At a time of unprecedented competition and growing demand for more responsive, more personalized services, how are credit unions evolving to not only keep the members they have engaged, but also to grow and build their membership ranks? What are the most innovative fintech companies in the industry doing to help credit unions keep pace with digital transformation efforts, take advantage of innovations such as embedded finance, and make the most of investments in AI and cybersecurity?
FinovateFall 2026’s Credit Union Spotlight is an invite-only opportunity for credit union professionals and the fintech innovators who support them to network and discuss the challenges that credit unions are facing today. The spotlight will also showcase new solutions dedicated to helping credit unions meet those challenges: from growing memberships and deposits to launching new services powered by enabling technologies like AI.
The Credit Union Spotlight begins with an exclusive networking breakfast and coffee with your peers and colleagues in the credit union industry to facilitate dedicated conversations and networking. Next, a specially curated selection of fintechs will provide brief introductions and join assigned tables to discuss their solutions. After each conversation and discussion, the companies will rotate to a new table to ensure that every attendee has the opportunity to engage with our fintech innovators. Credit unions and fintechs are encouraged to follow up afterwards or arrange to meet during later networking breaks during the conference.
As Finovate VP and Informa Director of Fintech Strategy Greg Palmer noted on the importance of the Credit Union Spotlight: “A lot of fintech innovators are building solutions specifically with credit unions in mind; on the flip side, more and more CUs are looking to fintech companies to help them modernize and grow. The Credit Union Spotlight is a place for both sides to come together to share ideas, discuss new innovations, and talk candidly about where and how to deploy fintech to the greatest effect.”
Space at the Credit Union Spotlight is limited and only employees of credit unions are eligible to attend. To be a part of this exclusive session, reach out to session coordinator [email protected] to save your spot on the guest list.
And if you’re a fintech building solutions for credit unions and their members, the Credit Union Spotlight could be a great opportunity to showcase your innovation directly to credit union executives. Reach out to us at [email protected] to learn more.
Interested in hearing more insights from credit union leaders? Check out our roster of credit union executives who will be speaking on our main and industry stages at FinovateFall 2026 next month.
Wednesday, September 9
Sherry Wu, Chief Technology Officer, University of Michigan Credit Union, will share her insights on our Power Panel: Agentic AI Will Be Revolutionary—As AI Moves from Theory to Pilots, What Are the Opportunities? How FIs are Using AI to Make or Save Money. 5:15 pm—5:45 pm.
Thursday, September 10
Ben Maxim, Chief Digital Strategy & Innovation Officer, MSU Federal Credit Union, will join our Expert Debate: Show Me the Money—Proven AI Use Cases That Delivered ROI in 12 Months. 10:45 am—11:20 am.
Friday, September 11
Ning Duong, President and CEO, Financial Center First Credit Union, will share her insights as part of our Power Panel on our Customer Experience & Trust stage: Customer-Centric Banking & Experience Transformation—From Product Led to Life-Stage, Personalized, AI-Enabled Engagement. 11:25 am—11:55 am.
Darius Wise, President and CEO, Red Rocks Credit Union, will join our Power Panel: Distribution Wars—Deposits, Embedded Finance & Platform Economics. How Can Banks and Credit Unions Acquire, Retain, and Monetize Customers in a Fragmented Ecosystem? 2:10 pm—2:40 pm.
Ami Iceman Haueter, Chief Research and Digital Experience Officer, MSU Federal Credit Union, will be a part of our Power Panel: Bank—Fintech Partnerships: From Competition to Collaboration & Co-Creation. 2:55 pm—3:25 pm.