Madison, WI (January 16, 2025) |
Filene Research Institute officially launched its newest Center of Excellence for Design for Digital this month. The Center is led by Dr. Gerald C. (Jerry) Kane, Professor and the C. Herman and Mary Virginia Terry Chair in Business Administration at the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia.
Research from the Center for Design for Digital is aimed at tackling the complex and evolving digital landscape to help credit unions drive growth through better, more efficient processes internally and better, more engaging experiences for both their members and their employees. Dr. Kane brings a wealth of knowledge in organizational change and technological innovation. His expertise will be instrumental in guiding the Center's research and helping credit unions navigate the digital future.
"We are thrilled to have Jerry lead this important body of research," said Jessica Gamache, Filene's Head of Research. "His expertise in organizational change, technology, and using digital tools to innovate through disruption makes him the perfect fit for this role. At Filene, we are prioritizing this research to provide credit unions with actionable insights and strategies to thrive in the digital era. Credit unions can expect groundbreaking research that will help them align their digital priorities with member needs and organizational goals in the year ahead."
In collaboration with an advisory council of credit union leaders, the Center's key objectives include:
- Identifying best practices in creating member-first digital strategies, aligning employees, processes, and technology to deliver on member experience.
- Exploring the conflict between risk aversion and digital innovation to identify the cultural components needed to create sustained organizational change.
- Exploring innovations in tech strategies, considering alternative models for moving from legacy tech stacks to more modern, nimble environments.
- Exploring frameworks to guide credit unions in the selection and implementation of new technologies based on their organizational and member needs.
- Identifying strategies for creating and maintaining alignment among stakeholders from across the organization.
- Examining approaches to identifying, cultivating, and upskilling the right talent, from associates to executives, for the digital era of credit unions.
- Identifying opportunities to bring a cooperative mindset to digital for all credit unions, creating more capacity for member-based differentiation instead of recreating table stakes.
Dr. Kane expressed excitement about leading this initiative, stating, "I am very excited to be leading this research with Filene and apply my decades-long experience in organizational change and how companies adapt to the digital world to the credit union system. Together, we will explore innovative strategies and frameworks uniquely focused on empowering credit unions to thrive in the digital era."
The Center of Excellence for Design for Digital is made possible through the generous support of its credit union industry sponsors: Advantis Credit Union, Affinity Federal Credit Union, American Airlines Federal Credit Union, Digital Federal Credit Union, GECU, Maps Credit Union, Orange County’s Credit Union, Teachers Federal Credit Union, Tinker Federal Credit Union, Together Credit Union, Truliant Federal Credit Union, University Federal Credit Union, University of Michigan Credit Union and Visa.
“Visa is honored to sponsor Filene’s Center of Excellence for Design for Digital and co-create a Design for Digital Playbook that can be used across the industry. This initiative reflects our deep commitment to co-creating transformative solutions with industry pioneers who share our vision for innovation and growth,” said Celeste Schwitters, Head of Community Accounts at Visa. “Filene’s collaborative research approach, rooted in collective insight and industry-wide engagement, provides an unparalleled foundation for addressing the complexities of digital transformation. By building alongside trusted partners, our goal is to equip credit unions with forward-thinking strategies and tools that not only elevate member experiences but also sustain their relevance and impact in an increasingly digital world.”
"Looking ahead to the next 100 years, the time has come for us to future-proof credit unions by transforming digitally while staying true to our purpose," said Michael Crowl, CEO of University Federal Credit Union. "We firmly believe that every credit union must embrace and embark on this journey to continue our positive impact on people and communities. UFCU is thrilled to have the opportunity to meaningfully shape the credit union movement for generations to come through our sponsorship of the new Filene Research Institute Design for Digital Center of Excellence. We look forward to collaboratively working with Filene, Dr. Jerry Kane, and other Inner Circle sponsors in the coming months and years ahead.”
“At Teachers Federal Credit Union, we are committed to embracing innovation that enhances the financial well-being of our members and communities,” said Brad C. Calhoun, President & CEO, Teachers Federal Credit Union. “Sponsoring Filene Research Institute’s Center of Excellence for Design for Digital aligns perfectly with our vision of leveraging technology to deliver exceptional member experiences and create a culture of growth and adaptability. We are excited to collaborate with Dr. Kane, Filene, and other sponsors to drive forward-thinking solutions that empower credit unions to thrive in an increasingly digital world.”
"Filene’s work to identify and bring awareness to what credit unions must focus on at the intersection of digital experience, cultures of innovation, and the credit union value proposition will ensure ongoing growth, sustainability, and relevance for the entire system," said Theran Colwell, Chief Strategy Officer, DCU. “We see the value in collaborating and learning from other credit unions, Filene fellows, and the collective research."
Credit union leaders interested in learning more about this research and getting involved in the Center can visit Filene's website at filene.org/designfordigital.
