Leaders In Lending is a show for lending professionals who want to grow their consumer lending programs and improve their consumer experiences. Consumers continue to expect faster, easier online experiences from every company—and our knowledgeable guests will share how they are bringing their organizations and lending products forward into the future. Every week, Leaders In Lending will bring you actionable advice and key learnings from experienced leaders to help you navigate the future of consumer lending. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Upstart. Any content provided by the hosts or guests is for informational purposes only and is based on their own experiences and perspectives.
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June 10, 2026Episode 19111 min
Innovation Is Moving Faster Than the System
Innovation is accelerating across consumer banking.AI, digital assets and new payment models are reshaping the industry. But institutions still operate inside established regulatory frameworks.In this episode, Kyle Glenn of the Consumer Bankers Association joins Lynn Sauter Beale to discuss how banks can stay proactive as technology evolves and policy adapts. If you lead lending, compliance or strategy, this conversation will help you think through what comes next.
May 27, 202615 min
Banking Is Commoditized. Experience Is Not.
The banking product is commoditized. The experience is not.In this episode of Leaders in Lending, guest host Deepak Bhandari sits down with TJ Steele, director of digital channels at Eastern Bank, to discuss how banks can differentiate when rates, accounts and products look the same everywhere.They cover: • How to turn the mobile phone into a “wingman” for customers• Why AI is just another tool, not a strategy• The importance of data, process and infrastructure below the waterline• How to pilot emerging technology without chasing hype • Why customer experience beats feature checklists• Real-time payments, digital wallets and fraud resilience• Becoming the customer’s primary bank in a fragmented world If you lead digital, payments or customer experience strategy, this conversation is a blueprint for what actually matters.
May 13, 2026Episode 18921 min
Auto Lending Just Hit a Wall. Now What?
Auto affordability isn't a cycle this time. It's a new baseline.In this episode, guest host Deepak Bhandari from Upstart sits down with Eric Earvin from First Commonwealth Bank and Michael Gilbert from Associated Bank, co-chairs of the CBA Auto Finance Committee, to talk about why it's time to stop waiting for costs to come back down and start rethinking how we lend.Insurance up 14% year over year. Debt to income ratios squeezed from every direction. Consumers still buying, but shifting downstream.And at some point the phone rings and they say here's the car.Recorded at CBA Live 2026, this episode covers:Why auto affordability is a permanent headwindHow debt to income ratios are being squeezed from every direction The compounding cost problem, insurance, gas, maintenance Where stress is showing up in early payment defaults and fraudThe AI arms race between lenders and fraudsters Why auto lenders are self-admitted copycats and what that means for innovationAlternative financing threats and reaching the next generationSubprime repossessions hitting all time highs again If you run an auto lending portfolio or sit on a credit committee, this conversation is the reality check heading into the back half of 2026.Leaders in Lending is powered by Upstart and features conversations with banking and credit union leaders navigating the future of consumer lending.
April 29, 2026Episode 18822 min
Which Rules Are You Actually Following? CFPB Expert on What's Changing
Banks don't know if they should be running disparate impact analysis or not. The CFPB is rewriting its own rules. State AGs are filling the gaps. And the legal questions around agentic AI haven't even been answered yet. CBA General Counsel David Pommerehn breaks down what's actually happening and what lending leaders should do about it.Recorded at CBA Live 2026 in San Diego, this episode covers:- The CFPB under the current administration- Reg B and the elimination of disparate impact- State AGs stepping in where federal enforcement pulls back- Agentic AI and the legal ramifications under Reg E- Section 1033 and the data portability rewrite- Data sharing versus data security- Fraud and scams as a whole government problem- Why UDAP reform matters more than you thinkIf you are navigating compliance strategy or staffing for the back half of 2026, this conversation matters.Leaders in Lending is powered by Upstart and features conversations with banking and credit union leaders navigating the future of consumer lending.Chapters:00:00 Top legal and regulatory risks for bank leaders01:12 How the CFPB has changed under the current administration03:48 Reg B and the elimination of disparate impact05:49 State AGs stepping in where the CFPB pulls back09:54 Agentic AI and the legal questions nobody's answered yet11:03 Section 1033, data portability, and the rewrite14:10 Navigating data sharing vs. data security16:13 What's actually working in fraud prevention19:04 The regulation assumption David has changed his mind on20:54 Why UDAP reform matters more than you think#LendingLeaders #CFPB2026 #CBALive2026
April 16, 2026Episode 18721 min
Your Safest Borrowers Might Be Your Biggest Risk
The biggest lending risk in 2026 may not be where you think. Experian Chief Economist Joseph Mayans calls today’s environment a one trick pony economy. Growth is concentrated. White collar strength is carrying the load. And if that shifts, prime borrowers may be the segment to watch.Recorded at CBA Live 2026, this episode covers: • The macro outlook into mid-2026• AI concentration risk• White collar labor exposure• Why prime credit could be mispriced• Small business formation in the AI economy• Why two to three Fed rate cuts are likely• Stablecoins and emerging deposit threatsIf you are allocating credit or setting 2026 strategy, this conversation matters.Leaders in Lending is hosted by the Upstart lending team and features conversations with banking and credit union leaders navigating the future of consumer lending.
