HARRISBURG, Penn. — The CrossState Credit Union Association has launched a new thought-leadership series aimed at bringing credit union executives, policymakers and industry leaders together to discuss challenges facing the industry, with its first episode focusing on fraud prevention.
The new series, called “CrossState Presents,” is hosted by CrossState President and CEO Patrick Conway and will feature approximately 20-minute conversations involving credit union CEOs, policymakers, industry leaders and business partners, according to the association.
CrossState said the program is intended to move beyond a traditional interview format and instead create discussions resembling leadership roundtables in which participants can offer different perspectives on industry issues.
“Some of the most valuable conversations happen when we bring people with different experiences and perspectives together around the same issue,” Conway said. “CrossState Presents gives us a place to share those conversations more broadly — to elevate the voices of credit union leaders, connect policy with what is happening on the ground, and create dialogue that helps our credit unions move forward.”
Conway said the discussions are not necessarily intended to produce definitive answers, but instead to identify questions, practical ideas and issues for further discussion among credit union leaders.
First Episode Focuses on Fraud
The first episode, “Fraud Fighters: Protecting Members in a Complex Environment,” features Pennsylvania state Sen. Chris Gebhard and Members 1st Federal Credit Union President and CEO Mike Wilson.
Gebhard chairs the Pennsylvania Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, which has jurisdiction over the state Department of Banking and Securities and considers legislation involving financial institutions and insurers.
According to CrossState, the discussion examines fraud from both the policymaker and credit union perspectives, including how increasingly sophisticated schemes use technology, manipulation and human behavior to target consumers.
The conversation also addresses the role credit unions can play in protecting members, the balance between technology and human intervention, and opportunities for greater cooperation among financial institutions, lawmakers, regulators and law enforcement.
“Fraud is moving incredibly quickly, and no institution, policymaker, or organization can address it from just one perspective,” Conway said. “Senator Gebhard and Mike bring two vantage points to the same challenge, and that is exactly what we want CrossState Presents to do — put thoughtful people around the same table and create conversations that can lead to better understanding and better solutions.”
Fraud has been an increasing focus for CrossState. The association also has scheduled a Sept. 29 webinar on rising fraud threats and the steps credit unions can take to protect members and
CrossState Seeks Continued Discussion
CrossState said the series is intended to generate discussion beyond individual episodes.
The association is encouraging credit union professionals to share episodes with executives, boards and employees and to submit questions, recommend future topics and share experiences from their own institutions.
CrossState also is inviting suggestions for credit union executives, policymakers and other industry participants who could appear in future episodes.
The initial season will feature approximately one episode per month through February 2027 before moving to an every-other-month schedule, according to the association.
Future discussions are expected to address the future of credit unions, collaboration within the credit union system, advocacy, leadership and other industry issues.
The first episode became available Sept. 15.
