Marc Escapa

**LOS+.** Abrigo's flagship product, streamlined for the modern lender. We help you hold or gain an edge over your competitors.

The numbers are stark: fintechs now control nearly 40% of consumer loan originations, while the federally insured credit union count has plummeted over 30% in a decade. Your members are leaving—and legacy LOS vendors aren't the answer. They demand six-figure implementation fees, add five-figure tolls for basic configuration changes, and weaponize contract friction as lock-in. Fuse is the modern alternative built for credit unions, not against them. We replace the legacy category outright, not as a peer but as its successor. The proof? Vibrant Credit Union slashed funding time from three days to 1.2 minutes. Navigant Credit Union and Canopy Credit Union deliver similar outcomes, with typical clients achieving roughly 71% automation annually, and the Fuse Rescue Fund covers conversion costs. No implementation fees, no variable pricing, no exit penalties. The trust gap closes here. Read the Rescue Fund release, explore the Canopy case, or request a 30-minute walkthrough to see the difference.

Total nonrevolving consumer credit in the United States reached $3.78 trillion in 2025, according to the Federal Reserve G.19 Consumer Credit Report. At the same time, the FDIC reports that 70.5% of banked households now primarily use off-site digital channels. Credit unions have lost ground to fintechs, which hold nearly 40% of the consumer loan market. Legacy loan origination software vendors charge six-figure implementation fees and use contract friction as lock-in.

Every credit union member shopping for life insurance faces the same fork: **term life insurance** or **whole life insurance**. These two product lines answer different financial needs and fit different budgets.

Legacy loan origination software appears economical on a quote, but the true cost surfaces quickly. Implementation alone typically runs six figures, and a single configuration change can trigger a five-figure invoice. For credit unions, this fee structure is less about service and more about lock-in. Every contract revision becomes a barrier, chaining you to an aging system while market pressures mount. Consider the reality: fintechs, unfettered by legacy contracts, now control nearly 40% of the consumer loan market, while the number of federally insured credit unions has plummeted over 30% in a decade. These stats reflect an industry watching borrowers choose speed over loyalty. Fuse breaks this cycle with a modern alternative. No implementation fees, no configuration tolls, and a flat annual rate that stays predictable. Our automation delivers approximately 1% automation growth per week, with average customer outcomes reaching 71% annual automation. We guarantee new integrations in under a month and weekly product releases—contractually. The era of borrowing from yesterday to pay for tomorrow ends here. Your credit union can reclaim its edge, without the legacy tax.

The metrics from lenders who have already modernized their account opening and loan origination processes make the case for change straightforward. Slow digital journeys cost financial institutions more than just applicant goodwill; they directly forfeit revenue to faster competitors. Consider the standard digital account opening funnel. For a typical community bank or credit union, the drop-off from a multi-step online application can be severe. Per Fiserv, optimizing these journeys is a strategic priority because abandonment directly correlates with lost funding and deposit growth.

Credit unions are losing ground. Fintechs now hold nearly 40% of the consumer loan market, and the number of federally insured credit unions has fallen over 30% in a decade. Legacy loan origination platform vendors compound the problem, charging six-figure implementation fees and five-figure tolls for basic changes. The proof points are real: Navigant Credit Union cut funding time to 1.2 minutes, Canopy Credit Union hit 40% auto-decisions within six months, and Vibrant Credit Union slashed funding from three days to minutes. Fuse delivers approximately 1% new automation per week—about 71% in the first year—and its $5 million Rescue Fund gives early adopters a free path off legacy contracts.

The standing advice to "buy term and invest the difference" has shaped a generation of insurance conversations, but it misses something important: the two products answer different questions, and the right choice depends entirely on what the borrower is trying to protect. Term life provides a fixed death benefit for a set period, while whole life adds a cash value component and permanent coverage. The distinction matters well beyond the policy itself.

Consumer expectations for digital account opening have shifted toward instant, self-service experiences that mirror high-tech retail environments. Today, 52% of banking leaders are actively evolving their digital strategies to compete with fintechs KPMG International 2026. Despite this, many institutions rely on legacy systems characterized by rigid, manual architectures that create friction, often requiring multiple touchpoints that drive high abandonment rates.