In this episode of the "Shared Accounts With CU Times" podcast, Michael Ogden spoke with Velera executives Denise Stevens, EVP and chief product and technology officer, and Cody Banks, SVP of product enablement and growth, during the Governmental Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C.

The discussion focused heavily on evolving consumer payment behaviors, including the continued growth, and recent cooling, of buy now, pay later (BNPL) usage. Stevens and Banks said BNPL remains especially popular among younger consumers, though adoption is expanding into older generations as well. They noted that debit spending is outpacing credit card growth as consumers become more cautious with debt amid economic uncertainty.

The conversation also explored how credit unions can better engage younger members through digital-first strategies, data analysis and personalized financial guidance powered by AI. Stevens emphasized that payments should remain central to credit union strategies because they are deeply connected to members' daily lives.