Coming off a great week in Nashville at Filene Research Institute’s big.bright.minds conference, I was struck by how much of the conversation focused on credit unions’ staying relevant in today’s ever-changing digital landscape—using AI, serving Gen X, and playing a meaningful role in addressing their communities’ most pressing issues, such as affordable housing. And with more and more credit unions merging, one speaker shared sobering data about the shrinking number of credit unions expected in the coming years. This raises an important question: how do credit unions continue to demonstrate what makes them unique and different to both current and prospective members?
When faced with these challenges, it can be tempting to scrap your current playbook and start from scratch. But doing so risks losing your organization’s history—stories so often rooted in a scrappy group of committed citizens who came together to establish your credit union because they couldn’t find the type of banking experience they needed in their community. Credit unions have always been created by people, for people, to offer a personal, customized experience regarding one of the most important elements of anyone’s life journey: enabling their financial freedom.
A signature part of the conference is the Day Away experience, which brings participants together for an outing in Nashville. I chose the Cumberland River cruise. As we bonded under blankets, trying to shake off the chilly temperatures, the boat’s historian unveiled Nashville’s deep and determined history. I was struck by the grit and resourcefulness of the people who laid the foundations of the vibrant city we know today.
Take Timothy Demonbreun, Nashville’s first European resident in the 1770s—a fur trader from Quebec who lived in a cave still visible from the river as he built his business into a thriving enterprise and became one of the city’s most prominent early leaders. As we continued along the river, the historian pointed out buildings still standing on its shores, including structures that sat unused for years. One of them, the U.S. Naval Reserve Training Center, is now being transformed into art studios and galleries—a perfect illustration of adaptive reinvention.
But the most striking story of forging one’s own path was that of Cornelia Fort. Born in 1919 to a prominent Nashville family, she defied societal expectations and became a World War II aviation pioneer—”the first female flight instructor in Tennessee, the first American pilot to encounter the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, and the first female pilot to die in the line of duty while ferrying planes for the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS)”. She followed her heart, charted her own course, and stayed grounded in who she was, even in the face of adversity.
That evening, as I warmed myself by the fire in the opulent lobby of The Hermitage—Nashville’s five-star hotel, opened in 1910—I watched people of all generations enjoying its timeless comfort. A young family shared dessert. Newlyweds cuddled in a corner. A lively group of seniors savored wine and conversation. Later, a group of young men dressed in streetwear came in and surprised everyone by taking turns at the grand piano, playing extraordinary jazz.
As I reflected on the day and our collective future, one thought stayed with me: new doesn’t equal best. The best emerges from knowing your roots, leaning into bootstrap energy, and maintaining an innovative and agile mindset focused on regenerating and rejuvenating what already exists and building only when necessary. It requires responsive listening. And most importantly, it recognizes that humans of all generations still gravitate toward what is familiar, longstanding, and timeless.
So, as you look toward 2026, consider the possibilities of a new coat of paint rather than a new build. You might be surprised by how far it can take you.
