Credit unions make the greatest impact when business development begins with insight. When we understand the people behind our SEG partnerships, our community connections, and the members we serve, we can design solutions that truly matter.
People Teams are inundated with vendors trying to reach their employees, and we need to stand out in a different way—by leading with insight, not pitches. That shift is helping reshape modern business development. Two credit unions, in very different ways, show how insight can shape solutions that create real impact.
First Tech Federal Credit Union’s global mobility program began at Microsoft years ago and now supports more than one hundred employer groups. Relocating employees have their accounts established sixty days before they arrive in the United States, giving them immediate access to funds, credit, and guidance during an overwhelming life transition. Ed Powers, Vice President of Specialized Sales and Business Development, shared how critical that access is, explaining that “when you are uprooting your entire life, access is the first thing you need.”
For People Teams, this level of support is invaluable. First Tech helps new employees feel prepared, welcomed, and financially ready from day one—solving a real and timely challenge for employer groups.
Rivermark Community Credit Union took a different but equally powerful approach. Their research into ALICE households and where people turn for financial advice revealed something striking. For ALICE employees (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), the workplace is the third most common place they seek financial guidance. That insight is powerful for credit unions looking to better understand and support their employer groups. Rivermark is partnering with SEGs to offer zero-percent interest emergency loans that are completely anonymous, often funded by the employer and underwritten through the Community Impact Fund. Seth Schaefer, Executive Vice President and Chief Impact Officer, shared that what matters most is this: employees who once had nowhere to turn during a crisis now have a safe, dignified lifeline. People Teams champion the program because it supports their employees at the exact moment they need it, and it makes a meaningful difference.
Insight shapes everything. It shows you how a company reaches its employees, which wellness programs are actually landing, how many employees are taking out 401(k) loans, which ERGs are raising their hands, and what People Teams are hoping to move forward in the year ahead. But just as important, insight reveals what People Teams are hearing every day—the financial stress employees are carrying, the questions they don’t know where to take, and the moments when people quietly need support. These are some of the things People Team leaders are trying to solve. When we begin with understanding, the partnership becomes real. It becomes supportive. It becomes something people can feel.
Here are ten insight questions that can spark deeper, more strategic conversations in 2026:
- What communication channels do you use to reach employees, and which ones are most effective?
- What does your new-employee experience look like today, and where are you hoping to strengthen onboarding in 2026?
- Which wellness benefits are most utilized—health, mental health, nutrition, financial—and which are underutilized? Why do you think that is?
- How aligned is your leadership team around the role financial well-being plays in employee performance, retention, and overall well-being?
- What insights are emerging from your ERGs, leaders, or employee surveys about stress, well-being, or financial needs?
- What is the biggest financial friction your employees are experiencing right now, and what differences do you see across demographics or life stages?
- Are employees using 401(k) loans or earned wage access/on-demand pay programs, and what trends are you seeing?
- Do you have programs for interns, early-career employees, or other groups? What support do they need to thrive?
- Which of your benefit partners are providing helpful insights today—and where are you still needing more support?
- What partnerships, charitable organizations, or causes matter most to your company? How do they influence your culture, priorities, and employee engagement?
When the solutions we bring to the table are grounded in insight, People Teams feel supported, programs take hold naturally, people share the impact, and the credit union becomes an essential partner. And don’t forget that you also hold powerful data and insights about your members who work there. Sharing what you see across employee behavior, program engagement, and financial well-being patterns positions you as a strategic resource, not just a vendor. When you bring your data to the conversation, you elevate the partnership.
Let’s make 2026 the year to spark curiosity by asking insight-driven questions, listening deeply, and solving real problems to make life easier—your greatest superpower.
