IFI's Roadmap to Innovation

IncumbentFI is focused on helping community financial institutions compete (and win) in 2026 with proven solutions that enhance the account holder experience, drive revenue, and layer seamlessly onto your existing infrastructure. Your institution has what it takes to drive your success this year – we’re here to give you a roadmap.

As you can see from the example above, there are a few solutions we can enable to help you modernize your debit card portfolio with real value to both account holders and your institution:

HELOC-Link

Give account holders instant, everyday access to their home equity. HELOC-Link connects existing HELOC funds directly to their existing debit card, allowing account holders to pay instantly at the point-of-sale for life’s planned and unplanned expenses.

For account holders, this means flexibility and peace of mind – whether they’re paying for unexpected expenses, such as car repairs or broken appliances, covering renovation project costs, or managing cash-flow gaps, they’re able to do so instantly and at much lower rates than traditional credit cards. For your institution, it means increased HELOC utilization, higher debit interchange fee income, and top-of-wallet status among your account holders.

Youth Banking

Empower families with built-in tools to teach real-world money skills, while creating early, meaningful engagement with your institution. Parents get visibility and enhanced control of debit card spend, while kids get to learn by doing: earning, saving and spending responsibly in a safe, structured environment.

For financial institutions, Youth Banking builds long-term loyalty from the earliest stage, grows low-cost deposits, and leverages your existing debit card portfolio, with accounts on your existing core.

Shop Local (Community Rewards)

Turn everyday debit card purchases into a community-driven rewards program that benefits account holders, local businesses, and your institution. Account holders rack up meaningful rewards when they use your debit card at participating local businesses. Local merchants gain visibility and traffic by being in your institution's "network" of valued merchants.

For your FI, this solution increases debit engagement and usage while strengthening community ties, without the complexity of traditional rewards programs. While helping to grow local businesses' exposure and increase their sales, your FI is uniquely positioned to significantly grow your commercial banking services.

Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL)

Offer real-time, bank-supported alternative funding at the moment of need, keeping your debit card top of wallet and reducing reliance on third-party providers. This gives your account holders transparent, predictable installment options directly through their trusted financial institution – no surprise fees, no fragmented experiences, and no need to open accounts at SoFi or Klarna.

Your institution gets to maintain control over credit, data and the customer experience, while keeping relationships that might otherwise flow to external BNPL providers.

If you’re ready to explore how innovation can support your goals without disrupting your progress, let’s talk. We’d love to help you build a roadmap that works for your institution – in 2026 and beyond.

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