Filene Research Institute

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

Innovation Blog

  1. Making Saving Fun

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    In Fast Company’s September 2008 issue, Anya Kamenetz describes the new trend in financial institutions: encouraging its customers/members to save money through a variety of means, including paying them or rewarding them with prizes.

    Filene Fellow Peter Tufano, who has been studying new ways to encourage savings, is quoted in the article. Also featured in the article is Matt Davis, a 30 Under 30 member, for his credit union’s program What Are You Saving For?

    Check out the article here. Also, check out Filene i3’s Prize-based savings innovation page for more open source information.

  2. How One CU Takes the Gold in Implementation

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    Michael Phelps who? Educators Credit Union is giving the Golden Boy of the Olympics a run for his gold and money with their implementation of numerous Filene i3 ideas.

    categories » Innovation, Podcasts

  3. Taking the First Steps

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    Millions of Americans are unbanked and cut off from formal financial services. They turn to check cashers, payday lenders, and pawn shops for transaction and lending services- at a high price. Credit unions have a crucial role to play in the efforts to educate and serve the unbanked and underserved. With help from one of Filene i3’s newest innovations, the First Step Program, credit unions can help these unbanked and underserved.

  4. Educators CU Joins the Savings Challenge!

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    The Filene i3 Savings Revolution innovation is being adopted by yet another credit union; Educators Credit Union in Racine, WI. They are partnering with Southeastern Wisconsin YMCAs to sponsor the Savings Challenge. Through Educators’ program, six families/individuals will significantly improve their financial situation over the course of this nine month challenge.

    The credit union is now in the process of accepting applications, and is getting some good media exposure. After a video clip was aired on a local morning news show, the hits on Educators’ Savings Challenge Web page more than doubled. In fact, as of July 31st, the credit union had already received 45 applications for the six open slots!

    categories » Innovation

  5. i3’s Very Own Maverick

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    Geri Dillingham, chief operating officer of North Island Credit Union in San Diego, CA and one of the inaugural members of the Filene i3 group, was recently named by “BAI Banking Strategies” magazine as one of the top 10 “Maverick Bankers of the Year”. Notably, she is the only maverick from a credit union.

    categories » Filene News, Innovation

  6. Single Again? Here’s Help.

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    Members who find themselves single again, due to the loss of a loved one, often don’t know where to turn for help reorganizing their finances. One of Filene i3’s newest innovations, Single Again, targets newly divorced, separated, or widowed credit union members who need help with complicated financial issues during a difficult time.

    Download a copy of our recent Single Again Blueprint or visit Single Again’s project information page for a copy of the team’s Concept Document and additional information to help you offer this innovation to your members.

    categories » Innovation

  7. More Big Ideas at Mazuma CU

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    Mazuma Credit Union, Kansas City, MO recently announced that their “Big Idea” program has rewarded a local entrepreneur who’s experience in the health care industry encouraged her to start a home health assisted-living company. Click here for the press release on Mazuma’s program, and also be sure to check out complete information about Filene i3’s “What’s the Big Idea” innovation idea.

    categories » Innovation

  8. The CEO Report Spotlights Prize-based Savings

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    In its current issue, The CEO Report spotlights Filene i3’s Prize-based Savings project, an idea that helps consumers actually want to save, rather than play the lottery. The article highlights the successes a number of credit unions are having with the idea, and offers details on the Center for Financial Services Innovations’ recent grant awarded to D2D and the Filene Research Institute. This grant will fund a multiple-CU pilot in Michigan where Filene and D2D hope to involve at least six CUs in a single Prize-based Savings Program. Click here for additional information on Prize-based Savings.

  9. Portable Deck System’s a “Big Idea”

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    Wright-Patt Credit Union in Ohio has announced its first “What’s the Big Idea” Challenge winner—DECX, a green-friendly business that will manufacture portable decking systems. The credit union’s “What’s the Big Idea” Challenge was announced this past February, and resulted in 92 contest entries and an increase in new business accounts. Filene i3 member Tim Mislansky from Wright-Patt was instrumental in piloting this new idea.

    Partnering with Filene Research Institute’s i3 Group, his credit union piloted the online reality-style challenge to help entrepreneurs take their business ideas from conception to implementation. Click here to read the full text of Wright-Patt’s recent press release. Here’s to more “Big Ideas!”

  10. You’re strong, but are you i3 strong…

    Denise Gabel and the Filene Research Institute are looking for creative, intelligent, and savvy innovators to join their i3 program. They have 12 spots available in 2008 and you can be one of them. The three year term serves the needs of Credit Unions by focusing on ideas, innovation, and implementation is an amazing opportunity.

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