In this episode of Consumer Lending Perspectives, Jeff Bogan hosts Steve Bugg, CEO of Great Lakes Credit Union, to discuss balance sheet leadership, intraday liquidity, and the operational realities facing financial executives.

A central theme is execution speed. From emergency loan programs to AI tools like GLCU’s “Olive,” Bugg shows how operational dexterity lowers cost and strengthens member service.

“We’ve learned that we’re agents of change. We need to jump in quickly, we need to pivot, and if we’re going to fail, we need to fail fast, fix it, and move on.” - Steve Bugg

Bugg explains how member behavior is bifurcating as low-income households in underserved communities turn to small-dollar credit, while mid-market members return to autos and unsecured loans.

The conversation explores Bugg's telecommunications background that framed his approach to digital banking, portfolio mix and AI deployment to handle contact center calls. Other topics include HUD-certified counseling programs, financial wellness centers, scenario modeling, regulator engagement, strategic mergers, and fee income.

Bugg shares his practical perspective on how modern credit unions can stay relevant, disciplined, and responsive in a faster, more data-driven environment.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

How CEO leadership and execution speed shape credit union strategy and culture

Why behavior is diverging across income segments and how that affects lending demand

How to blend automation with human guidance to improve outcomes and lower cost

Ways to build growth and fee income through mortgage and insurance CUSOs

How intraday liquidity monitoring and scenario modeling strengthen ALM & regulator discussions

Subscribe to Consumer Lending Perspectives to stay ahead of the latest trends in consumer lending, financial innovation and technology from industry leaders and experts.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Steve shares his professional journey to the Great Lakes Credit Union

03:18 Engagement philosophy, HUD-certified counseling and the foundation help scale financial literacy

08:14 Balance sheet management strategy

13:17 Serving low-income designated members with small-dollar lending and financial wellness counseling

17:53 Federal shutdown relief program funded $650,000 in loans at 0% in two weeks, and AI

26:32 Liquidity management transformation through strategic mergers, paying down borrowings, and behavior analysis

32:00 Strong relationships with regulators

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Operational agility in program launch is a strategic advantage.

Loan portfolio design must reflect member behavior and economic realities.

Mission-focused strategy can scale when paired with leadership alignment.

Automation and human coaching are complementary, not competitive.

ALM, liquidity, and data modeling require real-time discipline.

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Steve Bugg serves as President and CEO of Great Lakes Credit Union, a $1.4 billion Illinois-based credit union serving over 100,000 members. After starting in banking and spending 20 years in telecommunications, he has been a leader in the credit union industry for 17 years. Bugg is a graduate of the University of Evansville and The ProCon Leadership Institute for Cooperatives, and serves on numerous industry boards, including the Illinois Credit Union League Legislative Committee. He advocates for financial literacy initiatives and housing counseling for low-income households through nonprofit partnerships. Under his leadership, Great Lakes Credit Union is designated as a low-income, community development, and Juntos Avanzamos credit union.

In this episode, host Jeff Bogan speaks with Ethan Heisler, Editor of The Bank Treasury Newsletter, about how bank treasurers are managing liquidity, regulation, and risk today.

Heisler explains how instant payments and weekend settlement gaps are pushing institutions to hold higher reserves, changing traditional strategies. Heisler considers stablecoins a practical tool for evaluation in cross-border transfers that banks must come to understand.

They also examine how AI and machine learning can move beyond automation to support strategic treasury and balance sheet decision-making. As Heisler notes, better analytics could have changed outcomes at some recent bank failures. AI support for strategic brainstorming and decision-making could benefit many leadership teams, whether bank treasury, depository, financial institution, or asset manager.

“How are you using machine learning/AI to make better decisions? … How can you enhance your brain to do more when you think?” - Ethan Heisler

The conversation covers how examiner turnover, deposit growth, and liquidity preferences are changing priorities, as many treasurers choose to “stay liquid” while adopting new risk management tools. Together, Bogan and Heisler unpack the role of bank treasurers and financial management today.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

How bank treasurers are prioritizing liquidity and risk management post recent bank failures

What stablecoins are and their connection to instant payments

How AI and machine learning can support smarter balance sheet decisions

Current trends in regulatory focus, deposit growth and loan growth

Why deposit insurance reform and fintech partnerships matter more

Subscribe to Consumer Lending Perspectives to stay ahead of the trends in banking, fintech innovation, and financial services from industry experts.

