CUToday.info's Frank J. Diekmann is back in 2025 and will have another fast-paced, ideas-packed presentation on not just what CU leaders need to be thinking about now, but in the future. Diekmann will be spending time on each of the 25 ideas ranging across all areas of credit union operations, including real-world examples of what CUs are doing to be effective and make a difference. This will include a special focus on some of the most creative things credit unions are doing in their communities. 

After avoiding a recession in 2023, the US economy powered its way into 2024. But the Federal Reserve’s progress reducing inflation slowed to a halt early in the year, putting interest rate cuts in doubt. Where do things stand at the start of 2025, and what can we expect? This session will review recent economic developments and consider prospects for the next several years.

This presentation focuses on methods by which financial entities can mitigate liability associated with cyber incidents, before, during, and after the occurrence. These methods are rooted in corporate policy, insurance, regulatory requirements, and case law with the intent to protect corporate clients from the growing array of class action lawsuits following cyber-attacks. Developed from an experienced legal perspective, “Mitigating Cyber Liability” combines lessons learned both first-hand and from contemporary research, presenting the same in plain-language English for non-technology professionals.  This presentation ends with a list of key take-aways that provide professional leaders with a pragmatic approach to reduce current and future cyber liability.

The payments industry has undergone a decade of transformation – one we are certain to look back on as history in the making. Reflecting on these significant contributions in innovation, we ask ourselves – how do you stay on the emerging trend side of payments? How does the industry at-large answer the call of innovating on the payments of today, while looking towards the future? Join Shonda Clay, Executive Vice President and Chief of Product and Relationship Management for Federal Reserve Financial Services, as she discusses current payment developments, next horizon trends, and our collective roles in the evolution of payments.

In this session, Dan Mahlum will discuss the current landscape of today’s dynamic mortgage market, how to adapt and develop new strategies for your credit union and build a successful and sustainable mortgage business. 

The timing of the Volunteer Leadership Institute in late January 2025 is an opportune time to pose the question: “What’s Next for Boards of Directors?” Credit unions face risks of technology disruption, regulation, cyber and other attacks, and unprecedented changes in the war for talent. These forces represent challenges but also opportunities allowing us to ask important questions: “Are we, as a board, ready for the future?” “In what ways are we enabling success and/or hindering organizational progress?” “What, as a board, should we be doing to prepare for the future?” This session will overview the challenges facing boards of directors and how governance best practices can help answer these questions. Our overview will be grounded in research on credit union and public company boards.

Immigration has been at the center of US political debate for the past decade. But what about the economics of immigration? What are the drivers of international migration and the implications of in-migration for the US economy? We will review what economic theory and experience tell us about these issues.

Note: We will avoid political debate and focus on what we can learn from economics about this challenging issue. 

Get the Secret “Behind the Scenes” Credit Union Accounting & Auditing Truths from one of
America’s “Real Mccoy” Credit Union Auditors

Are you tired of the cryptic, plain vanilla or white-washed and boring “insights” delivered by a stodgy, conflict avoiding auditor?   Are you confused by the complex “audit speak” and acronyms used in accounting and auditing circles?  Attend this session and you will get a behind-the-scenes look at the most critical accounting and auditing issues facing your credit union today.

Blockchain is the technology behind cryptocurrency and many other applications. In this breakout, you will learn the basics of blockchain and how it can be applied by credit unions. Dr. Black will explain terms like “distributed ledger technology” and “smart contract” to help you understand how blockchain functions as a shared database. He will then show you the art of the possible by demonstrating his blockchain prototype for recording mortgages and auto loans. This technology, developed with a group of credit unions in the Filene Lab, could be the future of how loans are traded as digital assets!