MADISON, Wis.–Filene Research Institute has officially launched its Center for Member Well-Being, led by fellow Dr. Mathieu Despard of Washington University in St. Louis.
“With rising inflation, soaring prices on everyday goods, and growing economic uncertainty, it's no surprise that financial stress is weighing heavily on Americans,” Filene stated.
Noting Bankrate’s latest Financial Freedom Survey shows 77% of U.S. adults say they are not completely financially secure—up from 75% in 2024 and 72% in 2023, Filene said: “Financial stress is also a leading contributor to overall stress, which can have wide-ranging effects on physical and mental health, including poor sleep, unhealthy eating, reduced exercise, delayed medical care due to cost, and decreased work productivity.”
Recognizing that financial health is central to overall well-being, Filene’s new Member Well-Being Center of Excellence aims to help credit unions support the “whole member.” Over the next three years, the Center will explore how credit unions can improve the well-being of both members and employees through sustainable, evidence-based practices and solutions—building on the movement to go beyond financial products and truly improve lives, Filene explained.
“As a lifelong credit union member and the grandson of a small-town credit union board member, I’m thrilled to join and support Filene’s Member Well-Being Center of Excellence,” stated Dr. Despard. “I’ll lend my research expertise on a range of financial inclusion and well-being topics and experience testing interventions to help credit unions build on an already-impressive portfolio of member solutions. I also look forward to helping credit unions explore creative ways to impact member well-being around other quality of life issues such as health."
Filene’s Upcoming Research Center: All Things Payments
Filene also announced its next research initiative—its forthcoming Center of Excellence on All Things Payments.
Set to launch in early 2026, this new research center will address the rapidly shifting payments landscape, exploring how credit unions can respond to emerging consumer behaviors, new technologies, and competitive pressures in real-time, digital-first environments,” Filene said.
The key focus areas that this new research center will explore includes:
- Understanding how cutting-edge innovations in payments are shaping consumer expectations
- Understanding the evolving strategies of payments and its impact on credit unions in the overall financial services landscape
- Exploring how credit unions can leverage payment data to create personalized, value-added services that enhance member loyalty and drive growth
- Understanding the implications of new payments technologies on existing core systems and what credit unions can do to future-proof their technology stacks
- Identifying the most effective approaches to mitigate fraud risks while maintaining seamless payment experiences in an increasingly digital ecosystem