Brett Wooden, FI Software Strategist, Buildable
I’ve been building with LEGO bricks for as long as I can remember. Before the days of themed sets—before LEGO partnered with Marvel, Star Wars or DC—there were just blocks and an endless world of imagination.
Back then, you didn’t have instructions to guide you in recreating an iconic spaceship or superhero lair; you had to build from scratch, relying on creativity, problem-solving and an unshakable desire to create something unique.
Those who really know me today know I’m still a LEGO builder. At night, I unwind by building, always looking for ways to unleash my creativity. Recently, I’ve taken on an ambitious project—building my own LEGO city. It’s a process that requires meticulous planning, watching videos from other builders, and constantly refining my work. What I build today could be rebuilt tomorrow as I discover new ideas, better techniques and creative ways to make my city come to life.
This mindset—the iterative nature of building, breaking and improving—is something I see reflected in my professional world of software development for credit unions.
The LEGO Approach to Software Development
When it comes to technology, credit unions often face a choice: buy an out-of-the-box solution or build something custom. It’s the difference between buying a Star Wars Millennium Falcon LEGO set or sourcing bricks and designing something unique.
Pre-built software solutions are impressive. They come with pre-defined features, just like a LEGO set comes with instructions. But once it’s built, there’s little room for refinement. It sits on the shelf, serving its function but with limited flexibility. Meanwhile, when you build something—when you approach software like an open bin of LEGO bricks—you have the power to customize, adapt and evolve it over time.
Software development, like LEGO building, follows a cycle: Discover, Design, Build and Share.
Discover: Identify your credit union’s needs. What gaps exist? What experience do you want for your members? Run toward the problems, not away from them.
Design: Map out the structure. Like laying out a cityscape, designing a software solution requires foresight, scalability and adaptability.
Build: Piece by piece, the solution comes together. You start with a foundation, then iterate, add, remove and refine.
Share: Once built, you test, gather feedback and continue to enhance the solution over time.
A truly great LEGO city—or software solution—is never finished. It evolves. New elements are introduced. Features are improved. Others are removed or reworked. Most importantly, you invite others into the process—whether it’s a friend suggesting a new idea for your LEGO layout or a team of developers helping refine a credit union’s digital experience.
The Future of Credit Unions: Build or Buy?
With credit unions merging, open banking becoming more prominent, and fintechs entering the space, differentiation is key. What better way to stand out than by building something custom for your credit union?
We invest heavily in branches, product development and marketing campaigns, yet many settle for an off-the-shelf solution when it comes to software.
It’s time to rethink that mindset. The same passion and curiosity that fueled me as an 80s kid building LEGO creations is the same approach I bring to software development today. It’s a process of constant evolution, and the best solutions are the ones that are uniquely crafted to fit an institution or member’s needs or pain points.
Whether in LEGO or software, the most rewarding builds are the ones that reflect our vision—not just something taken from a box. So, let’s embrace the challenge. Let’s build, break, refine and build again. Because the best solutions, just like the best LEGO creations, are never truly finished.