big.bright.minds. 2025 is where the biggest and brightest minds in the credit union movement converge. It is a space where innovation meets action, offering insights that can be applied directly to your organization to navigate the future with confidence. As we face an evolving financial landscape, understanding the latest trends, technologies, and strategies is crucial for building stronger communities and institutions.
Join us in Nashville, TN, from December 2-4, 2025, for Filene's biggest annual member event! This year’s big.bright.minds. promises groundbreaking research, transformative discussions, and a powerful networking platform to connect with forward-thinking peers. Experience sessions that challenge the status quo, engage in hands-on workshops, and celebrate the spirit of driving distinction.
NOTE: This event is an exclusive benefit included in Innovator-level Filene membership and above, and therefore there is no registration fee to attend. Non-members and Thinker Members should contact [email protected] to discuss options for attending.
Preview of Filene Fellows' Presentations at big.bright.minds. 2025
Each year, our Fellows bring their unique expertise to the stage, offering a deep dive into critical topics shaping the future of credit unions.
Jean Chatzky, journalist, personal finance columnist, financial editor and financial ambassador will be our emcee for big.bright.minds. 2025. Filene Fellows will present research-based insights to help your organization thrive. Here is a glimpse of what to expect from this year’s thought leaders:
Join Kimberly Lear, our Fellow for The Next Generation of Member Growth, for an inside look at the financial worlds of Gen Z. Drawing on interviews with 14 participants, this session explores the products and services young adults use, how they evaluate them, and what drives their financial decisions. We’ll examine how 18- to 29-year-olds assemble a portfolio of tools, from savings and checking accounts to investments, peer-to-peer payments like Venmo and Zelle, credit cards, and more, while sharing their perceptions of the institutions behind them. Learn how credit unions can tap into Gen Z’s motivations for choosing, switching, or adding financial providers, and support this generation in navigating today’s fragmented financial ecosystem.
Unlocking Member Well-Being
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Mathieu Despard, PhD, MSW Clinical Professor at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Social Work
Join Dr. Mathieu Despard, our Fellow for Member Well-Being, to learn about the challenges many households face in today's economy. He'll explain how financial stress impacts our decisions, no matter our income. Discover how credit unions can better help their members achieve financial well-being by understanding these behaviors and tailoring their services.
Join Dr. Lamont Black, our Fellow for Credit Union of the Future, as he educates on stablecoin fundamentals and explains how credit unions can adapt to the passage of the GENIUS Act. This session will provide a stablecoin roadmap for credit unions in 2026 as the Act enters its implementation phase, addressing potential disruption of interchange fees alongside emerging opportunities for innovation. Dr. Black will discuss how credit unions can educate boards and exec teams, develop strategic plans, and position themselves as key facilitators of stablecoin payments by empowering members to receive, store, transfer, and spend stablecoins securely.
Join Dr. Jerry Kane, our Fellow for Design for Digital, to explore research on how credit unions can go digital without losing distinction. This session will look at how to design your organization for a digital world, craft a digital strategy, and go digital without losing distinction by leveraging what makes your credit union special. You'll also get an exclusive first look at data from a new survey assessing the current state of digital in the industry. Learn how to strategically use digital tools to amplify your unique value proposition, strengthen member relationships, and create a truly differentiated experience that larger institutions can't easily replicate.
Join Dr. Amy Hillman, our Fellow for Leadership, Strategy, & Governance, as she takes you through the steps your credit union should be considering before a merger or acquisition. Consolidation is a steady force in the credit union industry, with merger inquiries and opportunities becoming more common. This session, based on extensive research and interviews with credit union leaders, will help you establish a proactive, logical approach to mergers and acquisitions. Dr. Hillman will walk you through a clear framework for developing an M&A playbook, from defining your strategic "why" to creating a checklist for evaluating potential partners. Learn how to identify and overcome the common emotional and logistical obstacles to a successful merger, allowing you to confidently prepare your credit union for the future of the industry.
Join Dr. Mai Ngyuen, our fellow for Community Social Impact, as she moderates a dynamic panel of credit union leaders who are at the forefront of innovative housing solutions. Drawing from our recently released housing innovations series, this session will explore how credit unions can tackle some of the most pressing housing issues today. Panelists will share their on-the-ground experiences with a range of topics, including 40-year mortgages, zero down paymetn, no PMI mortgages, and more. Gain practicing insights into the opportunities and challenges in developing innovative mortgage products.
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This is a “must-attend” for innovative leaders who need to stay ahead of the curve in the evolving financial landscape:
- C-Suite
- Senior leaders
- Decision-makers in marketing, IT, member service, and strategic growth
The sessions will provide valuable insights on driving distinction by focusing on member well-being, next-generation growth, emerging technologies like AI and stablecoin, and innovative strategies for community impact, geared to drive credit unions toward future success.
Thank you to our Title Sponsor, Origence, for making it possible to bring the value of Filene's signature event to more people this year!