TIMESTAMPS:

01:00 Ethan shares his background as an Institutional Investor-ranked analyst and the launch of the Bank Treasury Newsletter, with 21 years of industry insights

03:45 Deep dive into stablecoins in banking and how they function as a new payment method for cross-border payments, potentially disrupting the quadrillion-dollar international payment market

10:18 How artificial intelligence in banking and machine learning for financial institutions should enhance cognitive decision-making rather than just operational efficiency

13:00 Critical lessons from Silicon Valley Bank on balance sheet risk management and why liquidity management strategies must account for instant payment systems and deposit volatility

17:59 Discussion of uninsured deposits, deposit insurance, bank examiners, risk management and AI

26:17 The future outlook for the banking industry, including economic stability, deposit insurance reform needs, and fintech partnerships

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Bank treasurers are rethinking liquidity. Instant payment systems and weekend settlement gaps are leading institutions to hold more cash and short-term assets.

Deposit behavior is changing. Despite the 2023 turmoil, deposits reached record highs, yet more funds are moving into money market products and Treasury bills outside of banks.

AI is underused in brainstorming and decision-making. Many banks apply AI for process automation, but few use it to improve risk and balance-sheet choices, an opportunity for smarter capital use.

Stablecoins could affect cross-border payments. Large banks may gain efficiency and lower costs by adopting stablecoins for international transfers, but widespread understanding is still limited.

Regulation and staffing are shifting. Examiner...

In this episode of Consumer Lending Perspectives, Sheel Mohnot, Co-Founder and General Partner of Better Tomorrow Ventures, joins the show with host, Jeff Bogan, CFO at Upgrade and fintech veteran. Better Tomorrow Ventures is a venture capital fund dedicated to fintech companies globally.

Sheel’s insights span the fintech landscape, from the symbiotic relationship between fintech and banking to the transformative potential of AI in areas like compliance and underwriting.

He discusses how Better Tomorrow Ventures nurtures entrepreneurs’ ideas into thriving businesses through seed investing, emphasizing infrastructure solutions.

Tune in as Sheel explores new investment frontiers, including accounting and mortgages, and shares his vision for Better Tomorrow Ventures’ role in driving Fintech innovation forward.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• (1:30) Sheel explains how he became involved with Kiva and what prompted him to move into the Fintech space
• (06:43) Better Tomorrow Ventures, what is seed investing and how entrepreneurs' ideas become businesses
• (14:40) Interaction between fintech and the banking industry
• (20:32) Discussion of AI and advice for choosing an AI business partner or vendor
• (26:12) New areas of investment that Sheel finds interesting, his outlook for Better Tomorrow Ventures, and his thoughts on the consumer

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Sheel Mohnot’s early work at Kiva, a consumer lending platform enabling microloans to alleviate poverty, shaped his fintech career. Kiva’s model of crowdfunding small loans (as little as $25) to individuals in developing countries highlighted the power of technology to improve financial access, influencing his focus on fintech solutions.
• Mohnot’s venture capital fund, Better Tomorrow Ventures, focuses on seed-stage Fintech investments, leveraging his and his partner’s operational experience.
• BTV prioritizes founder-driven investments, valuing speed, tenacity, and articulation in entrepreneurs, and targets fintech infrastructure solutions (e.g., Unit, Layer) over other areas.
• Mohnot sees significant opportunities in specialized AI applications for Fintech, such as compliance, underwriting, and accounting automation (e.g., Basis, Kaaj, Monk). These solutions address specific industry needs, reduce risk, and enhance efficiency, unlike generic AI models, making them attractive investment targets.

RESOURCE LINKS

LinkedIn Sheel Mohnot: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smohnot/

Website Better Tomorrow Ventures: https://www.btv.vc/

LinkedIn Jeff Bogan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbogan5/

Website Upgrade: https://www.upgrade.com/

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Sheel Mohnot is Co-Founder and General Partner of Better Tomorrow Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund investing in Fintech companies globally. He’s also the General Partner of the 500 Fintech fund. His own startup experience includes two successful Fintech exits: a payments company. Previously, he worked as a financial services consultant at BCG, and he began his Fintech career at Kiva, a non-profit, peer-to-peer lender.

What does it take to innovate in banking today? How do institutions balance cutting-edge technology with customer trust and regulatory responsibility?

In this episode of Consumer Lending Perspective, guest Marc Butterfield, SVP of Market Expansion and New Product Development at First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO), joins Jeff Bogan, host, to explore digital transformation, consumer lending, and the role of AI in reshaping operations and credit modeling.

