In this episode, I sit down with Joe Colca, founder of Forge Clarity, to talk about a challenge credit unions and banks keep running into as they try to compete with digital-first players. Most people frame this as a technology problem. Joe and I don’t see it that way.

With more than 26 years of experience at organizations like Vanguard, Citi, and VyStar Credit Union, Joe shares why the real issue isn’t a lack of technology, it’s a lack of strategic clarity. We dig into why many financial institutions struggle to deliver strong digital experiences, how the Innovator’s Dilemma applies to banking today, and what leaders should be thinking about as AI, fintech partnerships, and new operating models reshape the industry.

Listen to learn why strategy, not technology, is the real bottleneck for digital transformation, and what banks and credit unions can do to position themselves for the future.

00:00 Welcome back and episode introduction
01:00 Introducing Joe Colca and his background in financial services
05:00 Joe’s career journey from Vanguard to Citi to VyStar
10:30 The Innovator’s Dilemma and its relevance to banking today
14:30 Branch-based vs. branchless banking models
18:00 Why digital transformation feels so hard for credit unions
22:30 Technology upgrades vs. meeting member expectations
27:30 Fintech partnerships and the build vs. buy decision
33:00 Can banks successfully be both branch-based and digital-first?
38:00 Strategy problems vs. technology problems
43:30 Spinoff digital banks as a potential solution
50:00 Real-world examples of credit union digital spinoffs
56:00 The impact of AI on the future of banking experiences
01:01:30 What Forge Clarity does and who it helps
01:06:30 One action leaders should take right now: strategic clarity
01:09:00 Final thoughts and wrap-up

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AI is going to revolutionize banking. Credit unions and banks are already being disrupted by fintechs, now AI is either going to accelerate their demise or give them a chance to leapfrog their disruptors. The choice is theirs.

In this episode, I (Derik Krauss) am joined by my co-founder, Ryan Harmon, to unpack how AI could disrupt UI-based fintechs and open up new opportunities for community banks and credit unions. We discuss The Innovator's Dilemma, the benefits of launching AI-first spinoffs, and how future financial institutions might operate without traditional mobile apps or online banking.

00:00 Introduction and Recap of Previous Episode

01:11 AI's Potential in Banking and Financial Institutions

03:53 The Innovator's Dilemma in Banking

05:59 The Shift from Physical Branches to Digital Banking

11:37 AI as the Next Disruptive Innovation

17:02 The Future of AI-Driven Financial Services

23:04 AI Integration in Everyday Life

29:50 The Role of AI in Financial Decision Making

31:35 Blockchain and AI: Revolutionizing Banking

33:25 AI-First Experience: The Future of User Interfaces

35:48 Cost Efficiency in AI-Driven Banking

39:08 OpenAI's App Store: A New Frontier

40:31 Challenges and Opportunities for Credit Unions

42:58 The Innovator's Dilemma: Embracing Disruptive Innovation

46:49 Launching Spinoffs: A Strategy for Transformation

49:00 The Future of Banking: AI-First Spinoffs

50:03 Legacy Institutions and Modern Challenges

01:00:35 The Role of Marketing in Credit Union Transformation

01:03:01 AI's Impact on the Banking Industry

01:05:47 Conclusion: Embracing AI for Future Success

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Hey, this is Derik. I recently tried using ChatGPT's Agent Mode to make transfers between my personal bank accounts. I didn't get the outcome I was hoping for, but that's not because AI isn't capable of doing it. In fact, it's more than capable of doing that and other banking tasks, especially if there is a human in the loop.

In this episode, my co-founder, Ryan Harmon, and I show and tell what agentic AI is capable of doing and how it's going to transform the banking user experience. Listen to learn how AI is reshaping the future of banking and what opportunities lie ahead for individuals and financial institutions.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.