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Financial Well Being

Collections Conference

Financial Well Being
Mar 04 9:00 AM - Mar 05, 2026 1:30 PM
Mar 04, 2026 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM
WI
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Description

You won’t want to miss this premiere and interactive event for credit union collections professionals.

Agenda

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

 

9:00 am
Registration and Coffee

9:30 am – 10:00 am
Welcome & Ice Breaker   

10:00 am – 11:15 am
Legal Updates for Collectors to Know 
Justin Bates, Attorney at Law | Bates Legal Group, LLC  
 
11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Understanding and Optimizing Collateral Protection Insurance (CPI) 
Wade Tiemann, VP, Regional Business Development | Unitas Financial Services 

This session offers credit unions a clear, practical look at Collateral Protection Insurance (CPI) and its role in protecting auto loan portfolios. Attendees will learn how CPI programs work— including insurance tracking, notifying insurance lapses, communicating effectively, and placing coverage. The presentation will cover what CPI typically insures, how it influences member payments and experience, and what collections teams should consider when CPI is involved. We will also share best practices tailored to credit union operations, along with alternative and complementary solutions that help strengthen member relationships while managing risk. The session concludes with an open Q&A. 

12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Lunch   
 
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Skip Tracing Overview and Activity
Matthew Rehnelt, Business Development Director | National Creditors Connection, Inc. (NCCI)   

Matthew Rehnelt will kick off this session by providing an overview and baseline for skip tracing.  Skip tracing allows financial institutions to locate hard to find debtors who have relocated or disappeared to avoid debt repayments.  This process can include searching public records, social media, and other online sources to find the debtor's current contact information. Recovering these debts from individuals who have “skipped out” is an important piece of financial risk management for credit unions. 

This session will conclude with a skip-tracing group discussion and activity. Bring your sleuthing hats! 

2:30 pm – 2:45 pm
Break 

2:45 pm – 3:45 pm
Member Workouts - Session details coming soon

3:45pm – 5:00 pm
Breakouts: Operational Issues (geared towards newer) or Stump the Attorney Breakouts (geared towards seasoned) 
Justin Bates, Attorney at Law | Bates Legal Group, LLC  
Becky Baumgartner, Director of Collections & Mortgage Operations | Prime Financial CU  
Bob Hein, Member Solutions Manager | Fox Communities Credit Union  

5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Reception – expand your credit union collections network!       
 

Thursday, March 5, 2026 

 

7:30 am – 8:30 am
Breakfast   

8:30 am – 9:00 am
Recap of Day 1 and Set Goals for Day 2 – Group Discussion 

9:00 am – 9:15 am
Break  
 
9:15 am – 10:15 am
Delinquency on the Rise – A Look at Current & Ongoing Trends
Matthew Rehnelt, Business Development Director | National Creditors Connection, Inc. (NCCI)

Delinquencies are rising across nearly every loan category, and credit unions must adapt quickly. In this fast‑paced session, collections industry expert Matthew Rehnelt breaks down the latest national trends, the economic and behavioral forces behind them, and which products face the greatest risk. Attendees will review practical, high‑impact contact and negotiation strategies that boost early‑stage recovery and member engagement towards solutions. Walk away with clear insights, actionable tactics, and a stronger plan for navigating the evolving credit landscape. 
   
10:15 am – 10:30 am
Break   

10:30 am – 11:30am
U.S. Economic Outlook & its Impact on CUs   
Steve Rick, Chief Economist | TruStage 

The presentation will discuss how the new administration, the global economy, the overall financial sector and the labor market will affect the U.S. economy, U.S. interest rates and ultimately credit union balance sheet and earnings performance.  We will analyze and establish standards against which your credit union’s own performance can be measured.  This session will also identify trends of savings and loan activity, and weigh the influence of future economic events on growth patterns out into 2026.  

