Podcasts

Credit Union Conversations

Welcome to Credit Union Conversations podcast with your host, Mark Ritter, a forward-thinking CEO, who excels in helping credit unions, small businesses, and real estate investors succeed.

Join Mark as he explores current trends, interview industry experts, and get fresh insights on optimizing your lending operations and delivering the best possible services to credit union members. 

More About Your Host

Mark Ritter is the CEO of MBFS & Nu Direction Lending 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.

In 2002, Mark started a large central Pennsylvania credit union’s business lending program as “one person and a desk” with no policies, products, staff, systems, or business members. That program grew to be one of the top ten in the nation.

In 2012, he took on the challenge of being the CEO of a business lending CUSO. Mark was the fifth CEO in five years for the organization, which lost money every month of its existence. Since joining MBFS, Mark increased the number of credit unions the CUSO and revenue by over 10x and ensured positive cash flow every full year he’s been at the CUSO. More importantly, MBFS has helped countless credit union members gain the financing they need for business and investment needs.

Mark is a native of Berwick, PA in northeast Pennsylvania, where he was a member of his high school’s nationally ranked and state championship football team. After high school, Mark hung up his cleats to work for the Penn State Nittany Lions full-time as a student assistant while attending Penn State as an undergrad. During this time Penn State transitioned to the Big Ten and culminated in Penn State’s first Big Ten Championship and a trip to the Rose Bowl. Mark remains an avid Penn State supporter. Today Mark lives in Bucks County, PA outside of Doylestown with his wife and two teenagers.

Credit Union Conversations Episodes

  • What Do You Really Need To Know About NCUA Examinations?

    What Do You Really Need To Know About NCUA Examinations?

    Guest: Mark Treichel Mark Treichel and Mark Ritter talk about their respective backgrounds and what it is like on both sides of the examination process. They also talk about the current state of the NCUA and staffing levels. When should you take on examiners and when to back off? Mark and Mark talk about different…

  • Value of ALL Credit Unions

    Value of ALL Credit Unions

    Guest: Jeff Ivey Mark and Jeff discuss Jeff’s background and the mission of River City FCU. Jeff explains the value of CDFI status that credit unions can access. Jeff and Mark have a lengthy discussion about the value of credit unions of all sizes and the purpose credit unions have in today’s economy, along with…

  • Utilizing A CUSO & Third Parties At Your Credit Union

    Utilizing A CUSO & Third Parties At Your Credit Union

    Guest: Craig Page Craig and Mark talk about the old days of commercial lending in credit unions and how the dynamics between CUSO and CU’s have changed over the years. They also review the best practices in utilizing third parties to assist your lending operations.  IN THIS EPISODE: KEY TAKEAWAYS: RESOURCE LINKS: Mark Ritter WebsiteMBFS…

  • 2023 Year in Review

    2023 Year in Review

    Guest: Jeff Lyons Where has the time gone? Mark and Jeff look back at what they said a year ago to see how accurate their predictions were. They also take a look at how 2023 played out, both good and bad and what CUs should be doing to plan for the future. IN THIS EPISODE:…

  • Grading the Credit Union Industry

    Grading the Credit Union Industry

    How do we REALLY do as an industry? In today’s solo episode, Mark looks at the principles of the credit union industry and grades each area to see where we excel and where we can improve. IN THIS EPISODE: KEY TAKEAWAYS: RESOURCE LINKS: Mark Ritter Website MBFS – Website Mark Ritter – LinkedIn BIO: Mark…

  • Residential Mortgages: Yesterday, Today, & Tomorrow

    Residential Mortgages: Yesterday, Today, & Tomorrow

    Guest: John Giordano After talking about John’s background in the mortgage business, Mark and John talk about the boom times over the last few years and low-interest cycles. John talks about the current regulatory climate today and what he expects the mortgage market to look like over the next few years. IN THIS EPISODE: KEY…

  • Alisha Martin: Talking About Life’s Journey and Business Development

    Alisha Martin: Talking About Life’s Journey and Business Development

    Guest: Alisha Martin Joining Mark today is one of his favorite people in the credit union space along with being the most inspirational. Alisha Martin’s journey is one of resilience and perseverance. Today, Alisha runs the business development efforts at Suncoast and Mark and Alisha talk about what works and what doesn’t in today’s marketplace…

  • So You Say You Need Deposits?

