1st University Credit Union Unlocks $500K+ in Annual Benefits with Starlight
Award-Winning Impact with 1st University Credit Union
1st University CU set out to become a CDFI and knew financial wellness had to be more than a buzzword. They started with educational resources. But they quickly realized:
1. Knowledge wasn’t enough. Members needed real, tangible relief.
2. Most members didn’t know they qualified for government or local support.
3. Stress and uncertainty were rising and information alone didn’t ease it.
4. They needed to act fast to support their community and meet CDFI goals.
1st University turned to Starlight. Unlike traditional financial wellness platforms that focus solely on education, Starlight provides a practical path to immediate financial assistance.
In under a year, Starlight helped members discover benefits they never knew they qualified for, unlocking over $500K in tangible financial support. 1st University was able to go live with the solution in just two weeks, delivering immediate value to members without disrupting day-to-day operations.
With the support of Starlight, 1st University Credit Union empowered its members to uncover over $500,000 in government assistance eligibility and receiving personalized guidance, recognized with a 2025 Tekkie Award for People Helping People.
Member Outcomes:
56% - Members qualified for Waco Down Payment Assistance
40% - Members eligible for SNAP Food Benefits
36% - Members eligible for Earned Income Tax Credit & ACA subsidies
Starlight Highlights:
CDFI-Aligned: Delivered measurable, community-level impact to support certification
4x higher engagement: Achieved a 3.5% engagement rate well above industry benchmarks
Zero-lift launch: Live in 2 weeks with no IT required, plug-and-play setup, built-in marketing, and strong staff buy-in.
A Message from Shelley Carlson, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Relationship Management at 1st University Credit Union
“The implementation was seamless, and the engagement has been incredible. Starlight is an essential tool for any credit union looking to provide real, meaningful financial support to their members.”
Join the Movement
Starlight is helping credit unions expand their impact by making financial assistance programs more accessible. Want to integrate this into your member services? Email us at hello@get-starlight.com.