Latest news with #Golden1CreditUnion
Business Wire
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Blend Appoints CU Veteran Reva Rao as Head of Digital Transformation for Credit Unions
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Blend Labs, Inc. (NYSE: BLND), a leading origination platform for digital banking solutions, today announced the appointment of Reva Rao as Head of Digital Transformation for Credit Unions. Rao brings over two decades of experience in financial services, with extensive leadership roles at prominent credit unions including Travis Credit Union and Golden 1 Credit Union. Her deep understanding of credit union operations and member-centric approach will be instrumental in driving Blend's mission to help credit unions deliver exceptional digital experiences. This appointment comes at a pivotal time as Blend continues to expand its footprint in the credit union industry and consumer banking overall. Blend is trusted by hundreds of financial institutions, including seven of the top 10 credit unions in the United States, to improve member experience, drive revenue growth and reduce operational costs across digital deposit account opening, consumer lending, and mortgage loan origination. Rao will focus on helping Blend credit union customers and partners to build their competitive edge and develop strategies to position for stronger growth. "We are honored to have Reva join the Blend team," said Nima Ghamsari, Co-founder and Head of Blend. "Her deep credit union expertise and proven leadership in digital transformation will be invaluable not only for Blend's continued growth, but more importantly, for the credit unions we serve as they work to deliver exceptional member experiences in an increasingly digital world." Prior to joining Blend, Rao served as Chief Lending Officer at Travis Credit Union, where she led Consumer, Mortgage and Commercial lending for the $5+ billion institution. She previously held senior executive roles at Golden 1 Credit Union as Senior Vice President of Consumer Loans, overseeing lending strategies for California's largest credit union with over $20 billion in assets. Rao's career spans leadership positions across the financial services spectrum, including roles at Wells Fargo, where she spent over 13 years in various capacities including Channel Business Manager, and at Prosper Marketplace as Head of Home Equity Marketing. She also held senior positions at JPMorgan Chase, Greenpoint Mortgage, and Citi, developing expertise in pricing analytics, risk management, and digital product development. "Credit unions are at the forefront of member-centric banking, and they deserve technology partners who truly understand their unique challenges and opportunities," said Rao. "Blend's unified platform approach aligns perfectly with credit unions' needs to deliver seamless, personalized experiences across all banking products. I'm excited to find new ways to help credit unions leverage innovative technologies so they can continue to build and deepen member relationships." Blend's platform delivers end-to-end digital journeys for loan origination, account opening, and consumer onboarding, with specialized solutions for mortgages, deposits, credit cards, personal loans, auto loans, and HELOCs. Last year, financial institutions processed nearly $1.2 trillion in loan applications through Blend's platform, demonstrating the company's robust capabilities and growing influence in financial services. About Blend Blend Labs Inc., (NYSE: BLND) is a leading digital origination platform for banks, credit unions, and mortgage lenders. From mortgages to consumer loans to deposit accounts, Blend helps financial institutions streamline workflows, launch faster, and deliver standout customer experiences. Learn more at Forward-Looking Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements generally relate to future events, future performance or expectations and involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this press release may include, but are not limited to, our expectations regarding our product roadmap, future products/features, the timing of new product/feature introductions, market size and growth opportunities, macroeconomics and industry conditions, capital expenditures, plans for future operations, competitive position, technological capabilities and strategic relationships, as well as assumptions relating to the foregoing. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes to differ materially from the outcomes predicted. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as 'may,' 'will,' 'should,' 'expect,' 'plan,' 'anticipate,' 'could,' 'would,' 'intend,' 'target,' 'project,' 'contemplate,' 'believe,' 'estimate,' 'predict,' 'potential' or 'continue' or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology that concern Blend's expectations, strategy, plans or intentions. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by which such performance or results will be achieved, if at all. Further information on these risks and uncertainties are set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Blend and assumptions and beliefs as of the date hereof. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Except as required by law, Blend does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cultural mesh is key in hiring decisions: Golden 1 CFO
This story was originally published on CFO Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CFO Dive newsletter. Continuing pricing pressures combined with a shrinking financial talent pool has caused many finance leaders to take a second look at their strategies for finding top employees — as well as what skills those candidates need to have. In searching out talent, it's definitely important to find candidates with the right mix of skills, 'but to me, more importantly it's, 'do they have the right culture?'' said Allyson Hill, executive vice president and CFO of Golden 1 Credit Union. The Sacramento, California-based Golden 1 operates more than $20 billion in assets and is one of the nation's biggest credit unions, according to its website. 'As a credit union, we operate a little bit differently than a bank, definitely, so someone that may have succeeded at a bank, may not succeed at a credit union,' Hill told CFO Dive in an interview. Finding employees who are the right cultural fit can help to build stronger finance teams at a time when the accounting profession, for instance, is grappling with critical staffing shortages. In seeking to secure candidates for the finance team at a credit union, strong analytical and traditional finance skills are as critical as ever, Hill said. However, unlike a bank, at credit unions, 'there are no shareholders,' she said. 'Everything that we do is based on the success of our collective membership base.' For example, the 'pure math' the finance team looks at may suggest a certain option, but the best path forward for 'our collective membership may be a tweak or a slight degree change' from those figures, she said. Potential employees must carry that membership focus in mind, she said, which requires critical insight as well as financial skills. As finance chiefs vie for skilled additions to their teams, 'culture' is also increasingly becoming a sticking point — a positive work culture can help entice employees to choose one job over another, CFO Dive previously reported. More candidates are looking to ensure they feel a sense of purpose in their work, making supportive leaders and managers a key draw. As a finance leader, Hill encourages a collaborative approach, including leaving room for independent decision-making with her teams, as well as advocating for working cross-functionally with other departments inside of the credit union, she said. 'I love to challenge my team really a lot: [to] allow them to try and work through problems ahead of me,' she said. Still, as the top financial leader, it's also important for her to have a 'big voice' when it comes to some decisions, Hill said. 'Given my role, I have to have a very strong voice in a lot of different areas bigger than my core area focus, because at the end of the day, decisions that are made within other areas can dramatically impact our financial performance,' Hill said. A key focus for Hill in today's murky environment is 'definitely making sure we have the right talent in the right spaces,' she said. For example, the credit union has broadened its IT and cybersecurity area over the past few years, something that will likely continue to be a focus for the credit union moving forward, Hill said. A 13-year veteran of the Sacramento, California-based credit union, Hill first joined as its vice president and controller. She has served as Golden 1's CFO for eight years, starting in June 2017, according to her LinkedIn profile. Prior to Golden 1, she began her career at Big Four accounting firm KPMG on the audit side of the house, leaving as a senior manager after 10 years. Hill has weathered the peaks and valleys of the banking industry during her long career in the space. Coming into a 'pretty rosy' banking atmosphere during her first years out of school, Hill experienced the 2008 Great Recession externally and saw it 'really dramatically impact a lot of companies,' she said. 'What that taught me is really diversification, being able to be fluid, flexible, being able to pivot. Don't have all your eggs in one basket.' In recent years following the pandemic, keeping strong controls over liquidity and interest rate risks have become top of mind for Hill as a financial leader, she said. Emerging technologies are also a key focus for the credit union. As a financial entity which has existed since 1933, Golden 1 has seen dramatic technological changes, but when confronting the potential of new tools such as artificial intelligence, it's important to consider how that new tool could impact member experience and the credit union's overall ability to make decisions, Hill said. 'Technology is something that is always our asset, always our friend,' she said. 'But how do we minimize all those touch points to make sure we have a seamless experience for our members, and how can we utilize that to make decisions faster as well?' Sign in to access your portfolio