    So You Say You Need Deposits?

    Guest: John Ballantyne Deposits. Everyone is looking for them, and no one seems to have the magic bullet—except John Ballantyne. Mark and John discuss the benefits of a commercial deposit focus and strategies to succeed in this line of business.  IN THIS EPISODE: KEY TAKEAWAYS: RESOURCE LINKS: Mark Ritter WebsiteMBFS – WebsiteMark Ritter – LinkedInMark…

  • Connecting Credit Unions & America’s Small Businesses

    Connecting Credit Unions & America’s Small Businesses

    Guest: Andy Turner If you like college football talk sprinkled in with your credit union talk, this is the episode for you. Mark and Andy catch up on Penn State football before a deep dive into how LoanStar helps credit unions and the current lending/regulatory environment. IN THIS EPISODE: KEY TAKEAWAYS: RESOURCE LINKS: Mark Ritter…

  • Yes, Loans Will Go Bad. Let’s Start To Plan.

    Yes, Loans Will Go Bad. Let’s Start To Plan.

    Guest: Craig Page Your portfolio is clean now, and “everyone is paying.” Good loans sometimes go bad, and it will undoubtedly happen to your portfolio at some point. Craig and Mark talk about the history lessons of the Great Recession and how to tackle your portfolio in the future when bumps in the road happen.…

  • Great Works of the Credit Union Industry

    Great Works of the Credit Union Industry

    Guest: Sue Ward-Diorio Let’s talk about some of the great things credit unions do every day! The CrossStates Foundation executes the playbook on many of the wonderful initiatives for our industry. Sue and Mark talk about what goes on behind the scenes carrying out this crucial mission of credit unions. IN THIS EPISODE: KEY TAKEAWAYS:…

  • Checking In With Launch CU’s Joe Mirachi

    Checking In With Launch CU’s Joe Mirachi

    Guest: Joe Mirachi Joe and Mark talk about the state of the industry and what we see on the horizon. Joe also gives a profile of his strategy for investing in CUSOs and what he looks for in a CUSO investment. IN THIS EPISODE: KEY TAKEAWAYS: RESOURCE LINKS: Mark Ritter – Website Joe Mirachi –…

  • Talking Compliance with Rick Wargo

    Talking Compliance with Rick Wargo

    Guest: Rick Wargo Mark & Rick travel down a compliance journey today to talk about best practices in compliance and some of the pitfalls of not keeping on top of it at your organization.   Connect with Rick and his team at https://compliance4creditunions.com/ IN THIS EPISODE: KEY TAKEAWAYS: RESOURCE LINKS: Mark Ritter – Website Compliance…

  • PPP Loans Unfiltered: Part II

    PPP Loans Unfiltered: Part II

    Guest: Omar Shute It’s time to take a walk down memory lane and review the wackiest and wildest loan program ever: the Paycheck Protection Program. Omar Shute of DFTC and Jeff Lyons of MBFS joined us for a topic that we couldn’t fit into just one episode. IN THIS EPISODE: KEY TAKEAWAYS: RESOURCE LINKS: Mark…

  • PPP Loans Unfiltered: Part I

    PPP Loans Unfiltered: Part I

    Guest: Omar Shute It’s time to take a walk down memory lane and review the wackiest and wildest loan program ever: the Paycheck Protection Program. Omar Shute of DFTC and Jeff Lyons of MBFS joined us for a topic that we couldn’t fit into just one episode. IN THIS EPISODE: KEY TAKEAWAYS: RESOURCE LINKS: Mark…

  • Why Are We Over Budget On Credit Reports?

    Why Are We Over Budget On Credit Reports?

    Guest: Sean Higgins Sean and Mark hit up a variety of topics to talk about the state of the mortgage industry today and how lenders can keep up with all the necessary compliance. Also, why have credit unions gotten so complicated? Mark and Sean take a deep dive into credit reporting and where it was,…