"Direct issuance offers credit unions the ability to have more touch points and connect with their members to help solve business challenges.” - Geoff Dean

Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guests on today’s show are Dan Hanks, SVP of Global Product Management, and Geoff Dean, Director of Commercial Product Management - both of i2c Inc. They come on board for this episode to talk about how card programs can play a much bigger role in a credit union's long-term success than many people may realize, which is why more credit unions are taking a fresh look at self-issuance and how today's technology is making that option more accessible to institutions that may have ruled it out in the past.

Throughout our conversation, we compare the traditional agent banking model with self-issuance, explaining some of the differences when it comes to control, profitability, and the overall member experience. Dan and Geoff discuss why owning more of the card program can help credit unions strengthen member relationships, respond more effectively to member needs, and protect the trust that sets them apart from larger financial institutions. They also explain why self-issuance isn't simply about issuing cards but is also about creating better products, offering more flexibility, and positioning credit unions to serve members in more meaningful ways.

As we wrap up the episode, we explore how modern processing platforms support the ability to self-issue while also reducing many of the barriers that once made self-issuance difficult for smaller organizations. They offer some memorable closing remarks, persuading credit unions to leverage modern technology to incorporate self-issuance, stressing the importance of strengthening member relationships. Enjoy my conversation with Dan and Geoff!

Connect with Dan & Geoff:
Dan Hanks, SVP of Global Product Management at i2c
Geoff Dean, Director of Commercial Product Management at i2c
i2cinc.com
Dan: LinkedIn
Geoff: LinkedIn
i2c: LinkedIn | Instagram

Show notes from this episode:
Place mentioned: Silicon Valley, CA
Shout-out: Wells Fargo
Shout-out: Apple
Shout-out: Google

In this episode:
[1:03] - Hear how self-issuance gives credit unions more control and revenue opportunities as well as stronger products.
[3:20] - Geoff adds that self-issuance strengthens member relationships while enabling customization and program control.
[6:10] - Direct issuance helps credit unions resolve member needs faster via stronger relationships and better visibility.
[8:18] - Dan argues that competitive self-issued cards help credit unions strengthen loyalty and protect valuable member relationships.
[10:30] - Hear why it’s so crucial to find the right partner.
[12:33] - In closing, credit unions should reconsider self-issuance, as modern solutions have made it viable for more institutions.