Our history is rooted in Edward A. Filene’s reliance on solid, innovative research. His spirit lives on as we pursue knowledge that benefits credit unions, their members, and all consumers of financial services.
2009–2012
Founded the Cooperative Trust
Introduced Applied Research
Debt in Focus is acquired by SavvyMoney
2012: Jason Milesko, hired as Chief of Advisory Services
Filene moves into a warehouse on Main St, buys giant propeller
2012: Patsy Stewart, hired as Chief Operations Officer
2005–2009
Average of 25 research and innovation releases per year
Executive Director: Mark Meyer
Introduced CU Tomorrow series of reports
REAL Solutions is acquired by the National Credit Union Foundation
Chief Research Officer: George Hofheimer
Chief Innovation Officer: Denise Gable
Research Fellows introduced
2000–2005
Average of 12 research releases per year
2000: Innovation Director: Bill Sayles
2003: Innovation Director: Mark Meyer
Introduced REAL Solutions research
Introduced COOL Solutions research
2003: i3 is founded
Center for Credit Union Innovation, LLC, is founded
2004: Director of Field Projects: Lois Kitsch
1994–2000
Average of 7 research releases per year
Scholar in Residence: Union College Economics Professor Hal Fried
TAXATION OF CREDIT UNIONS
Burger, Albert E., University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Gregory M. Lypny, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada. | 1991
Partnered with UW Center for Credit Union Research
1989: Executive Director: Dave Chatfield
1991: Executive Director: Bob Hoel
"Budget grows from $70,000 to $1M
Born in 1860 to Jewish immigrants, Edward A. Filene took over his family’s Boston clothing business at the age of nineteen when his father’s health began to fail. Despite his lack of formal schooling, Filene became one of the most ingenious retailing minds in the country, understanding that the best merchants do not sell products but serve human needs.
In 1908 Filene attended a meeting about spreading the idea of credit associations in the US. Filene offered financial support to the credit union movement, and in 1933 Filene began touring the United States speaking on credit unions.
Filene kept the credit union movement going at a critical point in its development. He never organized a credit union, and he was involved in the organization of the national association in only a broad way. But he was the movement’s spiritual leader. Filene passed away in 1937 at the age of seventy-seven.
