Filene

Name

Filene

Legal name

Filene Research Institute, Inc.

Website

https://filene.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Credit Union Research and Advisory Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (541690)

akta.pro primary industry

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industry & Sector Research (Syndicated/Custom) (BPAHALAE), Education Policy Research Institutes & Think Tanks (EDADADAA)

Keywords

• Credit union research
• Financial services advisory
• Fintech incubation
• Membership organization
• Consumer financial well-being

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Filene operates primarily through membership fees from credit unions. Membership provides exclusive access to research, tools, advisory services, communities, and events.
2. Contributions and Donations: As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, Filene receives tax-deductible contributions from supporters including credit unions, industry partners, and individuals. The Inner Circle supports research through funding of Centers of Excellence.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Filene Research Institute is an independent, not-for-profit think and do tank that strengthens credit unions through innovative research and incubation. It delivers member-exclusive research reports, advisory services (Speaking & Strategy, Innovation Groups, Commissioned Research), a fintech incubation program (FiLab), an AI CUSO (CUltivate), a member segmentation analytics tool (Member Pulse), community programs (Filene i3, The Cooperative Trust, Think Tank), and an annual conference (big.bright.minds.).

Product overview

Filene Research Institute is an independent, not-for-profit think and do tank that strengthens credit unions through innovative research and incubation. The organization offers a portfolio of programs and services including: FiLab (incubator testing AI and fintech solutions), Member Pulse (data analytics and segmentation tool), CUltivate (AI solution for credit unions), advisory services (Speaking & Strategy, Innovation Groups, Commissioned Research), community programs (The Cooperative Trust, Filene i3 innovation leadership program, Think Tank, Inner Circle), and research publications. The portfolio is structured as a platform of interconnected services where research insights feed into incubation tests, and community programs drive innovation adoption across the credit union industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CUltivate: A CUSO that provides the only foundational AI solution purpose-built for credit unions.
• FiLab
• Member Pulse
• The Cooperative Trust
• big.bright.minds.
• The Filene Fill-In

Products and services

• FiLab Filene's innovation incubator program that identifies and implements proven solutions faster for credit unions, testing AI, new platforms, and bold experiments against real challenges with real credit unions.
• Member Pulse A segmentation and analytics tool designed specifically for credit unions to identify, appeal to, activate, deepen, and realize value from member relationships using transaction data, credit data, and survey responses.
• CUltivate A Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO) that provides the foundational AI solution purpose-built for credit unions, trained directly from credit union content and channels to deliver trust, transparency, and member privacy.
• Speaking & Strategy Advisory service where Filene's subject matter experts engage teams, educate boards, or inspire leaders to spark discussion and jumpstart strategic impact.
• Innovation Groups Workshop program that infuses innovation into an organization's culture, creates solutions to pressing member needs, and energizes leaders and team members.
• Commissioned Research Custom and commissioned research services providing evidence-based, market-leading thought leadership to accelerate organizational reach, growth, and impact.
• HerMoney A membership benefit offering qualifying Filene Members go-to-market ready content to deepen member engagement through women's financial wellness themes.
• The Cooperative Trust A community program providing opportunities for rising credit union talent, specifically young and emerging professionals, through programs like Crash Opportunities and Crash Course.
• Filene i3 A two-year innovation leadership program that equips top credit union professionals with the mindset, tools, and network to lead and shape the credit union of the 21st century; community of over 380 leaders and change-makers.
• Think Tank An executive community connecting influential CEOs and senior executives to drive Filene's research and incubation agenda.
• Research Reports & Publications Cutting-edge research reports, blogs, podcasts, and quarterly action plans covering topics including AI, payments, member well-being, board governance, mergers and acquisitions, and innovation for credit unions.
• Credit Union Governance Risk Assessment Tool A 14-question assessment tool to help credit unions uncover governance strengths, identify gaps, and provide tailored insights to enhance board effectiveness.
• big.bright.minds. Filene's flagship annual member event bringing together innovative credit unions with bright minds in the industry through original research presentations, fintech showcases, and peer connections.

