How to Grow Like a Neobank Without Losing Your Relationship Advantage

Digital Growth Mastery Webinar Replay

Neobanks like SoFi, Chime, and Revolut have grown from zero to millions of account holders in record time, and they show no signs of slowing down.
They’re winning not just on acquisition, but on deepening relationships and driving multi-product engagement.

The good news? Your community financial institution (CFI) can use these same tactics.

In our latest Digital Growth Mastery webinar, we sat down with FI Growth Strategist Steve Kelley and Meritrust Credit Union VP of Digital Strategy Emily Stewart to uncover how CFIs can compete and win in the digital-first era.

Why This Matters for Credit Unions & Community Banks

• 60% of consumers log into a banking app at least once a day.
• Neobanks are projected to process $7.3 trillion in transactions in 2025.
• Acquisition is expensive, but 40% of those new relationships disappear within a year without strong engagement.

If your app isn’t acting like a digital branch, you’re leaving growth (and retention) on the table.

Webinar Takeaways

1. The Real Threat from Neobanks
It’s not just their big budget to acquire new account holders; it’s their mastery at growing customer lifetime value (CLV) by increasing product adoption over time.

2. Engagement Inside the App
From push notifications that lead directly to product openings, to in-app financial education (with rewards), to lifestyle partner offers — neobanks keep everything within the account holder’s digital experience. No branch. No separate website tab.

3. Data that Drives Conversions
Meritrust Credit Union tapped into transaction data to spot members showing specific credit behaviors like BNPL activity and invited them to apply through an “Apply With Confidence” campaign. The approach didn’t just increase applications; it balanced their credit score mix and boosted conversions from application to funded loan.

Who This Webinar is For

• Credit union executives looking to strengthen digital growth strategies.
• Bank marketers seeking better retention and cross-sell.
• Digital leaders who want to turn data into personalized engagement.

Access the Webinar Replay

This session gives you a clear look at how neobanks are winning the digital engagement game — and what that means for your CFI. You’ll see how they integrate offers, education, and lifestyle perks directly into the app experience, and hear how Meritrust Credit Union is using data to shift lending application patterns and boost conversions.

It’s the context and inspiration you need to start shaping a more competitive digital strategy and to prepare for the next session in the series, where we’ll dive into specific, actionable tactics.

Watch Digital Growth Mastery Webinar #2 Now