Filene Research Institute

Filene Research Institute Nonprofit, independent think and do tank for the consumer finance industry. Examining the future of credit unions, retail banking and cooperative finance.

We are hiring an Incubation Manager at Filene Research Institute! Are you a problem-solver and innovator, passionate abo...
06/16/2026

We are hiring an Incubation Manager at Filene Research Institute!

Are you a problem-solver and innovator, passionate about turning bold ideas into real-world solutions that improve financial lives at scale? If so, this is your opportunity!

Filene Research Institute is seeking a curious and action-oriented Incubation Manager to lead the testing and implementation of innovative solutions with credit unions.

About the Role:�As the Incubation Manager, you'll blend project management with strategic experimentation, working closely with credit unions, solution providers, internal teams, and Filene's innovation communities to execute FiLab test projects and support emerging solution adoption. You'll also play a key role in growing innovation capacity across the credit union system through Filene's i3 innovation development program, while helping analyze and communicate insights that strengthen the impact of innovation across the industry.

Ideal locations for this role are around current Filene hubs in Madison, WI, Dallas, TX, and Denver, CO.

Apply today to join our mission-driven team and help advance Filene's commitment to strengthening the cooperative finance system through bold ideas, real-world testing, and collaborative innovation: https://tinyurl.com/4x9n36ak

Strategic planning season is right around the corner. Do you know how to leverage your board as a strategic asset?Credit...
06/16/2026

Strategic planning season is right around the corner. Do you know how to leverage your board as a strategic asset?

Credit unions are navigating more uncertainty. Rapidly evolving technology, intensifying competition, and shifting member expectations are forcing strategic decisions that boards and CEOs must face together. On June 18 at 11 CT, Filene Fellow Dr. Amy Hillman will lead a candid peer-to-peer conversation with four credit union leaders who know what that looks like firsthand.

· Tansley Stearns, President and CEO of orsa credit union with her Board Chair, Teri Kuehn. Together they will speak to the governance dynamics that have shaped how orsa navigates leadership and strategic decisions.

· Jeff Meshey, President and CEO of Desert Financial Credit Union, joins alongside his Board Chair, Kevin Haskew, to bring perspective on how strong governance can make all the difference in high-stakes decisions.

Don't miss your chance to register for this member-exclusive webinar if you're looking for actionable strategies to strengthen your credit union's board governance. Register now: https://tinyurl.com/2s3htxwd

Want to learn about how 70% of banking institutions are already using agentic AI? Not just experimenting with it but lev...
06/11/2026

Want to learn about how 70% of banking institutions are already using agentic AI? Not just experimenting with it but leveraging it to drive revenue and efficiencies in operations:

-Forum Credit Union estimated a 70% increase in loan processing.

-Florida Credit Union resolved 91% of phone calls without a human agent.
-Heritage Federal Credit Union exceeded its annual loan growth target by 151% using voice AI.

Agentic AI can do more than answer questions. It can plan, use tools, and carry out multi-step tasks, which makes it especially relevant for credit unions facing growth pressure, rising digital expectations, and growing competition.

This primer outlines the clearest opportunities with 7 use cases, including member service, lending, fraud detection, and more. It also covers the risks that need careful oversight, including inaccurate outputs, fair lending concerns, security issues, and regulatory expectations.

Download the full report here to learn how the competition is using agentic AI: https://tinyurl.com/4ckzfxs3

The credit union difference has always been about fostering a sense of community and belonging. This Pride Month, Filene...
06/10/2026

The credit union difference has always been about fostering a sense of community and belonging.

This Pride Month, Filene is sharing a curated collection of research to help credit union leaders strengthen that commitment to community not just as a belief but through action.

This year's reading list covers:

- Empowering Leadership: Cultivating Courage for a Truly Inclusive Workplace
- An Active Learning Approach to Diversity Training

Whether you're just starting your inclusion journey or deepening an existing commitment, there's something here for you. Read the full blog → https://tinyurl.com/3tprbw3w

Join Filene Fellow Dr. Amy Hillman for an exclusive member webinar focused on the lessons that help boards lead with cla...
06/09/2026

Join Filene Fellow Dr. Amy Hillman for an exclusive member webinar focused on the lessons that help boards lead with clarity and confidence during disruption.

