Benjamin Maxim this month was named as Michigan State University Federal Credit Union’s first chief technology officer (CTO), where he will lead the East Lansing, Mich.-based credit union’s technology, product, innovation and engineering strategy.

Maxim began his career at the $8.3 billion MSUFCU in 2007 as a senior web developer and has held other leadership roles, including assistant vice president of software development and vice president of digital strategy and innovation, according to his LinkedIn profile. He also serves as chief operating officer of the Reseda Group, MSUFCU’s wholly owned credit union services organization.

In his new role, Maxim aims to:

• Modernize MSUFCU’s tech stack to support modularity and faster fintech integration;
• Scale personalization through AI and automation;
• Accelerate fraud prevention efforts by automating detection and response systems;
• Scout new fintech partners through MSFCU’s innovation center; and
• Advance cloud and infrastructure strategy.

“Fifteen years ago, we built our own digital banking and mobile banking that has allowed us full control over our member experience.”

— Benjamin Maxim, CTO, MSUFCU

The credit union’s tech strategy involves teaming with fintechs, including partnerships with:

• CU NextGen, to modernize the credit union’s digital banking platform.
• Cloud-based banking platform Nymbus, to deliver tailored digital applications such as AlumniFI and Collegiant.

MSCFCU has attracted over $5M in deposits and more than 1,000 new members so far this year with the help of digital applications, Maxim told Bank Automation News.

Looking ahead, AI, including agentic AI, embedded finance and alternative payments like pay-by-bank will be the most disruptive forces shaping credit unions over the next few years, he said.

Piedmont Advantage names Payne CTO

Piedmont Advantage Credit Union has named longtime IT leader Robert Payne as its first CTO, marking a key step in the Winston-Salem, N.C.-based credit union’s ongoing digital transformation, according to an April 13 announcement.

Payne has served in other IT leadership roles over the past 30 years, including the past decade at the $387.5 million Piedmont Advantage CU. He said the new role is a culmination of a lifelong goal. “It means I get to be the bridge between where we are today and where we need to go tomorrow,” he told BAN.

As CTO, Payne’s priorities include:

• Strengthening cybersecurity;
• Streamlining digital experiences; and
• Investing in automation and AI to enhance member services.

“My vision for IT is to make technology feel invisible when it should be and powerful when it needs to be,” he said.

Payne is the “natural choice” for the role, Piedmont Advantage CU President and Chief Executive Dion Williams, told BAN, noting Payne’s “unique blend of technical depth and strategic vision.”

Mountain America CU taps Albiston as EVP, CTO

Mountain America Credit Union has promoted Kelly Albiston to executive vice president in addition to his role as CTO, where he will lead digital innovation and tech strategy to enhance member experiences, the Sandy, Utah-based credit union announced April 2.

Albiston’s appointment follows the March retirement of Cathy Smoyer, the credit union’s former EVP of technology and risk and chief risk officer, according to LinkedIn.

His 12-year tenure at Mountain America CU, included several leadership roles, including senior vice president of digital banking. Previously he was chief innovation officer and later chief financial officer at medical equipment company Orbit Medical.

In his new role, Albiston will continue spearheading the credit union’s digital transformation through:

• Digital product development;
• Member experience enhancements;
• Global technology team leadership; and
• Omnichannel banking.

“[Kelly’s] leadership and vision will play a key role in advancing our digital strategy,” Sterling Nielson, president and CEO at the $20 billion Mountain America CU, said in a statement.

Bankwell appoints Brian Merritt CTO

Bankwell Financial, parent company of Bankwell Bank, recently named fintech veteran Brian Merritt as its CTO to accelerate the New Canaan, Conn.-based FI’s modernization initiatives.

“Merritt’s appointment underscores Bankwell’s commitment to embracing digital transformation in an era of rapid technological evolution,” the $3.3 billion FI’s leadership team told BAN. “This is actually a newly created position, so there was no CTO prior. Essentially, this speaks to Bankwell’s commitment to technology and innovation.”

Merritt previously held leadership roles at BaaS fintech Cross River and online business bank Seed and brings decades of fintech and engineering leadership to the role.

“I aim to be the bridge between traditional banking reliability and cutting-edge fintech solutions,” he told BAN.

His immediate priorities include:

• Modernizing legacy systems;
• Leveraging open banking APIs;
• Adopting agile development practices; and
• Integrating AI to enhance digital onboarding and personalization;
• Strengthening cybersecurity; and
• Delivering faster product rollouts.

Worldline names Dillon CTO

French financial institution Worldline has appointed Candice Dillon as group CTO, effective July 1, 2025.

She will also join the company’s executive committee and oversee its business technology teams, according to an April 23 announcement from the $20 billion Worldline.

Dillon brings extensive technology experience from previous roles, including chief information officer at Dutch telecommunications company VodafoneZiggo, CIO for Dutch FI NN International and partner at IT and consultant firm Accenture’s Financial Services Practice, according to the release.

Her expertise in managing strategic programs and leading IT platform integrations will be instrumental in advancing Worldline’s platform convergence and innovation efforts, the release stated.

Other recent exec appointments in financial services include:

• $556.1 billion PNC’s April 7 appointment of Mark Wiedman as president, following former PNC President Michael P. Lyons‘ departure to become CEO of Fiserv;
• $523.1 billion Truist’s April 1 appointment of Claudia Davis Adamson as its head of SMB banking, replacing interim Head of SMB Banking Eric Lewis, who assumed the role in August 2024 following Allison Robinson’s departure; and
• AI-powered virtual banking assistant fintech emerie.ai’s appointment of construction finance fintech Snap.Build CEO Matt Merrit as its CEO, while emerie.ai Founder and former CEO Mike Boukadakis will remain chairman, according to LinkedIn.