2026 Holiday IT Wish List - Part 1

For the 2026 edition of the annual Finopotamus “Holiday Tech Wish List” feature, we sat down with forward-looking fintech executives who shared their tech hopes and forecasted market realities for 2026. Due to a significant number of intriguing responses, this year’s Wish List will be presented in five consecutive installments.

Part 1 features insights from MDT, Happy Money, Wilqo, Vine Financial Inc., Cotribute, SWIVEL and Prizeout.

By W.B. King

MDT’s Strategic Partnerships Manager Eric Gubka wishes the credit union industry reaches a point where artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are no longer viewed as "experimental, wait-and-see projects," but rather become fully embedded in day-to-day operations.

“Many credit unions still treat AI as a separate, future-focused initiative, when really it needs to become part of the fabric of how they serve members, manage risk and run their institutions,” Gubka shared. The Farmington Hills, Mich.-based CUSO helps more than 115 credit union clients navigate complex financial technology ecosystems.

“When AI is implemented thoughtfully and with the right stakeholders involved, it reduces friction, improves staff efficiency and helps credit unions make smarter decisions faster, while also allowing institutions to focus more time to help members when they need that human connection most,” he added.

When Finopotamus asked Gubka how likely it is that his wish will come true, he said he believes the industry will continue to make “steady progress,” but noted that the disconnect between “interest and execution” remains real.

“Most credit unions want to adopt AI-driven efficiencies, but there’s (there are) a few challenges that often slow them down. First is having the right data foundation, as AI cannot reach its full potential without clean, connected data across systems. Second is ensuring staff are appropriately trained in how to engage intelligently and thoughtfully with AI. And third is the reality of tight budgets and competing priorities,” he continued. “That said, I see more institutions building roadmaps and moving from pilot projects into practical deployments. The momentum is there; some will start small and intentionally, and some will dive in the deep end. The continued support from vendors and partners is what will make adoption easier and less resource heavy and will help prevent additional project and vendor fatigue.”

For Matt Potere, CEO at the Torrance, Calif.-based Happy Money, AI also tops his wish list—noting that it’s no longer a “futuristic” concept but rather a tool that is reshaping both member expectations and financial services.

“As credit unions integrate AI, my wish is that they would embed it where it truly adds value, implementing the technology with intention and measurable impact,” Potere told Finopotamus. The fintech, which offers lending solutions, has 10 credit union clients.

“The first step in assessing AI readiness is to define the business objective. This requires understanding internal capabilities, identifying gaps and establishing clear outcomes before any rollout begins,” he continued. “The credit unions that excel won’t be the ones that rush to deploy the newest tools, but those that take a strategic and purposeful approach – recognizing that AI is a means to an end, not an end in itself, and integrating it thoughtfully into existing operations.”

Since there are “ample opportunities” to embed AI into responsible lending practices ahead, his said his wish may come true but it can only be achieved with rigorous oversight. “That’s why keeping a human-in-the-loop approach isn’t just a best practice – it’s a critical safeguard. It ensures AI never veers into decisions that conflict with an organization’s strategy, brand, values, regulatory requirements or risk appetite.”

When AI is involved in a lending decision, Potere said both members and regulators deserve more than a black box. “The decisions made with AI must be transparent, understandable and free from bias,” he shared. “At the end of the day, AI will never replace the human relationships that define credit unions. But when used thoughtfully, it can strengthen them.”

Topping Wilqo Chief of Staff Tom Morelli’s wish list is for fintechs to “finally give credit unions the platform and support” they need, which in turn will allow them to modernize their approach to mortgage lending.

“Platforms built on unified, flexible architecture, like a production optimization platform (POP), can seem like a wish list item, but they are already out there, and some credit unions have started to take notice,” said Morelli. The Dallas-based company, which has one credit union client, bills itself as delivering AI-driven solutions that transform lending practices.

“However, many institutions still rely on systems that weren’t designed for today’s lending pace or member expectations and it’s holding their business back,” he added. “It is on us to help educate and collaborate with credit union partners to understand the solutions out there to facilitate a simple transition to a modern method of origination.”

The likelihood of his wish coming true is “increasing” with each passing day, he noted but for it to be fully realized, long-standing industry habits will need to be broken.

“Many credit unions have been burdened by the same systems and workflows for years, and the idea of transitioning away from familiar tools can feel overwhelming, even if those tools are the very thing holding them back,” he continued. “Traditional mortgage processes tend to involve a lot of re-checking work that is already done, as well as manual efforts and coordination across separate systems, reinforcing the perception that adopting something new will require major disruption.”

Switching gears from wishes to reality, he added that modern platforms built for “activity-level work, parallel processing and real-time collaboration,” can make daily operations more manageable.

