WASHINGTON, D.C. April 1, 2026 — CUCollaborate, a leading credit union consulting firm that delivers outcomes-driven analytics for credit unions, today announced a groundbreaking partnership with Credit Zoonion, a de novo credit union and member-owned financial institution exclusively dedicated to serving the petting zoos of America. The milestone launch represents years of advocacy, months of regulatory preparation, and at least three bales of hay in facilitation costs.

The launch has been a collaborative, all-hands effort across the CUCollaborate team, working tirelessly to get Credit Zoonion off the ground and connect members across farms, fairgrounds, and barns nationwide.

A Market Long Overlooked

The partnership was born out of a recognition that one of America's most tactile and beloved communities has been chronically underserved by traditional financial institutions. As part of its pre-launch due diligence, CUCollaborate conducted extensive market research, surveying furry, fuzzy, and feathered community members across the country to better understand their unique financial needs, savings behaviors, and long-term planning goals.

The findings were unambiguous: mainstream banking has largely failed this population.

"The data was really compelling," said Sam Brownell, CEO & Founder at CUCollaborate. "At CUCollaborate, we are focused on helping interested parties achieve the outcomes that they previously thought were impossible and this project was no different. It's clear that traditional institutions were never designed with this community in mind. Credit Zoonion changes that. The credit union dared to ask : Why did the chicken cross the road and the answer is clear...for better rates."

Excitement From the Community

From the earliest stages of development, Credit Zoonion has centered the voices of its future membership.

Henrietta Roost, a free-range chicken and one of Credit Zoonion's most vocal early advocates, has been particularly outspoken on the importance of diversified savings strategies. "You can't put all your eggs in one basket," Roost said during a recent member town hall. "We tried. It was a mess. A deeply personal and traumatic mess. That's why liquid savings accounts matter."

Thumperton "Thump" Hopsworth III, a long-eared community leader and father of 37 — with a 38th expected sometime in the next four to six weeks — spoke candidly about the urgency of long-term financial planning. "We really have to start saving for all our kids' college funds," Hopsworth said. "And we have to start yesterday. You'd be amazed how fast this adds up. Truly. I'm still amazed."

Gerald, a potbellied pig and self-described financial pragmatist, declined to comment but was described by colleagues as "cautiously optimistic" and "very motivated by the promise of a branded tote bag at account opening."

Looking Ahead: Expanding the Field of Membership

Credit Zoonion's leadership has made clear that their ambitions extend well beyond the petting zoo space. In alignment with CUCollaborate's broader mission to help credit unions reach underserved communities through innovative field of membership strategies, the institution has already begun scoping future membership expansion.

"We're already looking to expand into the aquarium space," said a Credit Zoonion team member, speaking on condition of anonymity and a handful of pellets. "There are a lot of communities out there living in financial uncertainty, and we believe every member deserves access to fair, transparent financial products. It's critical that we help these communities avoid falling into the traps of predatory loan sharks. That's not a metaphor. Well — it is. But it's also not."

Expansion into the exotic bird sector is also under early consideration, though compliance leadership has flagged concerns about members who may attempt to repeat back account disclosures without fully understanding them.

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About CUCollaborate

CUCollaborate delivers outcomes-driven analytics for credit unions by connecting regulatory intelligence with performance and predictive insights. We help teams understand what’s changing, what it impacts, and what to do next, especially as regulation evolves and funding and operations shift.

Powered by a data platform designed exclusively for credit unions, CUCollaborate goes beyond one-time reports to surface emerging peer, institutional, and market trends before they’re obvious. Our insights help leaders compare strengths, weaknesses, growth trajectories, and risk signals across peers so they can act first, run stronger institutions, and deliver greater member impact.

For more information, please visit  CUCollaborate's website.

About Credit Zoonian

Credit Zoonion is a federally chartered, member-owned credit union dedicated exclusively to serving the petting zoo community of the United States. Membership is open to any petting zoo animal, their handlers, and immediate family members (immediate family defined broadly, particularly in the rabbit context). Credit Zoonion is insured by the NFUA (National Fuzzy Underwriting Association) up to $250,000 per account, or the equivalent in carrots.

This press release was approved by a majority vote of the Credit Zoonion board of directors. The meeting achieved quorum after a brief delay caused by two members eating the agenda.

April Fools!