Filene Research Institute has announced a new strategic partnership with Money20/20, the global financial technology conference platform. Together they will establish a collaborative system that will bring a credit union presence to the financial services and fintech worlds.
It is expected that the partnership will bring the ideas and perspectives of the cooperative finance sector into the bigger industry conversations. At the same time, the partnership will provide credit union leaders with firsthand experience and exposure to cutting-edge financial technologies, VC backed innovation platforms, and cross-industry (cross-sector strategic partnerships).
Unifying Research-Driven Strategy with Global Fintech Innovation
As consumer expectations evolve alongside rapid advancements in financial technology, credit unions face growing operational pressure to modernize infrastructure, adopt real-time rails, and deploy scalable digital services. The collaboration bridges Money20/20’s visibility into macro market forces, venture capital deployments, and emerging fintech architectures with Filene’s academic research and practical implementation models.
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Through this dual approach, the organizations seek to help credit union decision-makers transition from reactive technology adoption to proactive, research-backed digital strategy.
Targeted Executive Programming and the Credit Union Pass
The multi-stage partnership kicks off this fall at Money20/20 in Las Vegas (October 18–21, 2026) with the introduction of the Credit Union Pass a dedicated access tier engineered specifically for credit union executives and board members.
The Las Vegas event will introduce purpose-built, highly focused touchpoints within the broader Money20/20 agenda:
The Credit Union Meetup: A curated networking environment designed to facilitate peer-to-peer exchanges and encourage joint innovation efforts among cooperative finance executives.
Closed-Door Deep Dive Sessions: High-level strategic workshops bringing credit union leaders into direct dialogue with fintech founders, venture investors, and technology providers to analyze disruptive financial models.
“This year we’re launching the Credit Union Pass, built specifically for credit union leaders who need meaningful access to Money20/20 in Las Vegas. Filene is the natural partner to help us do that right. By partnering with Filene, we’re bringing their research and their members directly into the rooms where the biggest decisions are being made. The Credit Union Meetup and our closed-door deep dive represent something entirely new for Money20/20: purpose-built programming designed exclusively for credit union executives. Together, we’re creating the focused, high-impact experiences and connections that will empower credit union leaders to shape the future of fintech,” said Scarlett Sieber, Chief Strategy and Growth Officer at Money20/20.
“big.bright.minds. is where we bring Filene’s most forward-looking research directly to the leaders who can act on it,” said Christie Kimbell, Executive Vice President at Filene Research Institute. “Our partnership with Money20/20 expands that conversation, giving credit union leaders direct access to the ideas, innovators, and trends shaping the broader financial services industry. That’s how we help our members stay ahead of change instead of reacting to it.”
Advancing Growth and Innovation at big.bright.minds. 2026
The second phase of the collaboration will anchor Filene’s flagship annual event, big.bright.minds. 2026, taking place December 1–3 in New Orleans. Structured around the core theme of Growth, the conference will convene credit union CEOs, board members, academic researchers, and technology pioneers to translate market developments into actionable organizational strategies.
Through joint programming co-developed with Money20/20, sessions will focus on critical digital transformation priorities, including:
Agentic AI & Operational Automation: Evaluating autonomous AI workflows, governance frameworks, and practical deployment models for credit union operations.
Next-Generation Payments Innovation: Navigating the expansion of real-time payment rails, FedNow adoption, and modern transaction infrastructure.
Digital Assets & Stablecoins: Analyzing the strategic and regulatory implications of stablecoin integration within consumer financial services.
Member Engagement & Differentiation: Leveraging data analytics and storytelling to capture market share among younger demographics in a crowded banking market.
