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Revolutionizing finance through innovation, truth, and cooperation.

Kim Lear | Founder, Inlay Insights
Filene's cutting-edge research and proven innovations empower you to unlock your credit union's future.
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Advancing financial well-being by strengthening credit unions

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Research & Thinking

Research is our middle name, but there is so much more to it than you might think
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Innovations & Incubators

The future of financial services is changing and credit unions have always been innovators
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Communities & Networks

Be part of something bigger where your contributions are your superpower
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Events & Activities

Team up and collaborate with hundreds of your peers here; it's what credit unions do
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Questions

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Join us in asking and answering today's big questions.

Blog |
Payments

Leading the Payments Evolution: Welcome to Filene's Center for All Things Payments

  • Henry Kim
The payments landscape is transforming faster than ever. Members now expect money to move instantly at 2 AM, buy products without leaving AI chat windows, and access seamless payment experiences everywhere they go. Meanwhile, stablecoins, embedded finance, and evolving fraud tactics are reshaping the competitive playing field. Read on to learn how Filene's new Center for All Things Payments will help you meet your members' expectations and turn disruption into your strategic advantage.
Blog |

Thinking Forward: Keeping Payments SIMPLE in a Rapidly Changing Landscape

For credit unions, staying relevant in this evolving landscape means understanding not just how payments work, but how people want to pay. Six key trends—Social, Invisible, Mobile, Personal, Live and Empowered—capture how consumer behavior is evolving and what it means for the future of member engagement. While examining these trends, we'll use examples from across the globe; these may show possible futures for America's credit unions.
Report #653 | Members
Payments Innovation

Global Payment Innovations: A Research Brief for U.S. Credit Unions

  • Ann Wessling
*25-Minute Read: Co-designed with the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU), this brief aims to deliver an in-depth report that compares leading payment innovations worldwide, analyzes the technological and regulatory drivers behind these advancements, and derives actionable lessons for U.S. credit unions by examining models and regulatory environments from selected countries.
Report #650 | Members
Payments Attracting and Engaging Younger Members Artificial Intelligence Innovation

SIMPLE Payments: Six Consumer Payment Trends Credit Unions Must Embrace

The future of payments is here, and credit unions must move fast to keep up. The SIMPLE Payments framework reveals six important trends reshaping how members pay and interact with money. This brief shows how credit unions can embed payments into daily life, deliver real-time experiences, and thrive in a digital-first world.

Report #635 | Members
Artificial Intelligence Innovation

A Blockchain and Digital Asset Primer for Credit Unions

*25-minute read—This blockchain primer provides an overview of the key aspects of blockchain technology and digital assets, and the various ways blockchain has been used to date. The primer also gives an overview of how decentralized finance is already being used in financial services and some of the ways credit unions can begin to leverage this technology.
Report #404 | | From the Archives Members

Blockchain Beyond Bitcoin: Insights for Credit Unions

  • Bruce Cahan

Blockchain technologies and cryptocurrencies are revolutionizing the way people perceive and interact with money. Credit unions should focus on gleaning value from these technologies to grow their business.

Blog |
Board Governance Strategy and Planning

Strengthening Your Board for the Year Ahead: Curated Research for Credit Union Leaders

As your board wraps up strategic planning, the real work begins—staying informed and engaged with the issues that will shape your credit union's future. Filene's new Curated Research for CU Board Members page offers quick, powerful insights designed to help board members make informed and more confident decisions as you plan for the year ahead.
Report #645 | Members
Board Governance

Credit Union Boards, Govern Thyself

*15 Minute Read: Discover what today’s most experienced credit union board chairs and CEOs say boards must do to govern not just their credit unions—but themselves. This brief reveals powerful insights and best practices to help boards elevate their strategic impact through stronger self-governance.

Report #647 |
Innovation Strategy and Planning Attracting and Engaging Younger Members

FiLab: Credit Union Landscape Report

Disruption has shifted from a trend to reality—our new norm! As growth continues to slow and consumer expectations accelerate, CUs are being pushed to rethink how they operate, innovate and deliver distinct value. FiLab's new CU Landscape report offers a powerful snapshot of today's most pressing challenges—and the clearest opportunities to move forward. This overview is the first in a series to help CUs make sense of the disruption, prioritize what matters and discover pathways forward.

Latest Research from Filene

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Report #657 | Members

Engaging the Next Generation: A Strategic Imperative for Credit Unions in the Social Media Era

  • David Smith
  • Samuel Seaman
  • Yury Adamov
Gen Z is anxious about money and seeking answers on social media, often from finfluencers who are entertaining but not always accurate. This report shows how credit unions can fill that gap with credible, authentic content. Based on analysis of 270,000+ posts across credit unions, banks, digital natives, and finfluencers, it reveals what performs best on social media platforms, and how storytelling, humor, and short-form video build engagement and trust with the next generation of members.
Report #655 |

The Role of Credit Unions in Affordable Housing Innovations

  • Mai Nguyen
  • Eileen Miamidian
  • Joshua Newton
  • Grant Ruroede
  • William Fulton
  • Kate Zegans
This five-part Housing Innovation Series provides an essential roadmap for addressing the critical lack of affordable housing and homeownership in communities. These reports detail a range of actionable financial strategies, focusing on innovative approaches to funding housing supply—such as specialized development financing, regional investment funds, and creative land acquisition—and explore new mortgage models and shared equity arrangements to expand long-term access and affordability.
Report #654 | Members
Strategy and Planning Board Governance Culture

Mergers: Why & What?

Mergers are reshaping the credit union landscape—scaled operations, broader product offerings, market expansion, and new technology are just some of the drivers. But even with clear goals, the path is complex and the true value can take years to realize. That’s why our latest research brief, "Mergers: Why and What," explores the most important question credit union leaders must ask before taking action: Why pursue a merger in the first place?
Report #653 | Members
Payments Innovation

Global Payment Innovations: A Research Brief for U.S. Credit Unions

  • Ann Wessling
*25-Minute Read: Co-designed with the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU), this brief aims to deliver an in-depth report that compares leading payment innovations worldwide, analyzes the technological and regulatory drivers behind these advancements, and derives actionable lessons for U.S. credit unions by examining models and regulatory environments from selected countries.
Report #652 | Members
Attracting and Engaging Younger Members Financial Well-being

The Vice Economy: The Modern Temptations Threatening Gen Z’s Financial Future

Gen Z faces rising financial anxiety despite strong wage growth and low unemployment. Research points to two major contributors: social media–driven overconsumption and the expansion of online gambling. This report examines how credit unions can mitigate these risks by offering tailored education and support to strengthen young members’ financial stability.

Blog

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Events

2026 Events Calendar
Event |

Filene's Chair Breakfast at GAC

Marriott Marquis, Washington, DC - Liberty Ballroom (Level M4)

Filene members are invited to register now for Filene's Chair Breakfast at GAC, our largest member appreciation event annually.
Research Event |
Attracting and Engaging Younger Members Artificial Intelligence

EDGE 2026

Dallas, TX

Registration is now open for Trellance's EDGE 2026 event, in partnership with CUDX and Filene. This event aims to inspire and ignite innovative thinking by showcasing the latest advancements, cutting-edge trends and emerging technologies, thus enabling attendees to envision and create the future of financial services.