“It comes back to understanding the what and the why. When you recognize it, if you're clear on the what and the why, as well as the outcomes you wish to achieve, the further you stray from that, and you realize, I'm just trying to get this done; that's not the reason we should be doing it. That's when it becomes crucial to be honest with yourself and your team. The lies you can tell yourself are monumental.” - Marc Butterfield

Marc shares how ​becoming a “forcing agent” and ​listening to stakeholders​, especially the qualitative component of feedback,​ drives innovation and more intelligent decisions.

From machine learning in credit modeling to piloting generative AI for employee support, his conversation with Jeff touches on real-world technology use in a regulated space.

Together, they also cover trends such as, tokenized payments and digital wallets, with insights on data infrastructure​, partner data, data engineering,​ and ​venn diagrams​. Listen to learn more! Follow the podcast for episode notifications.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• (00:00) Opening and introduction
• (01:16) Marc Butterfield explains how he earned the American Bankers Innovators of the Year Award
• (03:22) Marc talks about digital innovation, expanding consumer lending, and partnerships
• (09:24) Discussion of the philosophy of banking transformation and technology, and advice on how to get the stakeholders' buy-in
• (17:45) AI machine learning is helping employee efficiency and internal discussion on initiatives regarding credit cards
• (27:00) The future of banking and Marc’s view on the tariffs and stock markets

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Listening to all stakeholders, such as customers, partners, and employees, drives better product development in digital innovation and banking transformation. Clear goals help guide teams, but flexibility in execution allows for innovation and growth.
• AI and machine learning are transforming banking operations and credit modeling, mainly within consumer lending. Tools like internal chat systems boost employee efficiency while maintaining a focus on data security and compliance.
• Before rolling out AI to customers, banks must build internal expertise and guardrails.
• As digital tools like stablecoins and tokenized payments evolve over time, strong data infrastructure becomes key to sustaining innovation in a rapidly changing financial landscape.

RESOURCE LINKS

LinkedIn Marc Butterfield: www.linkedin.com/in/marc-butterfield-0263281

Website First National Bank of Omaha: https://www.fnbo.com

LinkedIn Jeff Bogan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbogan5/

Website Upgrade: https://www.upgrade.com/

ABOUT THE GUEST:

As...

Vadim Verkhoglyad, Head of Research at dv01, joins the podcast this month with his rich background in data and performance analysis. In this episode, Jeff Bogan, host, and Vadim discuss several key topics, including data transparency in consumer credit, consumer behavior psychology and mindset, the effects of inflation and debt on home prices and home insurance, and the implications of zero interest rates on future consumer credit.

Looking ahead, Vadim identified opportunities to enhance consumer lending, such as better data utilization and lower APRs. He acknowledged challenges like outdated systems, financial literacy gaps, and the need for greater market maturity to fully realize the potential of more transparent and scalable unsecured lending.

“2024 has been exceptional for performance. So some of that is certainly a correction from how bad 22 and 23 were, but a lot of that is still kind of—healthy just credit performance.” – Vadim Verkhoglyad

“I've been focused on getting people to understand that the market is in full recovery mode. I think some people still think that performance is trending down, which it certainly isn't.” – Vadim Verkhoglyad

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [1:22] Data transparency in consumer credit
• [4:49] Vadim describes his role at dv01 and the psychology and mindset of consumer behavior
• [10:55] Discussion about inflation and debt and home prices and home insurance
• [15:00] Zero interest rates (ZIRP), and drivers of future consumer credit
• [20:33] Discussion of unsecured credit and financial literacy and weak lending practices
• [27:26] The value dv01 brings in terms of transparency to the lender and how markets evolve
• [32:16] Vadim offers suggestions to investors

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• The increasing use of data and technology, such as cloud computing and big data analytics, fundamentally changes how credit is assessed and underwritten. This shift towards data-driven decision-making has improved credit risk assessment, opened new lending opportunities (like short-duration, high-yield characteristics), and increased investor confidence.
• The housing market faces significant challenges, including rising costs, regional disparities, and the impact of events like the housing insurance crisis. These factors impact lending performance, strain homeowners financially, and reshape the credit landscape.
• Challenges remain while opportunities exist to improve consumer lending, such as disrupting the credit card market through better data utilization and lower APRs. These include outdated systems, financial literacy gaps, and greater market maturity to fully realize the potential of more transparent and scalable unsecured lending.