In this candid conversation, Dr. Hillman will explore what truly makes boards effective in uncertain times, from meaningful board assessments to strong chair leadership and trusted board chair-CEO partnerships. You’ll walk away with practical insights and hard-won lessons from leaders who’ve successfully navigated tough decisions before.

Tune in to learn how strong boards don’t wait for clarity, they create it. Click the link in bio or use the link here: https://tinyurl.com/2s3htxwd

06/06/2026

Three numbers that tell an honest story about where credit union board governance stands today.
 
Only 25% of credit unions have term limits. Boards spend 46% of their time on today when their CEOs want 66% spent on tomorrow. And only 6% use external recruiters.
 
“It’s a daunting task to effectively oversee the credit union, much less proactively ask ‘Are we governing ourselves?’ and ‘Are we doing it well?’” as one Board member stated.
 
But here is the good news. Asking those questions is exactly where progress begins. The credit unions leaning into this work right now are building stronger boards, a sharper strategy, and a better future for their members.
 
Knowing where your board governance stands in these three areas will help to optimize towards a strategic asset versus an operational function.
 
Click the link in our bio or use this link https://tinyurl.com/mt574exy to download the full report. Share it with your board chair to start the conversation in your organization.

Governance is often treated as a compliance function, but it directly shapes strategic outcomes. Filene’s new brief from...
06/05/2026

Governance is often treated as a compliance function, but it directly shapes strategic outcomes.
 
Filene’s new brief from our Leadership, Strategy & Governance research center, makes the case that boards can be a source of competitive advantage when governance is intentionally aligned with strategy and continuously refined.
 
Swipe through to see the five levers that drive alignment: oversight, decision rights, incentives, talent, and controls. When these are calibrated effectively, boards spend more time on forward-looking issues, avoid role confusion with management, and ensure leadership incentives and succession plans support long-term member value.
 
If your credit union is looking to optimize its board governance for strategic advantage, download the full report here: https://tinyurl.com/467fd2zt

Put your Credit Union Board Governance Strategy to the test (in under 5 minutes). Strong governance is a competitive adv...
06/04/2026

Put your Credit Union Board Governance Strategy to the test (in under 5 minutes). 

Strong governance is a competitive advantage, and it starts with asking the right questions. As part of our Leadership, Strategy & Governance Center of Excellence, we created a Governance Risk Assessment Tool. This quick and interactive quiz helps assess in real-time how your credit union’s governance is performing across four critical areas:
1. Board Terms & Leadership
2. Board Composition & Development
3. CEO Evaluation & Succession
4. Meeting Structure & Strategy

As an output of the quiz, you will get:
• A score for each section
• Strategic recommendations to improve weak spots
• The option to save your results as a PDF  so you can share with your team  

It is 100% anonymous. Take a few minutes to see where your board governance stands and how to take it to the next level. https://tinyurl.com/yz3zsnvm

37 years of thinking forward and changing lives. Happy anniversary to us! 🎉Since 1989, Filene has been committed to aski...
05/31/2026

37 years of thinking forward and changing lives. Happy anniversary to us! 🎉

Since 1989, Filene has been committed to asking hard questions, finding real answers, and helping credit unions put those insights into action for the people they serve.

💻 37 years of independent research that cuts through the noise.
💡 37 years of incubating ideas that are tested in the real world.
🤝 37 years of connecting leaders, developing talent, and advancing the credit union movement.

And we are just getting started.

To every member, sponsor, researcher and partner that has been part of this journey: thank you. Your support and collaboration is everything!

05/29/2026

If companies like Amazon or Walmart move stablecoins beyond pilot programs, that is a signal worth paying attention to. If JPMorgan or a major fintech begins leveraging stablecoins at scale, the conversation changes for every financial institution.

That was one of the key takeaways shared by Fellow Dr. Henry Kim during our recent webinar with more than 130 credit union leaders attending, which focused on the evolving payments landscape.

His advice for the next 12 months: Learn. Experiment. Understand your trigger points-triggers that indicate when you should take action.

The question credit union leaders should be asking today is not, “Should we adopt stablecoins?”

It is:
“Are we paying close enough attention to act when the moment comes?”

If you were unable to attend last week’s webinar on payments or you want to rewatch it, here’s the link to our webinar recap page: https://tinyurl.com/4na6srsd

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