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Xceed Financial CU Boosts Support of Filene Research Institute with New Silver Benefactor Relationship
MADISON, Wis. – Xceed Financial Credit Union, a longtime supporter of the Filene Research Institute, has increased its support to become the first natural-person credit union to support Filene as a Silver Benefactor by contributing $25,000 annually to the Institute.
“Filene is an engine of insights and innovations for credit unions,” said Teresa Freeborn, CEO of Xceed Financial. “A lot of people talk about planning ahead and doing what’s best for credit unions, but Filene is one of the few organizations that lives those principles day after day and year after year,” Freeborn added.
“As credit unions’ think-and-do tank, we rely not just on the financial support but also on the engagement of credit unions,” said Mark Meyer, CEO of the Filene Research Institute. “Teresa and her leadership team at Xceed constantly raise their hands to try new ideas. Their decision to support Filene so generously is an extension of their commitment to explore constantly and to find better and innovative ways to serve their members,” Meyer said.
Xceed Financial is constantly exploring with Filene projects. Now and in the past the credit union has:
o Provided key innovation, marketing and design support to the original Debt in Focus pilot, which was eventually used by more than 500 credit unions
o Worked with Filene researchers on a big data project tracing member profitability
o Tested the Amazon.com credit card portal with Filene in search of best practices for online sales
o Collaborated with Filene on a Pepperdine University MBA intern program
“When we consider which organizations to support we look for tangible benefits. We look for organizations that collaborate, that support credit unions’ ability to survive and thrive, that provide opportunities for our professionals to engage and make a difference. Filene provides all of this to Xceed Financial and to credit unions across North America,” Freeborn said.
Freeborn was part of the inaugural i3 innovation team in 2004 before she replaced CEO Bill Cheney of the then Xerox Federal Credit Union, now the current CEO of CUNA and Affiliates. Today she serves Filene as a research council member, helping to guide the Institute’s research and innovation priorities. Freeborn also serves as Chair of the Credit Union Executives Society, is the Vice Chair of the California Credit Union League, a Trustee of Western CUNA Management School, and a Board Member of the Richard Miles Johnson Foundation.
i3 service has become something of a tradition at Xceed; the credit union has had more i3ers than any other credit union since the program started in 2004. Among Xceed’s senior team, Kathryn Davis, senior vice president, Marquis Boochee vice president, eStrategy and innovation, and Mark Coudriet, vice president, IT, have since served on the i3 team. Xceed Financial has supported the Filene Research Institute since 1993.
Filene and Xceed Financial will work together on research and innovation projects that advance the interests of consumers and credit unions.
About Filene: The non-profit Filene Research Institute is a consumer finance think tank serving the North American credit union system of $1.5 trillion in assets and more than 106 million members. Filene publishes objective research and fosters consumer-focused financial innovation. The Institute collaborates with leading researchers and academic institutions worldwide.
About Xceed Financial Credit Union: Headquartered in El Segundo, Calif., Xceed Financial Credit Union is a federally chartered workplace credit union that focuses on meeting the needs of businesses and their employees throughout the United States. The credit union started in 1964 as Scientific Data Systems Credit Union and later became Xerox Federal Credit Union in 1970. A new name and brand identity were launched in 2008 to reflect its expanded field of membership and new business model.
Xceed delivers personal banking and financial literacy directly to “select employer groups” (SEGs) and is proud to help more than 59,000 members realize their dreams. Xceed Financial has more than $780 million in assets and 15 Financial Centers in six states.