KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Filene Research Institute has selected 27 semifinalist ideas from a record pool of more than 120 submissions for potential inclusion in its 2027 FiLab testing program, including 25 fintech solutions and two research-oriented Discovery Tests.
Filene said the 118 fintech applications represented a 39% increase from 2025 and were the most in FiLab’s history. About 77% came from first-time applicants.
The semifinalists will now be evaluated by FiLab sponsors, with the process beginning during the 2026 FiLab Symposium, scheduled for Aug. 25-27 in Kansas City.
According to Filene, credit union executives, strategic partners and innovation experts attending the event will hear virtual pitches from the semifinalists and vote on which solutions will advance into a collaborative testing cohort beginning in January 2027.
‘The Bigger Story’
“Record volume matters, but the bigger story is the quality of the applicant pool,” Megan Freshour, incubation director at Filene, said in a statement. “It left our committee with no easy cuts — every one of the 27 that advanced earned its place.”
Freshour said each of the semifinalist solutions has the potential to help advance the credit union industry.
Five Areas of Focus
Filene said the 2027 Test Menu is organized around five categories:
- Growing membership and engagement: Solutions aimed at digitally attracting, activating and retaining credit union members.
- Lending, payments and deposits: Technologies designed to expand access to credit across the lending lifecycle.
- Fraud, scam and risk protection: Solutions focused on preventing scams and making fraud investigations more efficient.
- Institutional operations and automation: Technologies intended to automate workflows and reduce the amount of staff time required for operational tasks.
- Data and member intelligence: Solutions designed to help credit unions turn member data into information that can improve decision-making.
Each semifinalist is also classified as either a “Driving Growth” or “Advancing Impact” test.
An Area of Primary Focus
Filene said Driving Growth tests are primarily focused on the potential for business expansion, while Advancing Impact tests emphasize measurable benefits for credit union members and communities. The two-track structure is intended to balance business innovation with financial inclusion and community impact.
The 27 semifinalists were selected from submissions addressing opportunities to help credit unions improve member service, strengthen operations and generate sustainable growth, according to Filene.
The FiLab Symposium will include pitch sessions, strategic discussions and voting by participants to determine which semifinalists become part of the 2027 testing agenda.
About the Program
FiLab is Filene’s innovation testing program, bringing credit unions and other industry participants together to evaluate emerging technologies and business approaches in real-world settings. The program is designed to help determine whether new products and concepts can deliver measurable results before broader adoption.
Filene said the final selections will participate in a collaborative testing cohort beginning in January.
For additional information, go here.
