Filene Research Institute

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


Consumer/Member Data

  1. Customer Experience and Credit Union Opportunities: A Collaboration with McKinsey & Company

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    “Credit unions seem to be like the guy who’s best friends with every girl in school but can’t get a date.”

    Every high school has a Tom. He’s a decent student, and he’ll attend an OK college. He’s on the cross-country team but finishes most races out of the top 10. His pants are a few years past the going style. Tom is earnest and sincere, and actually pretty fun once you get to know him. His sincerity has won him the confidence of many of the girls. But Tom has one big hang-up. When it comes to serious dating, Tom always strikes out. He can get a date to the dance, but long-term, steady relationships are where he falls short. Every girl likes Tom well enough, but none of them will commit to him. Credit unions are like Tom.

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    categories » Consumer/Member Data, Human Resource Issues, Marketing, Consumer Behavior and Market Research

  2. The Credit C.A.R.D. Act: Opportunities and Challenges for Credit Unions

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    How will the 2009 C.A.R.D. Act affect credit unions? The industry-wide return on assets of credit cards plunged from 3.3% in 2006 to 1.4% in 2008 and huge issuers will need to recoup those profits in the new environment. Author Adam Levitin calls the act “the most significant piece of credit card legislation in a generation” and highlights implications and strategic options for credit unions in this report:

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    categories » Consumer/Member Data, Marketing, Consumer Behavior and Market Research, Policy

  3. Gen BuY Insights

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    Credit unions are financial institutions, not retailers. Right? Right?

    Well maybe. Financial institutions don’t get to market new jeans or sell MP3 players, but they do have to attract and keep attention just like the folks at Target or American Eagle.

    What follows are some credit union takeaways from an excellent YPulse interview with the authors of the new book Gen BuY: How Tweens, Teens, and Twenty-Somethings Are Revolutionizing Retail.

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    categories » Consumer/Member Data, Marketing, Consumer Behavior and Market Research, Young Adults and Families