NEWS AND UPDATES
i4 Incubator 2027: Expressions of Interest now open
Swoboda members are invited to apply for i4 Incubator 2027, the second year of our collaborative innovation programme. Credit unions work alongside carefully selected Strategic Partners across five flexible labs to test and learn together, without operational risk....
The Integrated Credit Union Core
Swoboda Research Centre is pleased to publish this white paper by Todd Proulx of f64 business services, LLC examining how credit unions can compete not by accumulating more technology, but by integrating it around a co-operative core system. Credit unions have...
Creating a new approach to innovation for Credit Unions
David Fagleman, Project Manager, i4 Incubator, Swoboda Research Centre Innovation is one of those words that everyone feels obliged to use, but not always to define. It sits comfortably in strategy documents and keynote speeches because it sounds positive, modern...
The Common Bond: is this defining feature of credit unions still fit-for-purpose?
New report: The Common Bond Enigma Every credit union in Ireland and the UK is legally required to restrict membership to a defined group, such as employees of a company, residents of a town, or members of an association. This common bond is what makes credit...
The Business Models of Credit Unions – Executive Summary
This report analyses credit union business models across countries with differing income levels, regulatory environments and co‑operative traditions, with particular attention to implications for Ireland. Using international case studies, expert insights and...
What can credit unions learn from Brazil, Canada and Guatemala?
New research: The business models of credit unions — an international comparison This new report by Nick Money and Paul A. Jones examines credit union systems in Brazil, Canada (Desjardins and Anglophone), Guatemala, Jamaica, Poland and the USA, using a common...
Swoboda Chairs Network 2026
Subject: Establishment of the Swoboda Chairs Network – Next Steps Dear Chair, Following on from our Chairs Workshops in November 2025 and May 2026, we would like to thank you once again for your engagement and valuable contribution. As discussed at that session, we...
Conference Agenda for ‘Strategic Resilience’, Blanchardstown, 8th May 2026
The agenda for Swoboda's next conference, 'Strategic Resilience', is now available! Swoboda's conferences bring together the leaders of credit unions and their stakeholders to hear new ideas, meet contacts and friends (old and new) and come away inspired and...
Enabling Innovation in Credit Unions: Understanding and Managing Change
THE REFLECTIONS SERIES: the insights and experience of practitioners Thanks to the author of this paper, Jen Lothian, DataWollet. This paper argues that credit unions must now deliberately build the capacity to change - not to abandon their values, but to protect...
New podcast: Outcome-driven innovation in credit unions
Purpose without delivery doesn’t move the needle. This Podcast explores some of the key themes emerging from the Swoboda Research Centre's Conference on innovation, held in Liverpool in November 2025. Free to listen and download here. The podcast includes...
SWOBODA CREDIT UNION CONFERENCE: ‘LEADING INNOVATION’ LIVERPOOL 21ST NOVEMBER 2025
Swoboda Research Centre hosted its most recent conference, ‘Leading Innovation’, on 21st November 2025 at The Royal Liver Building, Liverpool. The event brought together over 140 delegates to discuss the evolving role of credit unions in Ireland and Great Britain,...
Exclusive opportunity for Swoboda credit unions: i4 Incubator
Swoboda Research Centre is excited to announce an exciting new collaboration programme for 2026 - i4 Incubator, available only to Swoboda members. This exciting initiative unites credit unions and solution providers to test, learn and lead responsible innovation....