A Front-Row Seat to the Future: My Takeaways from FinovateFall 2025

Last week, I had the chance to attend FinovateFall 2025 in the heart of Times Square, and while there I got a glimpse into the future that I’m eager to share with Connecticut’s credit unions. Over three days, I watched more than 60 live fintech demos, heard from leaders shaping the next era of financial services, and networked with innovators from across the globe. It was my first Finovate, and I left with one encouraging message echoing in my mind:

Credit unions aren’t just part of the conversation — in many cases, we’re driving it.

While banks, fintechs, and venture capital firms were out in force, credit unions were not invisible. Nearly every startup on stage mentioned credit unions as a key audience they’re building for. That’s good news. But candidly? I hoped to see more of us there. The ideas and partnerships that will shape the next decade are already forming — and we need to be in those rooms.

AI: No Longer Optional

There’s no easy way to say this: AI is infiltrating every solution and system — and it’s not slowing down for anyone.

Everywhere I turned, AI was the common thread — fraud detection, ID verification, member onboarding, dispute resolution, compliance, marketing, you name it. The message from innovators and experts was blunt:

• Waiting is not a strategy. If you’re not implementing an AI strategy now, you’re already behind.
• Start small and build iteratively. Pick one real operational problem, use AI to strip out the friction, and keep a human in the loop.
• AI shines today in marketing and service. While more complex agentic AI is still emerging — the leap from “interesting” to “essential” is happening fast.
• Guardrails matter. Don’t give AI final decision-making authority on rates, approvals, or anything where judgment trumps speed.

And as AI-generated fraud accelerates, you’re going to need AI to fight AI. That means training your team, running tabletop “what if” exercises (think: a cloned CEO voice asking your CFO to wire funds), and getting comfortable with experimentation.

AI is best seen as augmentation, not automation — and it should never automate away the member relationship that makes credit unions unique.

Stablecoins: The Opportunity Hiding in Plain Sight

One of the quieter but more urgent discussions centered on stablecoins and the GENIUS Act, which takes effect in roughly 18 months. Here’s the bottom line: stablecoins carry risk, but they also carry enormous potential — and the biggest threat isn’t the risk itself. It’s that too many institutions don’t yet realize they’re a threat at all.

Credit unions that start educating themselves and crafting strategy now will be the ones ready to capture the opportunity when it arrives.

Rethinking the Member Experience

Several of the most compelling demos focused on seamless digital onboarding and loan origination, frictionless ID verification, and faster dispute resolution. Those who do this well are winning market share. And they’re doing it by reimagining financial services not around products, but around life stages and personalized ecosystems.

The future member doesn’t want a menu of accounts — they want timely advice, proactive guidance, and integration into their financial lives. This is where credit unions can shine, if we’re bold enough to lead.

Innovation Requires Courage

If there was a cultural theme, it was this: innovation takes courage.

Budget for innovation losses like you do loan losses. Expect some failures. Celebrate the attempts, not just the wins. Stay anchored to your member experience, and never automate away the relationship. Move fast, learn fast, and pivot even faster.

Looking Ahead to FinovateFall 2026

FinovateFall returns to New York City on September 9–11, 2026.

If your credit union wants to see what’s coming before it arrives, I can’t recommend this event enough. Until then, the Credit Union League of Connecticut is here to be your guide — to help you navigate emerging technology, explore new partnerships, and accelerate your growth.

I’d love to talk about what I saw, where our current partners fit, and what new solutions might drive your strategy forward. The future is forming now — let’s make sure credit unions are the ones shaping it.

Chris

Christopher Whalen
VP of Marketing & Strategic Solutions
Credit Union League of Connecticut