Speakers Bureau
Alloya has a long-standing tradition of providing presenters for credit union events that speak on topics that impact credit unions directly (operational topics, liquidity concerns, new technology, cybersecurity, etc.) or indirectly (economic and political current events, both at home and around the globe).
Our dynamic speakers draw on years of experience in the financial industry, providing general and specific knowledge on a wide array of topics to stimulate lively, credit union focused discussion. Consider inviting a member of Alloya’s team of professionals to your event to speak on one of the multitude of topics we have to offer!
Speaker topics include...
Click or tap a topic title to be directed to its brief description below.
- Serving the Underserved | Relationship-Based Lending for Financial Inclusion
- Faster Payments
- Where's the Recession?
- Liquidity
- Portfolio Management
- Cybersecurity
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about the available topics. Don’t see a topic that works for you? We will work with you to customize a speaking engagement designed to fit your needs. Our ability to provide specific content is based on availability of our staff for the requested dates. Please note that for the foreseeable future, speaking engagements are available on a virtual basis only.
We look forward to working with you and speaking at your event. For more information, contact your Alloya representative or email events@alloyacorp.org.
Speaker Topics
Serving the Underserved | Relationship-Based Lending for Financial Inclusion
When life happens, financial access is key. Do you know where your members turn for cash when there’s more month than money or unexpected expenses arise? It should be your credit union, not a payday lender.
During this session, we’ll discuss the important role credit unions play in protecting their members’ financial futures, driving financial inclusion and improving the well-being of underserved communities.
Takeaways:
- Why financial inclusion matters
- How relationship-based, small-dollar lending plays a part
- What your credit union can do to better serve those who are underserved
- How this could impact your credit union’s future success
Faster Payments
The launch of the Federal Reserve’s FedNow® Service has created another method for financial institutions to offer real-time payment solutions to members. Consumers and businesses are interested in instantaneous payments, but are they ready to change current payment habits and willing to pay for the added speed and convenience?
During this session, we will discuss recent developments for faster and real-time payments, including key strategic considerations to help your credit union offer real-time options to your members. We will also discuss:
- The evolving expectations of members
- Current trends in the payments landscape and what credit unions can expect in future years
- Suggestions on what to include in a faster payments business case
Where’s the Recession?
It’s been a long and winding road since COVID-19 turned the U.S. and global economy on its heels. After maintaining a zero-interest-rate policy for two years, the Fed hiked rates by 500 basis points in what has been the most aggressive rate-hiking policy in over 40 years. Despite the draconian move by the Fed, the economy has thus far not succumbed to a recession.
It has become commonplace to say that there will not be a recession and that those calling for one have been “dead wrong.” “Where’s the recession?” they ask. Enough time has passed for it to happen, and the fact it hasn’t occurred is seriously good news.
Is “this time different”?
In this session, Tom Slefinger will make the contrarian case as to why the consensus is wrong and why the economy, inflation and interest rates are likely to revert back to pre-COVID-19 levels as the economy is faced with lower productivity growth, weak capital formation, aging demographics, rising income inequality, and extreme public debt.
In other words, inflation will revert back to 2% and interest rates will decline sharply from current levels. When inflation reaches the 2% inflation target, nominal interest rates will fall to a 2.0%-2.5% range. The question becomes, what does a 250-300 basis point drop in nominal rates mean for your portfolio and balance sheet?
Liquidity
Credit unions have felt the pinch of liquidity for nearly a year now. While there are many reasons why we are at historical lows as it relates to liquidity, one of the most important, yet least talked about, reasons is the lender’s role in it all.
During this session, you will learn how front-line lenders, in conjunction with their finance teams, must think beyond their local market to understand the intricacies of liquidity. You will also learn the various options that you may need to consider moving forward to ease potential burdens during future liquidity crunches.
Portfolio Management
What are the components of institutional fixed income investment portfolio management? How are calculated investment decisions made? What steps are involved in the risk management process when assessing a potential investment? Volatility in the fixed income and equity markets can make finding value a challenge for investors, but with the right tools and knowledge, credit unions can successfully create and maintain an optimized portfolio, even during times of uncertainty.
In this session, we will discuss some portfolio basics and various strategies that can be utilized during the everchanging monetary, economic and market environment. We will also discuss how credit unions can optimize their balance sheets and investment portfolios in what is likely to be a much more volatile and challenging environment moving forward.
Cybersecurity
Cyberattacks continue to compromise confidential data in increasingly advanced ways, making it difficult to control and combat the risks to your credit union. From the front line to the board room, taking proactive steps to protect both your credit union and members is essential. During this session the presenter will cover the current cybersecurity landscape, how you can identify cybersecurity risks at your credit union, proven methods that can be used to resolve and mitigate those risks, and how to effectively communicate your cybersecurity risks to your board and examiners.
