Guest: CRAIG PAGE

Welcome to Credit Union Conversations, hosted by Mark Ritter, CEO of MBFS, a business lending CUSO serving clients across the United States and Puerto Rico. In this episode, MBFS CEO Mark Ritter and a guest from his team catch up on the latest happenings at MBFS, the credit union industry, and other odds and ends.

IN THIS EPISODE:

  • (00:00) Craig Page shares his professional background and responsibilities
  • (01:57) Mark introduces a new, shorter episode format featuring MBFS team members
  • (04:30) Mark and Craig discuss their moves from suburbia to rural areas
  • (06:49) MBFS sees unexpected growth in 2025 in the CUSO
  • (08:41) Craig explains the value of small credit unions in partnering with a CUSO like MBFS
  • (10:32) Craig shares his reaction to the boom in lending

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • The Credit Union Conversations podcast has introduced a shorter, more conversational format featuring “quick hitters.” These episodes, airing twice monthly, will focus on current industry topics, updates from MBFS, personal anecdotes, and team insights, in contrast to their traditional long-form interviews.
  • Despite expectations for a flat year, MBFS has experienced rapid growth, with seven new credit unions joining early in the year and 18 more in the pipeline. Loan volume has also increased, reflecting strong demand for its services.
  • Smaller credit unions are increasingly entering the member business lending space but face resource and staffing challenges. MBFS offers a “plug-and-play” solution, handling everything from origination and servicing to loan workouts, making it easier for credit unions to scale without heavy internal investment.

RESOURCE LINKS:

Mark Ritter Website
Mark Ritter – LinkedIn
Craig Page – LinkedIn

Mark Ritter is the CEO of MBFS and an expert in credit unions and business lending. His primary role at MBFS is overseeing the strategy of helping credit unions assist members with business needs and consulting with credit unions on planning the delivery of services to their membership.