Washington, D.C., August 28, 2025 – CUCollaborate, a leading credit union consulting firm specializing in data analytics and strategic planning, today announced a formal partnership with Element Group, a premier design-build firm focused on financial institution branch development. The strategic alliance creates a comprehensive solution for credit unions seeking to optimize their physical footprint through data-driven location analysis and intentional branch design.
The partnership addresses a critical need in the credit union industry, where leaders are increasingly challenged to balance digital transformation with the continued importance of physical presence in their communities. Recent industry data shows that the overwhelming majority of credit union members live within five miles of a branch, and members who move beyond this radius are significantly more likely to close their accounts.
"At Element, our mission has always been to create intentional, engaging spaces that strengthen the connections between credit unions and their members. Partnering with CUCollaborate allows us to expand that impact by pairing their deep data-driven insights with our design-buildexpertise,” shared Nate Baldasaro and William Foley, Founders of The Element Group. “Together, we’re empowering credit unions to make smarter decisionsabout where and how they grow, ensuring that every branch not only reflectstheir brand but also meets members where they are today and into thefuture."
“Credit Unions are looking to partner will full-servicevendors that offer services that holistically solve their complex growth problems,”shared Sam Brownell, Founder and CEO of CUCollaborate. He went on to say, “Ourpartnership with The Element Group will allow us to support credit unionsthroughout the entirety of their branching journey.”
To learn more about the partnership contact Ben Herring bhering@cucollaborate.com
About CUCollaborate
CUCollaborate is a data and analytics CUSO that helps creditunions maximize growth, impact, and performance. We empower creditunions to adapt and thrive by combining proprietary data and technology withdeep subject matter expertise to drive smarter strategic decision-making. Ourcreative strategies, rooted in our unique technical approach powered bydata-driven insights, enable credit unions to stay competitive, optimizeperformance, and expand their impact in an evolving financial landscape.
About The Element Group
The Element Group is a full-servicedesign-build firm dedicated to transforming community banks and creditunions nationwide. With the motto “Every Bit Matters” we specialize indelivering memorable and future-facing retail branch environments that helpfinancial institutions stand out and grow.
From architectural and interior design to graphic design, digital signage, promotional products, and training, The Element Group offers a collaborative, end-to-end solution tailored to each client’s unique goals.
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