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Research & Thinking

To accelerate insights and ​transform your organization.

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Browse our research & thinking

By Topics in Action

Report #655 |

The Role of Credit Unions in Affordable Housing Innovations

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?

By Questions

Report #639 | Members
Artificial Intelligence Strategy and Planning Innovation Benchmarking and Key Performance Indicators

The AI Adoption Journey: A Survey of Credit Union Leaders

*20-Minute Read: Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the digital economy, and credit union leaders are navigating pivotal decisions on how to integrate AI into their business models. This report shares insights from a survey of 110 participants across 78 organizations, highlighting early trends, emerging strategies, and the positive potential of AI to empower members, employees, and leadership, while encouraging credit unions to evolve and refine their AI approaches.

Report #623 | Members
Board Governance

Credit Union Governance Landscape

Bringing nearly three decades of both academic research and practical experience as a board member, Dr. Hillman has contextualized survey results with governance best practices for credit union leaders to consider as they continue to shape their board to be a strategic asset.
Report #463 | | From the Archives Members
Culture Board Governance

Formalizing the Art of Board Composition

  • Matt Fullbrook

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.

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Our Latest Research & Thinking

  • Report #655 |

    The Role of Credit Unions in Affordable Housing Innovations

    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.