Quantifiable outcome

• Credit union membership growth slowed from 3.3% to 2.2% between 2023 and 2024, highlighting the importance of Filene's research on younger member engagement.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• OrigenceflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerOrigence serves as the presenting sponsor for big.bright.minds. 2026, the flagship annual event. Origence positions itself as 'elevating credit unions with innovative lending solutions.'
• CU DirectcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCU Direct is an event sponsor for big.bright.minds., supporting the credit union industry's premier innovation conference.
• DebbiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDebbie is a rewards and gamification platform fintech that Filene's FiLab incubator tested with five credit unions in 2025. The pilot focused on engaging Gen Z and millennial members, driving deposit growth, and building financial habits through gamification and cash incentives.
• CardFitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCardFit is a card comparison platform that Filene's FiLab tested with seven credit unions to explore how credit unions can change their dynamic in the digital comparison journey for credit cards.
• FlowcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlow enables credit unions to communicate with members at the point of sale with their card. FiLab partnered with Flow in Year Two testing to address payments engagement.
• World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-designed the Global Payment Innovations research brief with WOCCU to deliver an in-depth report comparing leading payment innovations worldwide and deriving actionable lessons for U.S. credit unions.
• GallupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership mentioned in relation to Member Well-Being Center of Excellence initiatives and measurement approaches.
• TrellanceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrellance partnered with CUDX and Filene for the EDGE 2025 event in Las Vegas, an event aimed at inspiring innovative thinking and showcasing emerging technologies.
• HerMoneyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHerMoney and Filene offer qualifying Filene Members a new benefit to deepen member engagement through go-to-market ready content focused on women's financial wellness.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Credit Union National Association (CUNA): CUNA is the primary U.S. credit-union trade association, providing advocacy, research, and education. Like Filene, it produces industry research and serves credit-union members, making it the closest direct peer in mission and audience.
• America's Credit Unions (formerly NAFCU): America's Credit Unions is a national trade association for federally chartered credit unions offering research, compliance, and advocacy. It overlaps with Filene's research and advisory offerings for the same credit-union buyer.
• Callahan & Associates: Callahan provides data, research, analytics, and consulting exclusively to credit unions, closely mirroring Filene's research-driven, credit-union-only positioning.
• Cornerstone Advisors: Cornerstone Advisors is a credit-union-focused consulting firm delivering strategic guidance, performance benchmarking, and research, comparable to Filene's advisory and research services.
• World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU): WOCCU is the global trade association and development organization for credit unions, and is also a Filene research partner. It is directly comparable as a research, advocacy, and international engagement body for credit unions.
• CUES (Credit Union Executives Society): CUES provides executive education, leadership development, and networking for credit-union leaders — directly comparable to Filene's i3, Cooperative Trust, and Think Tank communities.

Broad incumbents

• Velera (formerly PSCU + Co-op Solutions): Velera is a large credit-union service organization offering payments, technology, and analytics, and is also a Filene supporter. It is comparable as a credit-union-only technology and services incumbent.
• TruStage (formerly CUNA Mutual Group): TruStage is a large, credit-union-aligned financial services provider offering insurance, investment, and technology solutions. It overlaps with Filene in serving credit unions and engaging their members, and is also a Filene partner.

Emerging players

• Kasasa: Kasasa offers consumer financial products and marketing tools built exclusively for community financial institutions, including credit unions. It is comparable as a credit-union-only fintech and content partner, and is a former Filene employer for senior staff.
• OnApproach (a Jack Henry company): OnApproach built a credit-union data and analytics platform, closely comparable to Filene's Member Pulse product offering of segmentation and analytics for credit unions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fileneresearch
• Facebookfacebook.com/fileneresearch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/filene-research-institute
• Instagraminstagram.com/instafilene

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Filene