Filene Research Institute

Through independent research and innovation, the Filene Research Institute explores issues vital to the future of credit unions and consumer finance.

Denise Gabel's Posts

  1. Green: Tools and Ideas to Connect Credit Union Members to the Green Movement

    • Coro Strandberg, Principle, Strandberg Consulting and Denise R. Gabel, Chief Innovation Officer, Filene Research Institute
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  2. Design Inspired Innovation

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    There’s nothing like a blizzard in New York City. Relax. I decided to watch an HBO movie. Did I relax? No. Instead I was inspired.

    I was moved by Temple Grandin and her journey with autism. I was inspired by Grandin’s story about how she invented humane livestock-handling equipment that is widely used today. Grandin says, “She thinks in pictures.” That’s what enables her to see what others can’t.

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    categories » Innovation, Research in Motion

  3. To Do: 2010

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    In my view, there is one document that holds the key to the future of credit unions…drum roll please…the credit union bylaws. Seriously. Issues related to purpose, board governance, field of membership, and cooperative principles are all illuminated there. From an innovation and growth perspective, credit unions must always keep the member in the center.

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    categories » Innovation, Management, Policy

  4. Reimagining the Dream: The Future of Home Ownership

    • Denise Gabel, Chief Innovation Officer, Filene Research Institute; Robert Manning, Rochester Institute of Technology
    • Nov 2, 2009 No Comments
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    American writer Ann Douglas said, “Home is an invention on which no one has yet improved.” That may be true, but in today’s economic climate, the road home is long and winding, with plenty of potholes and detours to stymie the most seasoned traveler. In Reimagining the Dream: The Future of Home Ownership, we provide you with statistics and figures, a healthy dose of history, and a menu of ideas and thought starters to help you reimagine the American dream.

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    categories » Innovation

  5. Future Focus: Leveraging Stimulus Funds for Credit Unions

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    When President Barack Obama signed the American Resource and Recovery Act (AARA) into law in February 2009, he unleashed the largest domestic spending program in American history. At a total estimated cost of $787 billion over 10 years, the spending commitment is larger even than famous New Deal projects (the Depression-era Works Progress Administration cost $108 billion in 2008 dollars). At almost 6% of the nation’s projected 2009 GDP, the program is a massive cloud of available resources.

    Even if the cloud brings much-needed rain to state and local entities plagued by drought, it is not guaranteed to land on credit unions. “The ARRA flow is a deluge,” says John Molinaro, associate director of the Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group (“Navigating the Stimulus: Basic Geography of the ARRA,” Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group, May 2009). “Without structures to catch it, like a big rain on rocky terrain … it will just run off.”

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    categories » Innovation

  6. Whaddaya Waiting For?

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    “This is an awesome, awesome idea. I can afford to put away 25 bucks a month for a year.” – Save to Win account holder.

    Have you read the Wall Street Journal article about the innovative savings product offered by Michigan credit unions? Or did you happen to see Dave Adams, Michigan Credit Union League president, talking about Save to Win on FoxBusiness.com Live?

    Are you interested in making savings fun in America while helping credit union members develop sound financial habits? Well, whaddaya waiting for?

    Join us for our FREE webinar, “Save to Win: A National Agenda” 12:00 – 1:30 CDT on Friday, September 11, 2009. Sign up today to receive login instructions.

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  7. Debt in Focus Beta Closing August 31, Development Begins

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    The excitement around Filene’s Debt in Focus anonymous, debt management tool continues to build. Since March, more than 200 credit unions have signed up to participate in the Beta Group and offer this valuable online service to their memberships. Early participation not only gives credit unions a chance to “kick the tires,” it also lets them provide valuable feedback to fuel future development.

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    categories » Innovation

  8. The Wall Street Journal Spotlights Save to Win

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    “Clever” and “unusual” is how Jason Zweig, The Intelligent Investor columnist for The Wall Street Journal, described the new Save to Win account, currently piloted by eight Michigan credit unions* in conjunction with the Filene Research Institute.

    Zweig’s column Using the Lottery Effect to Make People Save, which ran on the front page of the weekend’s Money and Investing section, calls out the work of Filene Fellow and Harvard Business School professor, Peter Tufano. After highlighting the sustained crisis of low savings rates, and the political dilemmas of a nation that consistently overspends, Zweig describes Save to Win as a unique response that makes personal saving more exciting.

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  9. Welcome 17 + 5 New i3 Members!

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    The Filene Research Institute has selected a total of 22 exceptional credit union executives to join the Institute’s i3 (Ideas, Innovation, Implementation) program, which fosters the development of new ideas and innovations for credit unions. Each member will serve a two-year term and participate in semi-annual meetings arranged by Filene. The next meeting will be held September 29 – October 2, 2009 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

    Although the recruitment process was targeted toward adding 15 new U. S. members, 17 individuals representing 12 states were selected due to an exceptional pool of candidates. In addition, for the first time i3 will include a five-person Canadian team representing three provinces.

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    categories » Innovation

  10. Which Image Doubled the Rate of New Share Accounts?

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    The one on the left. Why? According to Filene’s new Innovator in Residence, Maya Bourdeau, it used the right imagery with the right emotional hook for members in a particular income category. The image empathized with mothers lost in a financial jungle, while the tagline supported their ability to make the right decisions by saying, “We Believe in You.”

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    categories » Collaboration, Innovation, Marketing, Consumer Behavior and Market Research

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