Member Behavior Gives Credit Unions an Early Warning System

Trust has become the starting point, rather than the finish line.

Credit unions continue to enjoy a reputation for personal service and strong member relationships, but that goodwill does not always determine which card members reach for, which app they open or which institution they consult when financial needs change.

The next stage of competition lies with a credit union proving its value often enough to become part of a member’s everyday financial decisions. That common thread ran throughout the latest PYMNTS Intelligence Drop interview with Dan Brewin, chief operations officer at Trumark Credit Union, and Scott P. Young, senior vice president of Emerging Services at Velera.

Brewin explained how member expectations have evolved inside the credit union, while Young described how data, technology and payments capabilities can help institutions respond.

Consumers no longer measure their financial institution against another bank or credit union, Brewin said.

“They’re comparing us to every other digital experience they use, payments apps, wallets, FinTechs, retailers, technology providers and platforms,” Brewin said. “All of those have shaped their expectations around speed, simplicity, convenience, control and personalization.”

That comparison has raised expectations without diminishing the importance of trust.

“Trust matters more,” Brewin said. “Members aren’t just asking, ‘Does my credit union offer this product, and can they keep my money safe?’ It’s really, ‘Can they help me manage my money in a way that helps me live my life and do it in a way that’s simple, fast, secure and relevant?’”

Young agreed with Brewin’s assessment.

“Top of wallet is the ultimate outcome,” Young said.

That philosophy reaches beyond payment cards. Brewin described a strategy built around rewarding broader relationships, meeting members where they already spend and creating experiences that reinforce the value of using the credit union throughout everyday life.

Reading the Financial Journey

The two executives said members often reveal what they need before they ever ask for it.

Brewin pointed to behaviors such as checking a credit score, reviewing balances, using budgeting tools and establishing automated savings. Those actions act as indicators that members may be preparing for a larger financial decision and create opportunities to offer guidance that aligns with those goals rather than interrupting members with generic product promotions.

That requires stronger data capabilities, but Brewin said it also requires restraint.

As consumers explore buy now, pay later products, installment lending and other tools to manage cash flow, credit unions have a responsibility to balance convenience with members’ long-term financial interests, he said.

“We have to make sure as we look at those products, we’re taking the member’s best interest in mind and not just helping them fund bad behaviors as well,” Brewin said.

Young picked up the same discussion from the technology perspective.

“Successful credit unions treat card engagement as an ongoing strategy, not a one-time acquisition,” Young said. “They continually evaluate how members activate, how they access and how they use their cards, then respond to changing behaviors and expectations.”

Transaction data should become a source of member intelligence rather than simply campaign reporting, he said.

“Rewards should recognize and reinforce the broader relationship, not simply award for isolated purchases,” Young said. “Data and personalization help credit unions avoid a one-size-fits-all structure and direct incentives toward behaviors that create incremental engagement.”

If transaction data shows a member traveling and using a debit card instead of the institution’s credit card, for example, that behavior can trigger a timely travel-related offer rather than a broad marketing campaign delivered to every cardholder, Young said.

Instant credit card origination, immediate digital wallet provisioning, FinTech partnerships and more personalized member experiences are ways to remove friction at the beginning of the relationship while creating stronger engagement over time, Young said. Card activity should be viewed as one of the clearest signals of a member’s changing financial needs, rather than as a standalone payments metric.

“What Dan is describing, and I completely agree with, is the shift from being a trusted institution to becoming a consistently useful financial partner, delivering that value to ultimately help the member do better,” Young said.

Watch the PYMNTS Intelligence Drop Interview

The discussion extended beyond card usage. Watch the full PYMNTS Intelligence Drop interview with Dan Brewin and Scott P. Young to hear more about:

How member behavior can reveal financial needs before consumers request help.

Why both executives said digital experiences outside financial services are reshaping member expectations.

How rewards, customer relationship management data and personalization can strengthen long-term member relationships.

Why instant issuance, digital wallets and FinTech partnerships are changing how credit unions engage members from the first interaction onward.