One Washington Financial, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Washington State Employees Credit Union (WSECU), has made a strategic investment in Starlight to help establish a new Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO) to further support credit unions in expanding access to financial support for members nationwide. Starlight is a Public Benefit Corporation helping credit unions proactively connect members to financial relief and benefits programs.
Starlight enables credit unions to deliver on their mission by connecting members with financial assistance and benefits they may not know they already qualify for—building resilience, deepening engagement, and strengthening long-term loyalty. By embedding access to local, state, and federal programs directly into the digital banking experience, Starlight turns the credit union mission into measurable outcomes: fewer delinquencies, higher member retention, and stronger household stability.
Already live with 10+ credit unions and community financial institutions nationwide, Starlight has demonstrated how proactive member support drives tangible results. Participating institutions have helped thousands of members unlock $10 million dollars in available assistance—reducing financial strain, improving household balance sheets, and creating new opportunities for members to reengage with core credit union products.
“Credit unions have always played a vital role in closing economic gaps for the communities we serve,” said Scott Daukas, Principal at One Washington Financial. “What stood out about Starlight is how human the solution is—it helps people access the support they already qualify for, often without realizing it. Our investment isn’t just about supporting the members at WSECU; it’s about helping bring that kind of access to credit unions and their members everywhere.”
“Credit unions are built around service and trust,” said Shreenath Regunathan, CEO of Starlight. “What we are doing is giving that mission new reach. With partners like One Washington Financial, we can help credit unions support members earlier—before a missed payment or financial shock—by connecting them to the resources already available to them.”
The partnership reflects a shared commitment to helping credit unions serve their members through a changing economic landscape. Together, One Washington Financial and Starlight are focused on giving more people access to support they need to stay financially resilient.