11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Collections Roundtable #2 with Working Lunch  
Justin Bates, Attorney at Law | Bates Legal Group, LLC  
Becky Baumgartner, Director of Collections & Mortgage Operations | Prime Financial Credit Union
Bob Hein, Member Solutions Manager | Fox Communities Credit Union  
 
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Wrap Up and Adjourn   

Additional Info

Speakers

Matthew Rehnelt

Business Development Director | National Creditors Connection, Inc. (NCCI)
Matthew Rehnelt has been a Business Development Director with NCCI since 2025. He has over 15 years of collections industry experience including previous roles with ConServe and DCM Services. Matt has worked with over 300 credit unions and thrives on using data to drive decision-making, mentoring teams, and finding innovative solutions that elevate the partner experience. 

Wade Tiemann

VP | Regional Business Development | Unitas Financial Services

Wade’s career has focused exclusively on providing insurance and lending solutions to financial institutions and lenders. His career has been exclusively with financial-focused insurance agencies, ranging from smaller, privately held firms to larger corporate organizations. Wade is passionate about collaborating with carriers and vendors to find the best program for each client he works with. 

Wade has broad experience with financial products and services ranging from Collateral Protection programs to Enterprise Risk Insurance coverages. This enables him to approach client needs with a comprehensive understanding of the industry and needs of a lender. 

At Unitas Financial Services, Wade values the collaborative and client-focused culture Unitas has fostered. Wade appreciates the team's dedication to providing the best possible experience for clients, colleagues, and partners alike. 

Steven Rick

Director, Chief Economist | TruStage

Steven Rick is director and chief economist at TruStageTM. His primary responsibilities include conducting strategic research, analysis and forecasting of the financial services industry, with special emphasis on the consumer and credit union markets.  

Rick’s forecasts serve as a starting point for the strategic planning process and help to create a clear understanding of the underlying trends and links between the general economy, the financial services industry, and the company’s policy owners.  

Rick publishes the Credit Union Trends Report, a monthly “pulse check” on the economic state of the credit union movement. He has authored a textbook on asset-liability management for credit union executives.  

Before joining the company, Rick was the senior economist for CUNA & Affiliates’ economics and statistics department for 22 years. Rick also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the University of Wisconsin Credit Union, a $5 billion financial institution.  

Rick holds a senior lecturer position with the economics department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he teaches money and banking, and macroeconomics courses. He is also the facilitator and instructor for CUNA Management School’s Stanford Bank Game, a computerized bank simulation, and has two years’ experience as a bank simulation advisor for the Prochnow Graduate School of Banking.  

Rick has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Moorhead State University, a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Moorhead University, and a Master of Science in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He also obtained a Ph.D. in Economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 

Justin Bates

Attorney at Law | Bates Legal Group, LLC

Has represented and advised creditors and financial institutions on issues involving collection, repossession, foreclosure, creditors' rights in bankruptcy and related compliance issues. Justin has been a featured speaker at The League’s Collections Roundtables for years and his legal updates and candid conversations are a valuable resource.

Becky Baumgartner

Director of Collections & Mortgage Operations | Prime Financial CU

Becky has over 15 years of collections and lending experience. She joined the Prime Financial team in early 2012 and has led the Collections department since 2014, currently serving as the Director of Collections and Mortgage Operations. Her passion for working with members to obtain a secure and prosperous financial future has been a driving force behind the success of Prime Financial’s Collections department. Becky joined us on the panel at last year’s conference and we are grateful to have her back with us again – great to see you, Becky! 

Bob Hein

Member Solutions Manager | Fox Communities Credit Union

Bob has been a credit union collections professional for more than 25 years. He has experience in every aspect of the profession and is a strong advocate of the importance of the collections department in the day-to-day operation of credit unions. He also believes events like this conference are must-attends for credit union collection professionals because of the valuable networking time with colleagues.

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Event Type

In-Person
Register

Fees

$369 | Early Bird - Deadline: February 1
$389 | Regular

Location

Kalahari Resort & Convention Center
1305 Kalahari Drive | Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965

Room Rate
$151 plus taxes and fees | Room Block Expires: Feb. 1

Online booking link  
Collections Conference Room Block Reservations Link