Patelco was formed in 1936 by a few employees at Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company (now AT&T). They had a dream, and with only $500 in assets, Patelco Credit Union was formed. A fixture in the Bay Area ever since, Patelco Credit Union is a full-service, not-for-profit financial cooperative dedicated to helping its members and communities prosper.

This month, SpringFour Founder & CEO Rochelle Nawrocki Gorey was named to Forbes’ 50 Over 50 list, which recognizes women whose leadership is reshaping their industries. She joins an impressive class of honorees from major banks and credit unions — proof that SpringFour now sits at the same table as the industry’s biggest names.

Retirement plans remain a core pillar of employee benefits. Yet with an increasingly dire financial reality, many of those plans are falling short. Nearly half of younger working Americans –– 42% — say they’re living paycheck to paycheck. That means after covering their basic living expenses, Gen Z, Millennials, and Gen X have nothing left for savings. And the vast majority say they’re struggling to save for retirement.

Figuring out how to stretch a budget through the entire month. Deciding whether to pay for an unexpected expense on credit. Evaluating student loan repayment options. Determining whether you’re financially ready to buy a home. Financial decisions happen every day, so why shouldn’t financial guidance?

Imagine a bus pulling into a neighborhood where the nearest bank branch is miles away. Inside, residents can open a checking account on the spot, step into a private consultation pod, or meet with a credit counselor. And with SpringFour integrated directly into the experience, a quick zip code search instantly surfaces local financial assistance. What might otherwise take hours is resolved in minutes.

When financial pressure hits, speed matters. During the 2025 federal government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, millions of households suddenly faced paused paychecks and benefits, alongside mounting uncertainty. Financial institutions had a choice: wait, or act. OppFi acted.

This March, we’re recognizing Michigan State University Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU) as our Partner of the Month, for their delivery of critical financial health support and real business impact. Through its partnership with SpringFour, MSUFCU demonstrates how responding to members’ needs and interests drives measurable business results.

AI is fast becoming the front door to banks. When customers need help, they will soon be more likely to start online than at a branch. As industries worldwide moved to adopt agentic AI, the financial services sector emerged as a leader. The technology is ubiquitous in every capacity: more than 50% of industry executives report using AI agents across organizations.

We’re excited to kick off our new Partner of the Month series by highlighting a standout organization delivering meaningful financial health support and driving real business impact: Golden 1 Credit Union. Through its partnership with SpringFour, Golden 1 demonstrates how prioritizing member wellbeing deepens trust and engagement and reinforces long-term loyalty.

2025 was a year of results for SpringFour and the partners who trust us to deliver financial health solutions when it matters most. Through student loan resumptions, a federal government shutdown, rising foreclosures, and climbing household debt, SpringFour remained laser-focused on our mission: connecting people and organizations to the resources that solve real financial challenges.