RESOURCE LINKS

LinkedIn Vadim Verkhoglyad: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vadim-verkhoglyad-cfa-7037b07/

Website dv01: https://www.dv01.co/

LinkedIn Jeff Bogan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbogan5/

Website Upgrade: https://www.upgrade.com/

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Vadim Verkhoglyad leads dv01’s research and publication efforts, authoring analysis on consumer credit and distilling complex financial data into actionable insights. With experience...

Host, Jeff Bogan, CFO at Upgrade, speaks with Jeremy Sankwich, Vice President of Consumer Lending at CapEd Credit Union in Meridian, Idaho. Jeremy brings a wealth of knowledge to the conversation about the evolving landscape of credit unions. Together, they explore how CapEd redefines the member experience by focusing on innovation and relationship-building.

They delve into essential topics, including auto lending, Loss-given default, the use of AI in credit research, and the significance of succession planning for boards. Additionally, they highlight innovative lending strategies, the importance of fostering strong member relationships while improving the online experience, and CapEd's steadfast dedication to delivering community-centered financial solutions.

"We have to be careful that we don't proactively reprice our entire balance sheet on the asset side. We also want to retain these members." - Jeremy Sankwich

“Let's stop that cycle and coach them into qualification one-on-one.” - Jeremy Sankwich

“We have two kinds of criteria that we look for in lending, loss given default and probability given default.“ - Jeremy Sankwich

IN THIS EPISODE:

● [0:30] Jeremy shares his background and his views on consumer lending

● [8:32] With rate cuts, members will be interested in refinancing and the cooperation between Fintech and credit unions

● [12:41] How the credit union supports their members and community

● [15:54] Will the political administration change be good for the credit union field

● [20:51] Discussion of artificial intelligence and loss-given default

● [27:51] Discussion of auto lending

● [31:18] Concerns regarding CEOs and C-Suite retirements

● [33:30] Chartered numbers of credit unions are falling, and the importance of succession planning

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

● With rate cuts, credit unions become go-to institutions for refinancing as members seek better terms. This "great refi swap" trend underscores the importance of credit unions offering competitive refinancing options.

● Fintech collaboration is key, and credit unions align through the ACU and GoWest trade associations to find suitable partners. These partnerships enable credit unions to integrate innovative technology while maintaining member-centric values.

● Boards must prioritize succession planning to ensure continuity and avoid the risk of mergers.

● Customers now expect online experiences similar to Amazon or Google, setting a high standard for user interfaces. Credit unions must invest in their digital platforms by 2025 to stay competitive in an evolving landscape.

RESOURCE LINKS

LinkedIn Jeremy Sankwich: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremysankwich/

Website CapEd CU: https://capedcu.com/about/

LinkedIn Jeff Bogan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbogan5/

Website Upgrade: https://www.upgrade.com/

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Jeremy Sankwich, VP of Consumer Lending at CapEd Credit Union, has extensive expertise in portfolio management, auto lending, residential real estate lending, home improvement lending and financial counseling. Over the years, he has led lending teams while working...

Host Jeff Bogan, CFO at Upgrade, talks with Dr. Joseph Breeden, a seasoned expert in credit risk management. They explore the post-pandemic lending landscape, discussing factors such as score inflation, macroeconomic adverse selection, and data imperfections affecting the lending industry.

“Consumers are not financially rational machines. And so it's very clear they key off changes in interest rates.” - Dr. Joseph Breeden

Dr. Breeden shares how credit risk models, economic conditions, and consumer psychology interplay to influence loan performance and lending strategies in today's economy.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [00:45] Introduction to Dr. Joseph Breeden and his experience in risk management
• [01:07] Discussion on post-pandemic challenges and score inflation in consumer lending
• [03:27] Explanation of macroeconomic adverse selection and its impact on lending
• [06:35] Historical perspective on credit score dynamics across economic cycles
• [8:06] The importance of intuition and borrower psychology in lending
• [10:15] Tips on assessing loan demand and adjusting based on quality trends
• [14:10] Dr. Breeden discusses issues with the current unemployment rate data
• [17:35] Suggestions on what asset managers should monitor in the current economic environment
• [20:00] Discussion of Dr. Breeden's forthcoming book on credit risk modeling.
• [22:19] The Role of Data, Machine Learning, and Alternative Indicators
• [27:01] Dr. Breeden expresses optimism about the next 12 months for consumer assets

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Changes in consumer behavior during economic downturns, also known as macroeconomic adverse selection, can lead to lower- quality loan applicants despite high credit scores.
• While credit models are essential, lender intuition and borrower psychology play critical roles in predicting loan performance.
• As adverse selection begins to moderate, the next 12 months may present better opportunities for quality loan origination.

