MADISON, Wis.–The Filene Research Institute has named Richard Swart, visiting researcher at the University of California, Irvine Institute for Money, Technology and Financial Inclusion (IMTFI), as lead Research Fellow of Filene’s Center for Emerging Technology, which provides scholarly, applicable research and education to credit unions on financial technology.
“Richard is a highly trusted expert on technology and innovation for governments, academics and businesses,” said Andrew Downin, managing director of research for Filene, in a statement. “Credit union leaders will benefit from Richard’s keen insights into a variety of Fintech topics that are relevant to maintaining strong member relationships amid an environment of increasing regulation and data threats.”
“IMTFI has established itself as the premier research center devoted to the study of financial technology’s impact on people’s everyday lives,” added Bill Maurer, director of the institute and dean of the School of Social Science at UCI where Swart will conduct his research. “We are delighted to partner with Filene to explore how credit unions can make sense of the Fintech revolution and changing consumer behavior.”
The first report to come out of the research center will explore the drivers of financial technology change and consumer adoption, with an expected release later in 2016, according to Filene. As credit unions focus their financial investments on the Fintech trends that represent true opportunity versus simple hype, this research will help credit union leaders make wiser decisions.
“Filene has an incredible record of scholarship and providing insights to its credit union members,” said Swart. “This Center is a fantastic opportunity to research how credit unions can leverage technology innovations and remain competitive. I am honored to join with Filene and the great faculty and graduate students to help guide this research.”
Filene said its members and other industry leaders are invited to attend a research colloquium, Sorting the Hype Cycle, to be held on May 18, 2017 on the UCI campus where Swart along with other distinguished presenters will lead a series of discussions on what types of technology credit unions should consider partnering with, competing against, or investing in. Registration information can be found at filene.org.
Swart has served as a research scholar in the Institute for Business & Social Innovation in the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley, advises the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and works with several other prominent foundations, think tanks, funds and corporations. He is co-author of Crowdfunding: The Corporate Era, published in June 2015 by Elliott & Thompson.
The Center for Emerging Technology is generously sponsored by CO-OP Financial with additional support from BECU. It is one of five Filene Centers of Excellence.