MADISON, Wis.–The Filene Research Institute announced that SchoolsFirst FCU has become a sponsor of Filene’s Center of Excellence for Emerging Technologies. This Center of Excellence is also sponsored by CO-OP Financial Services with additional support from BECU and Coastal Credit Union.
“The rapid evolution of technology and the influence it has—and will continue to have—on consumer’s lives makes it necessary for credit unions to understand how to keep pace and integrate technology into the ways our members interact and transact with financial services organizations,” said Bill Cheney, SchoolsFirst FCU President/CEO, in a statement.
According to Filene, SchoolsFirst FCU’s support of this center not only enables it to continue working with leading experts and academics in the field of emerging and evolving technologies relevant to consumer finance, but also empowers credit unions, especially those under $100 million in assets, to learn from and engage directly with researchers and like-minded peers during the Center’s annual event.
As a result of the sponsorship, Filene said 15 $1,000 travel scholarships are available for small credit unions to attend “Oh Shoot, What Now? Technology in a Time of Crisis,” Filene’s Center for Emerging Tech Colloquium on April 12, 2018 on the University of California, Irvine campus. Registration for the event is now open to all credit unions, and credit unions of asset size $100 million and under can apply for one of the 15 travel scholarships. Event registration is free for Filene member credit unions.
“We are grateful for the passion SchoolsFirst FCU has for supporting the entire credit union system and its ability to effectively and efficiently evolve with the emerging technologies that consumers do and will continue to expect from their financial providers,” said Mark Meyer, Filene CEO. “It is essential that credit unions have access to the best information available on navigating the evolving technology landscape.”
Filene announced the newest research from the Center, “Weighing the Risks of a Fintech Partnership” has been released. It was authored by the Center’s lead Research Fellow, Richard Swart, visiting researcher at the UCI Institute for Money, Technology and Financial Inclusion (IMTFI).
“This is why we are excited and honored to support Filene’s Center of Excellence for Emerging Technology. Their important research will help credit unions make technology advancements that will better serve members, improve operational efficiencies, and benefit the credit union movement overall,” said Cheney.
Filene has created five such Centers of Excellence in all. “Designed to address the changing needs of credit unions and their members, they explore critical and emerging topics regarding the future of consumer financial trends to encourage credit unions to think differently and do amazing things to change people’s lives,” Filene said.