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Dr. Breeden has been designing and deploying risk management systems for loan portfolios since 1996. His expertise includes scoring, forecasting, stress testing, and economic capital models. Since 2011, Dr. Breeden has been CEO of Prescient Models, where he leads a consulting and product development team in this space, focusing on loan-level models for forecasting, stress testing, and pricing.

Previously, Dr. Breeden co-founded Strategic Analytics in 1999, where he led the design of advanced analytic solutions including the invention of Dual-time Dynamics. He has created models through the 1995 Mexican Peso Crisis, the 1997 Asian Economic Crisis, the 2001 Global Recession, the 2003 Hong Kong SARS Recession, and the 2007-2009 US Mortgage Crisis and Global Financial Crisis. These crises have provided him with a rare perspective on crisis management and the analytics needs of executives for strategic decision-making.

Dr. Breeden has published over 40 academic articles, a dozen trade publications, and six patents. His book “Reinventing Retail Lending Analytics: Forecasting, Stress Testing, Capital, and Scoring for a World of Crises” was published by Riskbooks in 2010 and is currently in its second edition.

Dr. Breeden received separate BS degrees in mathematics and physics in 1987 from Indiana University. He earned a Ph.D. in physics in 1991 from the University of Illinois...

Jeff Bogan welcomes John Toohig, Managing Director at Raymond James and Head of Whole Loan Trading Group. John shares his extensive knowledge on the impact of recent rate increases on banks and credit unions, particularly in the consumer loan space. They examine the performance and strategies of these financial institutions in 2022 and 2023, discussing liquidity trends, M&A activity, and the evolving role of fintech partnerships.

Additionally, they explore predictions for 2025, including tightening margins, student loan impacts, and the potential for a robust M&A environment. This episode is a must-listen for anyone involved in the financial services industry, providing valuable market insights and strategic advice.

"FinTechs have a better tech mechanism to generate loan growth...the natural evolution will continue, and institutions that ignore it are doing so at their detriment, while those that embrace it stand to benefit.” - John Toohig

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [01:00] Introduction to John Toohig and his expertise in loan trading
• [01:18] Impact of Rate Increases on Banks and Credit Unions
• [02:53] Market Reactions and Adjustments in 2023
• [05:51] Current Market Conditions and Predictions
• [10:57] Strategies for Banks and Credit Unions
• [16:00] Role of Fintech partnerships in modern banking
• [20:00] Smart strategies for building liquidity within banks
• [26:07] Fintech Partnerships and Future Outlook
• [32:00] Predictions for the depository space in 2025
• [34:09] Final words of wisdom from John Toohig on loan trading and partnerships

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• John emphasizes that banks and credit unions should adapt to a high-interest environment by reevaluating loan strategies and adjusting pricing to stay competitive.
• Institutions should aim for “smart liquidity” by creating deposit programs linked to loan offerings, enabling lower-cost funding.
• For long-term success, depositories should collaborate with FinTechs to enhance tech-driven loan growth while retaining traditional customer relationships.
• John anticipates tighter margins but a positive outlook with stabilized rates, increased loan originations, and a boost in M&A activity in the depository sector.

ABOUT THE GUEST:

John Toohig

Head of Whole Loan Trading on the Raymond James Whole Loan Desk and President of Raymond James Mortgage Company. Primary responsibilities include day-to-day trading of whole loan packages, portfolio analysis, transaction management and the structuring of whole loan sales and participations.

Beyond his daily trading responsibilities, John is a regular speaker and content creator for various lending-related conferences and publications. He has presented at most of the major lending conferences including MBA National Secondary, SFIG Vegas / ABS West, CUNA Lending and more, and his commentary has also been featured in publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, the American Banker, HousingWire and DebtWire. John has created an active following on LinkedIn with regular posts and articles surrounding community lending, providing both lenders and investors with timely commentary on current trends and happenings in the primary and secondary loan markets. In addition, he showcases new lending products, technology, and credit tools as the market constantly evolves.

John received his undergraduate degree from the Houghton College and his MBA from the University of Mississippi with a focus in finance and IT. John has his Series 7, 24 and Series 63 licenses.

RESOURCE...