent addition to the $20B+ institution, Mike offers unique insights on modernizing a 91-year-old organization while preserving its core values. Key topics from our conversation: Transitioning from traditional banks to the credit union market The shared vision and mission of serving the community and meeting financial needs Modernizing marketing functions and the martech stack Balancing change and modernization with the Golden 1's legacy The critical role of data strategy and personalization Listen in to learn: Navigating alignment and the interconnected roles within larger organizations The strategic effort to evolve marketing technology with a focus on speed, efficiency, and impactful data insights Strategic approach to physical branch expansion in a digital age Whether you're in financial services or interested in modern marketing strategies, this episode provides valuable perspectives on managing change in today's market. For more info: Golden 1 CU Mike's LinkedIn Profile