In a recent episode of the Finovate Podcast, host Greg Palmer sat down with Brent Biernat, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at COCC, a finalist for Best Back Office Solution and Executive of the Year at the Finovate Awards. Brent shared his remarkable 30-year journey with COCC and offered valuable insights into the company’s unique cooperative model and its commitment to community banking.
Scaling Growth, Elevating Experience: 802 Credit Union
For 802 Credit Union, momentum wasn’t theoretical, it was happening fast. Over four years, a series of mergers expanded membership, increased operational complexity, and put pressure on one critical promise: delivering a seamless, personal experience for every member, even during times of change. From the earliest stages of growth, 802 Credit Union partnered with COCC embracing a clear vision: scale confidently without compromising the member experience. Over that time, 802 Credit Union successfully completed three acquisitions, growing membership by nearly 20% to exceed 40,000 members. Throughout each conversion, COCC’s experienced, tenured conversions team worked side by side with the credit union, providing hands-on support to guide each transition. With each acquisition came an influx of new members navigating the expected: unfamiliar systems, digital solutions, and new processes. Questions increased and call volumes rose as members explored new capabilities and sought to make the most of their digital banking experience. The…

