
Research & Thinking
To accelerate insights and transform your organization.

Browse our research & thinking
By Topics in Action


Amplifying Your Credit Union’s Mission: Financial and Community Impacts of Being a CDFI
By Questions

Webinar: AI and Executive Leadership: How CU Execs Should Approach AI Strategy

The AI Adoption Journey: A Survey of Credit Union Leaders

Generative AI: How Credit Unions Can Adopt Gen AI to Benefit Employees and Members

The Evolution and Impact of AI in Credit Unions

Webinar: The Evolution and Impact of AI in Credit Unions

Credit Union Governance Landscape

Credit Union Boards: Resources for Effective Governance
Effective board governance is essential for credit union sustainability and health. From board evaluation practices to board composition, Filene has curated resources for credit union leaders seeking to learn more about strategies to improve board governance.

Formalizing the Art of Board Composition
A board of directors can make or break the success of a credit union. Yet credit unions sometimes find board governance lacking or inadequate for meeting their challenges. This report provides research-based recommendations for improving board composition, including formalizing recruitment and evaluation to help credit unions leverage more from their boards of directors.

Webinar: AI and Executive Leadership: How CU Execs Should Approach AI Strategy

The AI Adoption Journey: A Survey of Credit Union Leaders

Generative AI: How Credit Unions Can Adopt Gen AI to Benefit Employees and Members

The Evolution and Impact of AI in Credit Unions

Webinar: The Evolution and Impact of AI in Credit Unions

Credit Union Governance Landscape

Credit Union Boards: Resources for Effective Governance
Effective board governance is essential for credit union sustainability and health. From board evaluation practices to board composition, Filene has curated resources for credit union leaders seeking to learn more about strategies to improve board governance.

Formalizing the Art of Board Composition
A board of directors can make or break the success of a credit union. Yet credit unions sometimes find board governance lacking or inadequate for meeting their challenges. This report provides research-based recommendations for improving board composition, including formalizing recruitment and evaluation to help credit unions leverage more from their boards of directors.
How We Focus
Centers of Excellence
-
Center of Excellence Design for Digital
-
Center of Excellence The Next Generation of Member Growth
-
Center of Excellence Leadership, Strategy & Governance
-
Center of Excellence The Credit Union of the Future
-
Center of Excellence Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
-
Center of Excellence Community Social Impact
Our Latest Research & Thinking
-
Report #652 | | Members
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. -
Report #651 | | MembersFinancial Well-being Culture Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Benchmarking and Key Performance Indicators
Amplifying Your Credit Union’s Mission: Financial and Community Impacts of Being a CDFI
There are nearly 500 CDFI-certified credit unions nationwide, all dedicated to strengthening their communities and expanding financial inclusion. This brief takes a closer look at both the opportunities and challenges of CDFI certification and what it means for credit unions, their members, and the communities they serve. -
Report #650 | | Members
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 #649 |
Year Three FiLab Results: IDgo
To kick off the third round of tests, FiLab partnered with IDgo as one of six solutions for the 2025 testing phase. IDgo is a digital identity authentication solution that helps financial institutions verify members quickly, securely and efficiently. Here we explore IDgo's potential to improve call center authentication by saving time, reducing fraud risk and creating a better experience for both members and staff compared to existing methods.