“It allows you to get more from the resources you have. With the right approach, the shift can feel less like a major overhaul and more like finally giving teams a platform that matches how lending should operate,” he noted. “So, my hope for 2026 is that more credit unions embrace a shift in mindset of how a mortgage can be assembled, while providing the very best experience for their members. Fintechs should play a very specific role in making that shift possible.”

For 2026, Vine Financial CEO David Eads shared one wish: that more credit unions confidently embrace commercial lending as a core growth engine, not just a niche service.

“Credit unions haven’t historically been known for their commercial offerings, but this area represents one of the most promising opportunities for long-term growth,” he said. The Austin, Texas-based Vine Financial bills itself as providing a faster, more accurate, and more auditable commercial lending accelerator for banks and credit unions.

“As institutions look to diversify beyond consumer-focused loan products, modern technology can give them the ability to launch commercial programs quickly, deliver faster decisions and better support the businesses within their communities,” he said. “With the right tools, particularly systems that leverage AI to streamline workflows and adapt to each credit union’s policies, commercial lending could become a major driver of member value and revenue for years to come.”

When asked if his wish would come true, Eads told Finopotamus that the likelihood was strong. He cited a recent Jack Henry report that found 72% of credit unions plan to expand services for small businesses in the next year, which could give rise to more commercial lending.

“Traditional approaches to commercial lending can be slow and resource intensive. Manual processes, long approval cycles and the risk of errors often make it challenging for lean teams to launch or scale programs. Regulatory caps and competition with banks can also pose obstacles,” he continued. “However, these challenges are less daunting with modern technology that automates routine tasks and helps lenders make faster, more accurate decisions. Credit unions that adopt these capabilities can launch commercial programs more confidently and achieve meaningful growth.”

According to Cotribute’s CEO and Co-founder, Philip Paul, finding “practical fixes for the industry’s most persistent technology headaches” not only tops his 2026 wish list but he feels it’s the wish of every credit union executive.

“The solution isn’t magic or elves. However, adopting advanced AI growth agents are equally transformative and will be critical to the future success of every credit union, regardless of size or location,” he told Finopotamus. “We are confident this wish will be granted in 2026 and expect credit unions of all sizes to begin leveraging intelligent AI growth agents to automate the member acquisition and onboarding process, while providing personalized service and tailored offerings.”

The Anaheim, Calif.-based fintech offers a fintech platform that enables profitable revenue and customer growth for financial institutions, Paul explained. “Broad marketing campaigns to the masses are no longer effective. Successfully cross-selling members and expanding relationships are also at the top of every wish list. Members not only expect, but often demand more personalized, relevant offers,” he said.

By implementing AI engines that automatically analyze behavior, intent and relationship data will be key to engaging members and building long-term loyalty, he noted. “My hope for 2026 is that credit unions will embrace the inevitable evolution of the industry, will recognize the endless opportunities and ultimately will reap the many rewards afforded by the advancing AI initiatives.”

SWIVEL’s Vice President of Product Management Samy Kogan wishes to deliver a “seamless, unified payments experience” that feels effortless for both members and credit union clients.

“Payments are no longer merely a back-office function, but a core part of the member experience. Today’s consumers expect flexibility, security and simplicity whether they’re paying online, in-app or at a physical point of sale,” he said. The San Antonio-based SWIVEL, an SWBC company, offers an integrated payment solutions platform.

“Unfortunately, many financial institutions still operate on fragmented systems that create friction and limit innovation,” he continued. “A modern, streamlined payments experience means consistent design and usability across all channels, support for diverse payment options like digital wallets, account-to-account transfers, and card-based solutions as well as scalable architecture that can adapt to new payment methods and regulatory requirements without major disruption.”

While Kogan conceded that there is only a moderate chance that his wish will come true, he is encouraged that the financial services industry, of which SWIVEL serves more than 800 clients, is actively moving toward modernization.

“The biggest challenges include legacy infrastructure that slows integration and scalability, compliance and security requirements for evolving payment methods as well as resource prioritization, balancing innovation with operational stability,” he shared. “Success is achievable but will require collaboration across product, technology and compliance teams, plus a clear roadmap for modernization. Members want payment journeys that feel intuitive and trustworthy as opposed to complex or outdated.”

For Prizeout CTO Brendan Grove, merging human and AI code creation without "compromising on code quality, reliability, security, or scalability" tops his 2026 wish list.

“The likeliness of this be implemented in the coming year is high,” he told Finopotamus. The New York City-based ad-tech company offers payments, rewards, and loyalty solutions to financial institutions (FIs), including credit unions.

“As the tools continue to develop and we invest time, resources, and energy into them, we likely find ourselves in a completely new coding paradigm by the end of the year,” he noted.

When Finopotamus asked what his hope is for the fintech/credit union industry in 2026, Grove responded: “That they continue to find a way to bring their world-class customer service and community focused banking into the digital age. It has always been a member-focused approach versus a product focused approach and I think it is up to fintech vendors to always keep the member first even if they are delivering a product.”