Talking Credit Unions with Chris Smith
These podcasts aim to communicate topics of interest from the world of credit unions targeted at managers, directors and other activists within the world of credit unions. I'm a long term supporter of credit unions and have served on the board of directors of several credit unions. This is a not for profit venture and my time is donated pro-bono. I am constantly on the look-out for stories and topics of interest to credit unions especially, but not exclusively, in the UK and Ireland. Contact me: smithowls@gmail.com A contribution to my costs has been made by Swoboda Research Centre and I rely on them for additional distribution and inspiration.
Episodes
33 episodes
Credit Unions are ethical...aren't they?
Can credit unions truly be the gold standard of ethical finance? Join our enlightening exchange with ethics-man Barry Clavin, as we scrutinize whether these institutions are walking the talk of their cooperative principles. We traverse t...
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Season 2024
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Episode 33
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26:46
Human touch versus Digital Banking for Credit Unions?
Listen to a conversation with George Hofheimer, the advisor and author of "Banking on the Human Scale." As we navigate the challenges that credit unions face in the digital era, George illuminates the path ahead, offering strategic insight into...
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15:10
EDITION 31 - Are credit union members rate tarts?
Several responses to this question by credit union leaders:*Rate tart is a term used in banking to describe someone who transfers balances repeatedly, chasing the best possible interest rates on savings. <...
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27:10
EDITION 30 - SWOBODA RESEARCH CENTRE - SPRING 2023 UPDATE
Paul Jones and Nick Money update us on the wide list of projects, papers and conferences coming up in the next 12 months at the Swoboda Research Centre.Hear about:New credit union lending projectsSustainable ...
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Season 2023
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Episode 30
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24:36
EDITION 29 Employee Salary Advance Schemes are here to stay?
This podcast captures the views of some financial services industry commentators on the merits and drawbacks of ESAS (Employee Salary Advance Schemes).Guests on this podcast are:Matt Bland, CEO Co-op Credit Union, UK<...
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28:23
EDITION 28 Credit Unions - did they survive the pandemic?
The past two years has been the ultimate stress test for the financial, operational, competitive, and cultural resiliency of credit unions. Leaders have greater depth of insight into the risks facing their credit union and can now better plan f...
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Season 2022
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Episode 28
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21:33
EDITION 26 - MEMBER GAMBLING AND VULNERABILITY
This summer saw the publication 'Gambling, Vulnerability and FCA Compliance' (How financial services firms can achieve the best outcomes for vulnerable customers who gamble), by Sharon Collard and Katie Cross at the Bristo...
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52:11
EDITION 27 - Save & Sound Project - Update
The Save and Sound project is now looking further afield for more credit union memories. The project wants to make sure that the efforts of people who worked to set up and run credit unions in the early days of the movement are not forgot...
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19:44
EDITION 25 - Do credit unions alleviate poverty?
The purpose of credit unions is obvious, isn’t it? Well, isn’t it?One of the perceptions about credit unions is that they ‘alleviate poverty’ and I guess many within the Irish & UK credit union movement will accept that perception. I...
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24:43
EDITION 23 - More Fintech Solutions? CUApps
This is podcast is where I look at another mobile 'app' being currently used by some credit unions.In this edition I talk with the enthusiastic Karen Bennett, CEO of the Merseyside based Enterprise Credit Union, about its f...
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24:41
EDITION 22 - Fintech Solutions? - NIVO
I’ve decided to have a closer look at the world of credit union ‘apps’ or Fintech, as some call it. Many of you are aware that a tsunami of helpful apps has arrived at the door of credit unions in the last few years and in many cases transforme...
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25:22
Credit Union Development Educator Events; are they magic? EDITION 21
I've always been amazed at the passion and support for this unique form of credit union education that has seen over 4,500 credit union employees, volunteers, directors and supporters attending over the years. The EU version has been runn...
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23:56
Sir Douglas Flint on Just Finance Foundation and credit union board rooms - EDITION 20
This is an interviewed with Sir Douglas Flint who is chair of Standard Life Aberdeen, IP Group, the Corporate board of Cancer Research UK and is a trustee of the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. He was previously Group Chairman of HSBC Hold...
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15:09
Notice: CFCFE CONFERENCE MARCH 29th 2021
Booking is now open for our first CFCFE conference of the year, on Monday 29th March.Towards New Business Models: great speakers and plenty of group discussion, looking at the 2021 and future external operating context, the...
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12:36
My first year as a credit union CEO - Matt Bland - EDITION 18
Early last year I interviewed Matt Bland, of the Manchester based Co-op Credit Union, as he began his debut year in charge (2020). This is interview asks Matt how was his first year?After making the interesting swop from being a p...
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20:48
Credit Union Mergers - A strategic opportunity? EDITION 17
An interview with Robert Kelly CEO at ABCUL (Assoc. of British Credit Unions Ltd). I was really interested in the news that ABCUL are to launch a Strategic Merger Taskforce. Robert Kelly, CEO at ABCUL, once again appears to tackl...
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21:26
Time for a New Credit Union Core Computer System? EDITION 16
Over the last few years, the importance of flexible, efficient and modern technology has risen up the agenda for many credit unions. 2020 has made this even more pronounced, as the ability of organisation to serve members effectively while staf...
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25:25
Diversity in the Credit Union Boardroom - EDITION 15
What a year for this agenda. First came shock; and then came shows of support. But they’re only worth a penny if we do not move to meaningful action and concrete change. Change you can see. Change you can measure. And change that makes a materi...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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30:37
Audio of CFCFE's measuring Social Impact of Credit Unions Seminar 25th Nov 2020 - EDITION 14
CFCFE have released a report from Dr Olive McCarthy of the
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1:02:21
Interest rate caps with Dr Olive McCarthy - EDITION 13
Olive McCarthy is an active member of St. Michael's Credit Union, Cork, Ireland. She receives research funding from a wide array of external sources, including government bodies, NGOs and sectoral organisations. She is a member of the Credit Un...
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24:36
Why bother with International credit union projects? EDITION 12
I have heard, in the past, the critics state that involvement of employees, or directors, in credit union international projects can be expensive and/or the benefits are not too tangible. So, I decided capture the views of some well respected v...
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20:30
Conference Round Up - EDITION 11
A brief round-up on CFCFE, ABCUL and World Council of Credit Unions conferences.
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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12:03
CFCFE CREDIT UNION CONFERENCE TRAILER - 22nd September 2020 - Dublin & On Line!
Credit Union Conference: Planning for the New Normal 10.00am-3.30pm, Tuesday 22 September 2020, Clayton Liffey Valley Hotel and live online Presented by the Centre for Community Finance Europe, in collaboration with L...
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11:46
EDITION 9 - Human Resources Specialists - Luxury or Necessity?
This edition asks how prepared are our credit unions for the possible employment issues that the pandemic has forced onto their businesses? Some of the changes may be positive and some may be relatively painless. However, changing a workforce t...
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19:53
EDITION 8 - Payroll Deduction Member Recruitment
This edition is about member recruitment via payroll deduction. How British and Irish credit unions, and others, have managed their journey into member recruitment via the route of employer participation. I have some excellent guests on the pod...
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33:44