“Create 2025” Summit Recap: Shaping the Future of Credit Unions and Fintechs

Last week, ModernFi, alongside our partners Suncoast and Clutch, had the privilege of hosting the inaugural “Create 2025” summit, a gathering of leading credit unions and fintechs to collaborate on solutions to support a stronger, more innovative credit union ecosystem. Held in New York City, this roundtable brought together executives from eight leading credit unions and nine innovative fintechs for an afternoon of candid conversations, collaborative ideation, and actionable roadmapping, followed by an intimate dinner reception to deepen connections and spark new partnerships. 

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Credit unions in attendance: Suncoast, Coastal, Interra, Meritrust, MSFCU, NYMCU, School First, Vibrant

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Fintechs in attendance: ModernFi, Clutch, Alloy, Bloom, Flow, MX, Prizeout, Pulsate, Taktile

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Setting the Stage: Challenges and Opportunities

The event kicked off with a presentation of survey results from credit unions, highlighting the top challenges and opportunities facing the industry. Themes from the results included the need to differentiate in a crowded market, overcoming the constraints of legacy risk management, and finding ways to attract and engage new members-especially as competition from larger financial institutions intensifies.

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The conversation then quickly turned to the importance of launching digital-first brands, leveraging affiliate marketing, and being intentional about brand positioning to attract the next generation of members.

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Key Insights from the Roundtable

Four key takeaways from the roundtable include:

• Brand and Member Experience: Participants agreed that competing with larger players requires not just new products, but a willingness to rethink legacy models and sharpen brand identity. To grow, institutions are focusing on launching digital-first brands, leveraging affiliate marketing, and presenting a modern value proposition that resonates with how people live and bank today.
• Integration and Personalization: A recurring theme was the need to move beyond a “Frankenstein” of disconnected tools and fintech vendors. There was strong consensus around the need for a shared integration layer that surfaces the right solutions at the right time, enabling truly seamless and personalized member journeys. Attendees stressed that personalization must be driven by better anticipating needs, surfacing relevant solutions, and continuously refining service delivery based on meaningful engagement signals.
• Branch Strategy and Digital Transformation: While digital transformation is critical, the conversation revealed that branches remain highly active for many credit unions. This sparked a broader discussion: Are members defaulting to branches because the digital experience is lacking? Or do branches still play a unique, value-added role? The group agreed that the goal is to deliver value beyond traditional financial services, whether digitally or in-person.
• AI and Automation: AI and automation were major focal points, with attendees sharing real-world examples, such as replacing dozens of manual roles with AI-powered chat solutions. There was consensus that the greatest opportunity lies in automating backend operations, freeing up resources to invest in higher-touch, member-facing service. As one participant put it, “If we could build our credit union from scratch today, what would we design differently?” The group agreed that solving foundational data and integration issues should precede layering on new tools, ensuring that AI delivers practical outcomes without requiring perfection from day one.

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A Community Committed to Progress

The collective energy and desire to collaborate were palpable. Leaders left inspired by a shared commitment to innovation, partnership, and member-centricity. The collective goal is to carry this momentum forward and create tangible results in 2025.

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At ModernFi, we believe events like "Create 2025" are critical for fostering the collaboration our industry needs to thrive. We’re grateful to everyone who joined us and look forward to continuing the conversation as we build the solutions of tomorrow—together.

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Interested in joining future roundtables to help shape the future of the credit union industry? Fill out the interest form here to stay updated on upcoming events. 

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