DIGITAL BANKING
“ACCESSIBLE FINANCIAL WELL-BEING ALSO MEANS COMMUNICATING IN PLAIN LANGUAGE AND MEETING PEOPLE WITHOUT JUDGMENT, WHEREVER THEY ARE IN THEIR FINANCIAL JOURNEY”
Jason Rudman EVP BECU
Q. WHAT TRENDS IN CREDIT AND LOANING HAVE YOU NOTICED RECENTLY?
» Portfolio mix is shifting: auto lending keeps shrinking driven by pulled-back indirect lending, tariffs and elevated vehicle prices; real estate has picked up the slack: first mortgages and second liens now make up 47.1 % of credit union loan portfolios, up three points in five years, with first mortgage growth rebounding as lower rates sparked refinancing.
Revolving credit is picking up the strain as credit card balances at credit unions grew in 1Q and hit record levels with members leaning on HELOCs and credit cards for flexibility as prices have risen nearly 25 % since 2021; this is part confidence, part households using revolving credit to manage cash flow.
Lending economics is being reshaped by embedded finance, B2B and BNPLstyle models and a growing private credit ecosystem, pushing institutions toward API-first, AI-driven platforms.
Fintechs are already using AI and alternative data for faster, more flexible offers, which forces credit unions to partner, build, or risk disintermediation. The upside is more inclusive of underwriting and better risk pricing – but it comes with heavier model governance, fair-lending controls and transparent member communication requirements.
Q. COULD THERE BE ROOM FOR GREATER FOCUS ON HOW COMPANIES APPROACH ACCESSIBLE FINANCIAL WELL-BEING?
» Absolutely. Many people do not have the time, access, or resources to work with a traditional financial advisor, even though they may be the people who would benefit most from timely guidance.
134 October 2026