.png)
.png)
.png)
Washington, D.C., Febraury 4, 2026– CUCollaborate, a leading credit union consulting firm that delivers outcomes-driven analytics for credit unions by connecting regulatory intelligence with performance and predictive insights, announced a strategic partnership with Starlight, a financial technology company that has developed a user-friendly platform for understanding financial assistance and government benefits. This partnership marks a strategic focus on providing credit unions with the tools needed to reach those who are experiencing financial hardship.
"This partnership enables credit unions to connect members directly to the government assistance they're already eligible for—SNAP benefits, childcare assistance, utility support, and tax credits," said Shreenath Regunathan, CEO of Starlight. "Through CUCollaborate's network of 300 credit unions, we're helping members access assistance often worth thousands of dollars. That level of support strengthens household financial stability and reinforces the credit union's role in their communities."
Despite 83% of households requiring financial assistance in the last five years more than $100 billion in government benefits went unclaimed because the system is too complex to navigate. In partnership with CUCollaborate, the Starlight platform will offer credit union members and consumers easier access to financial assistance when they need it most while reaching deeper into underserved communities.
“Credit Unions are seeking partners that cannot only serve their current membership’s needs, but help them extend their services to new ones,” shared Sam Brownell, Founder and CEO of CUCollaborate. He elaborated, “The partnership with Starlight provides a critical resource to credit unions as member financial wellness continues to be an imperative for the movement.
The partnership extends beyond technology integration—Sam Brownell will serve as a strategic advisor to Starlight's CUSO, bringing deep credit union expertise and direct connections to decision-makers across the industry. The CUCollaborate network includes numerous credit unions serving low-income communities and holding Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) designations, enabling the partnership to reach members who stand to benefit most from streamlined access to government assistance.
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. Learn more at CUCollaborate.com.
About Starlight
Starlight helps credit unions and financial institutions strengthen financial resilience for their members by connecting them to local, state, and federal assistance programs they already qualify for. By embedding benefit navigation directly into the digital banking experience, Starlight turns the credit union mission into measurable outcomes: fewer delinquencies, higher member retention, and stronger household balance sheets. Learn more at get-starlight.com.
Press Release
