For credit unions that need it fixed.
I lead operations at a $250M credit union. Alongside that, I work with other credit unions on operations, strategic planning, and AI. Sometimes that means building something. Sometimes it means setting a plan, getting a second opinion, or identifying and pursuing a direction you have not tried yet. Every engagement is laid out with a clear scope, timeline, and something to show for it at the end.
- Who I work with
- Credit unions under $500M whose leadership team wants another experienced operator at the table.
- How I work
- I start by asking questions and understanding why things work the way they do. Then we lay out the options together, pick one, and get started.
- Where
- Anywhere in the United States. I work remotely and come on site for planning sessions, training, and workshops.
Services
The Workflow Fix
I step back and look at one high-touch process or problem as it stands today, from the member's side and from your staff's. Then I fix it in a way that fits your team. That might be a new tool, a new queue, a new way of doing the work, or new measures to track it.
AI Starting Point
AI is everywhere. The hard part is knowing where to use it and which tool is right. I look at your key areas and processes and use a problem-first decision model to give you a ranked list of where AI will help. Then we implement the highest-value solutions we land on, and your staff get training on AI along the way.
Strategic Planning
Strategic planning often misses the plan, so that is what you leave with. A short survey of your team before I arrive. One or two days on site with your leadership team, your board, or both. A written plan two weeks later for your team to work from. Three quarterly check-in calls to keep it moving and adjust as needed.
Standing Advisor
For a CEO who wants someone to call. Three scheduled calls a month, a written review of your numbers each month, a look at anything you send me, and my cell number for when something needs attention.
Small credit unions build good things. These are ours.
We built these at Illinois State Credit Union, a $250M credit union with five branches. The first group runs on tools most credit unions already have or can get. The second group is built for Corelation KeyStone and only works on that core.
Works with most systems
Intake bridge
Web forms used to arrive as emails. Some got buried, and the rest had to be re-keyed and forwarded. Now each one lands in a work queue with its documents attached, where the whole team can see it and work it.
Member360
One screen for front-line staff that shows a member's open requests, history, and what to do next.
Loan performance assistant
Takes in every loan we charged off, paid off, or denied and sorts the losses into segments by cause. It shows which factors, alone or layered together, actually lead to a loss. Then it checks the paid loans in each segment to see whether we still make money after the losses.
True net yield
What each loan segment actually earns after expected losses and the cost of making and carrying the loan. Pricing and credit decisions start from that number.
Project tracker
Every task, owner, and deadline for a large project on one shared board, with a map of how our systems, vendors, and processes fit together.
CU Bench
Free peer benchmarking on NCUA call-report data. Pick any credit union, build a peer group, compare side by side. Open to anyone. Try it
Built for Corelation KeyStone
KeyStone warehouse
A nightly copy of our KeyStone data in its own database. Reports like the monthly Statement of Condition run from it, managers can pull it into Access or Power BI, and staff can ask it questions in plain English through AI.
My Drawer
One screen for tellers and the vault teller to buy and sell cash, see pending requests, and count and balance the drawer. It replaces several native KeyStone screens.
Deceased member workflow
Front-line staff record the notice in a few clicks, the account is routed to the right queue, and processors work it from a checklist.
Proof of income snapshot
Lenders see a member's direct deposits summarized on one screen, so verifying income for a loan takes a minute instead of scrolling through history.
Card-funded deposit
When a member funds an account with a debit card from another institution, one button moves the money from the clearing account to the member's share. Tellers never touch the general ledger.
Collections work area
One place for collectors to keep notes, log promises to pay, and see delinquency at a glance, without cluttering the member's record.
Loan decision models
Auto-approval rules across six loan products, so straightforward applications are decided in minutes and lenders spend their time on the ones that need judgment.
Who you will be working with.
I'm John Ragsdale, Vice President of Operations at Illinois State Credit Union in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. Before this I consulted for credit union CEOs and boards at the League of Southeastern Credit Unions. I started in credit unions working across lending, marketing, business development, and strategy. When you hire me, you get me where I'm needed. I'll show up for you and your teams with knowledge from my work in and for credit unions. I'm not afraid to ask "why?" and curious enough to ask "what if?"
What happens after you reach out.
You fill out a short form
Five minutes. Tell me what you want to get done and what is in the way.
We schedule a virtual call
We discuss the best service that fits and whether I am the right person for it.
You get a one-page proposal
Within two business days. The problem, the work, what you receive, the timeline, and the price.
We sign and start
A short engagement letter and 50% up front. The rest is due when the work is done.
We get to work
I start on prep right away, and we move into the work on the schedule we agreed to. You get a written update each week until we finish.
You have something to show for it
What we set out to deliver, finished and in use, with what your team needs to keep it going and a one-page summary for your board.
Tell me what you are working on.
Five minutes on a form. I will reply within one business day and we will set up a call.
Or email me: [email protected]