Filene Research Institute Launches New Center of Excellence for Growth

New research will explore how credit unions can achieve sustainable organizational growth while strengthening the financial lives of members and communities.

MADISON, Wis., Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Filene Research Institute today announced the launch of its new Center of Excellence for Growth, a multi-year research initiative focused on helping credit unions achieve sustainable organizational growth while creating greater financial and community value for the people they serve.

For credit unions, growth is about more than increasing assets or membership. It is about building healthy, resilient organizations that can serve more people, deepen member relationships, and strengthen the financial well-being of members and communities.

The Center will examine the important role growth plays in balancing both sides of the cooperative relationship: how credit unions can grow stronger and how that growth creates greater opportunity to help members grow financially. Research will explore leadership and governance practices, talent and organizational capabilities, and performance measurement strategies that drive sustainable credit union performance.

"Credit union growth and community growth should reinforce one another," said Jessica Gamache, Head of Research at Filene Research Institute. "A stronger credit union has greater capacity to invest in its members and communities, and financially stronger members create healthier, more resilient cooperatives. This Center will help us better understand the strategies and capabilities that allow both to grow together."

Initial support for the Center of Excellence for Growth is provided by Michigan State University Federal Credit Union, Origence and Redwood Credit Union. Leaders from the Center's founding sponsors emphasized the importance of sustainable growth for credit unions and the people they serve.

"Sustainable growth requires us to think beyond any single measure of success," said April Clobes, President and CEO of Michigan State University Federal Credit Union. "It means building an organization that is financially strong, relevant to members and positioned to make a meaningful difference in the community. This research can help credit unions better understand how to balance and advance all three."

"The credit union movement was built to serve people at every stage of their financial lives, but we can't do that if we're not connecting with the members who will define the next thirty years," said Tony Boutelle, President and CEO of Origence. "That's why Origence is proud to be a founding sponsor of Filene's new Center of Excellence, and why we're committed to turning this research into real tools credit unions can use."

"Member growth is more than a business metric. It is one of the most important challenges facing the credit union industry today and into the future. It is how people vote on the value and relevance of the credit union movement," said Brett Martinez, President and CEO of Redwood Credit Union. "Investing in Filene's Center of Excellence for Growth will help credit unions sustainably attract, serve, and retain members, ensuring credit unions remain strong, relevant, and able to help people for a lifetime."

Through the Center, Filene will bring together academic research and credit union perspectives to help leaders better understand the connections among organizational growth, member financial growth, and community growth, then translate those insights into practical strategies.

About Filene Research Institute

Filene Research Institute strengthens organizations through innovative research and incubation to improve consumer financial well-being. As an independent cooperative finance think tank, Filene's membership network connects a community of leaders and bright minds to change lives through innovation, truth and cooperation.

In addition to delivering cutting-edge, actionable academic research, Filene also provides incubators to test and scale solutions, events to spark organizations into action, and advisory services to help accelerate and implement innovation. For more information, visit filene.org and follow Filene on LinkedIn and Instagram.

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