adminFilene Research Institute is relaunching its Center of Excellence for Emerging Technology for another three years. The focus of this research is to connect credit unions with the most impactful technology and consumer trends. The research enables credit unions to have current resources, tools, and strategies for navigating the intersection of financial services and emerging technology in a concrete and actionable manner.
Dr. Bill Maurer, dean, School of Social Sciences; professor, Department of Anthropology & School of Law; and director, Institute for Money, Technology & Financial Inclusion at the University of California—Irvine will continue in his role as Research Fellow for the Center for Emerging Technology.
Trends toward digital delivery of credit union products and services have been further accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, digital channels have become the preferred way to interact with financial organizations—73% of U.S. adults report being more likely to use digital financial services during the pandemic and there has been a 50% increase in the use of mobile banking apps from 2019.
The Center for Emerging Technology, together with Filene’s cadre of Centers of Excellence, form the pillars of Filene’s research agenda seeking to advance consumer financial wellness by transforming cooperative finance and move credit unions forward. Each is led by an academic researcher at the top of their field and advised by a trusted community of leaders from the credit union system.