March 18, 2026Episode 18635 min
Grow Approvals Without Growing Losses
How can lenders increase approvals without increasing charge-offs?In this episode of Leaders in Lending, Dan Harp, Chief Lending Officer at 717 Credit Union, discusses how decision engines and AI-powered underwriting models are reshaping risk assessment. From 2,000-variable models to borrower trajectory analysis, this conversation explores:Credit scoring limitationsAI and machine learning in underwritingDecision engines vs human exceptionsPortfolio performance monitoringMortgage risk strategyEconomic outlook for 2026Compliance burden in credit unionsIf you lead lending strategy, risk or growth, this episode offers practical insight into scaling responsibly.Listen on leadersinlending.ai
February 18, 2026Episode 18520 min
AI in Lending: What’s Real, What’s Working, What’s Next
AI in lending is no longer a future conversation. It is operational today.In Episode 185 of Leaders in Lending, we discuss what is actually working in regulated environments. From underwriting and fraud detection to document verification and exception handling, AI is becoming more measurable and more embedded in daily workflows. We also examine fairness, human oversight and the competitive pressure from buy now, pay later products.The divide is growing between institutions leaning in and those standing still.#LeadersInLending #AIinBanking #CreditUnions #BankingLeadership #Fintech #LendingStrategy
January 21, 2026Episode 18436 min
Why Credit Unions Are Winning Where Big Banks Can’t
In this episode of Leaders in Lending, Adam Landsverk, Chief Lending Officer at FOXCU, joins host Barry Roach to discuss leadership, responsibility, and what it really means to serve members in today’s lending environment.With decades of experience across consumer lending, mortgage, commercial banking, and wealth management, Adam shares his journey from traditional banking into the credit union space — and why that transition reshaped how he thinks about decision-making, diversification, and community impact. The conversation explores how credit unions differ from large financial institutions, why local autonomy matters, and how lending leaders can balance growth, risk, and member value. Adam also shares insights on housing market conditions, home equity demand, and what community-based lenders should be preparing for as we move through 2026. In this episode, you’ll hear about:Adam Landsverk’s path from banking to credit unionsThe role of a Chief Lending Officer in local decision-makingHow credit unions approach diversification across lending productsHousing market trends and home equity opportunitiesBalancing economics with member valueLeadership lessons for community-based lendersThis episode of Leaders in Lending offers a thoughtful, experience-driven perspective on why community-focused lenders continue to succeed where scale alone falls short.🎧 Leaders in Lending features conversations with executives shaping the future of lending, banking, and credit unions.
January 7, 202625 min
The Biggest Lending Lessons We Learned in 2025
In this special year-end edition of Leaders in Lending, Drew Megrey, Barry Roach, and Lynn Sautter Beal reflect on the most impactful conversations from 2025. As lending leaders navigated a year defined by uncertainty, rapid technological change, and evolving regulatory landscapes, this episode revisits the insights that shaped the industry. From credit risk strategy and AI model governance to new member engagement and the future of servicing, hear the best moments from standout episodes featuring voices across the financial ecosystem. Whether you're planning for 2026 or looking back on lessons learned, this compilation captures the defining themes of the year in lending.
December 23, 202535 min
The Difference Between Managing and Leading Lending
In this episode of Leaders in Lending, host Barry Roach sits down with Lisa Highley, Chief Lending Officer at the University of Kentucky Federal Credit Union, for a candid conversation about what truly separates managing from leading in today’s lending environment. Highley shares her unconventional rise from part-time teller to executive leader and recalls the moment she realized that operational skill and technical expertise do not automatically translate into effective leadership.The discussion also highlights UKFCU’s period of rapid transformation, including the launch of a mortgage department, the expansion of commercial lending, major investments in digital channels, and the use of AI-driven underwriting technology to serve members more effectively. Barry and Highley explore servant leadership, building trust across lending teams, and how credit union leaders can prepare their organizations for the future while maintaining a strong focus on culture, accountability and the member experience.
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