In this episode of the Finovate Podcast, host Greg Palmer connects with Brent Biernat, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at COCC, a finalist in the Finovate Awards for Best Back Office Solution and Executive of the Year. Brent shares his journey of over 30 years with COCC, highlighting his passion for community banking and the company’s mission to support small businesses and consumers. COCC, a core and digital banking services provider for over 150 clients in the Northeast, operates under a unique cooperative structure that fosters long-term vision and prioritizes customer needs over short-term profitability.

Brent delves into the advantages of COCC’s cooperative model, which ensures that all shareholders are active customers and board members are CEOs of financial institutions. This structure promotes trust, transparency, and open communication, allowing COCC to tailor its technology and services to meet the specific needs of each institution. Brent emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships with customers, where mutual understanding and collaboration lead to better outcomes. He also discusses how COCC’s Strategic Development Council and regular executive visits help maintain alignment with customer goals and ensure continuous improvement.

The episode also highlights COCC’s recent recognition in the American Bankers Association (ABA) survey, where it ranked number one across multiple categories, including service, technology, and contract fairness. Brent shares insights on the importance of fully utilizing technology and maintaining transparent, long-term partnerships. He offers advice to financial institutions evaluating core relationships, encouraging them to prioritize adaptability, trust, and shared growth. This engaging conversation underscores the value of collaboration and innovation in the fintech and banking sectors.

More info:

COCC: https://www.cocc.com/
 ; https://www.linkedin.com/company/cocc/

Brent Biernat: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-biernat-b542bb/

Greg Palmer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbpalmer/

Finovate: https://www.finovate.com;
https://www.linkedin.com/company/finovate-conference-series/

Finovate Awards: https://informaconnect.com/finovate-industry-awards/

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