It’s hard to believe but planning for the 2026 myCUmortgage Partner Conference is underway! Mark your calendars now and plan to attend the credit union mortgage lending event of the year. Scheduled for Monday-Wednesday, Oct. 19-21 in Dayton, this year’s conference looks to build on the overwhelming success of the 2025 event.
A big part of the success from this past year can be attributed to the generosity of our sponsors, including Gold Sponsor, MeridianLink. To show our appreciation, we’ve asked them to share their industry knowledge on the topic of home equity and how credit unions can help members tap into their financial potential. Enjoy! –Mort the Mortgage Mentor
Home equity is a pivotal source of capital for millions of Americans and a significant relationship-building opportunity for credit unions. Homeowners are exploring multiple ways to tap into their equity, and across every option, the message is clear: members want guidance, clarity, and solutions tailored to their specific needs.
Seizing this moment can of course drive loan growth for credit unions, but the impact goes even further. Our nationwide survey shows that 23% of homeowners still report a limited understanding of home equity products, an improvement from 38% in 2022, but still a significant knowledge gap. By stepping into a trusted advisory role and leveraging seamless digital lending solutions, credit unions can close that gap.
The institutions that recognize and act on this opportunity now won’t just capture meaningful home equity lending growth; they’ll strengthen member relationships that endure the test of time.
Why Home Equity Is the Growth Engine of 2026
U.S. homeowners currently hold approximately $11.6 trillion in available home equity, with the average homeowner sitting on more than $213,000 in accessible value. This isn’t just latent wealth; it’s a powerful financial tool that members are increasingly motivated to use for addressing a spectrum of priorities.
Renovation Over Relocation
Between elevated mortgage rates, limited housing inventory, and high move-in costs, relocation has become less appealing. Instead, 45% of Americans say they’re motivated to improve the homes they already love. From kitchen remodels and home offices to aging-in-place upgrades, demand for renovation financing continues to rise, and home equity is funding it.
The Debt Consolidation Shift
At the same time, average credit card interest rates remain above 19%, putting pressure on household budgets. More members (16%+) are looking to leverage home equity to consolidate high-interest debt, reduce monthly payments, and regain financial control.
In addition to those two leading factors, homeowners say they’d like to use their home equity to:
- Pursue additional real estate or other wealth-building opportunities (16%).
- Establish a financial safety net without relying on high-interest debt (11%).
- Cover significant healthcare costs or other major life events with a flexible, lower-cost solution (5%).
Each use case presents an opportunity for credit unions to understand a member’s unique financial situation and deliver tailored solutions that improve their overall financial well-being, deepening trust and fostering relationships beyond a single transaction.
Where Credit Unions Can Lead in the Home Equity Conversation
For many homeowners, tapping into their equity is one of the most consequential financial choices they’ll make in years. That’s why, in today’s market, members aren’t simply looking for a lender. They’re looking for help understanding their options and confidence in the path forward.
Our home equity survey brings this into focus. Homeowners are most likely to move forward when they clearly understand the financial benefit, have repayment options that align with their lives, and can navigate the process without unnecessary friction.
These findings point to a larger opportunity. In a market defined by choice, leadership in home equity lending isn’t about offering more products; it’s about guiding better decisions. This is where credit unions can meaningfully differentiate.
It starts with relevance. Credit unions that can recognize when a member’s equity position intersects with rising debt, a home improvement need, or a life milestone are better positioned to start the conversation early—before members begin searching for answers elsewhere.
It’s built on trust. The Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act taking effect this year fundamentally reshapes how and when members are marketed to, curbing the use of trigger leads and reducing predatory outreach the moment a borrower shows intent. Credit unions with existing member relationships are uniquely positioned in this new environment, with a protected window to be the first—and often only—lender to reach out. Used well, this moment allows credit unions to reclaim the conversation, educating rather than interrupting, and offering guidance that feels timely, relevant, and genuinely member-centric rather than transactional.
It’s measured in relationship depth, not just volume. A well-structured home equity solution can lower monthly payments, reduce financial stress, and help members move forward with confidence. Those outcomes don’t end at closing; they strengthen loyalty and open the door to broader financial relationships over time.
So, What Should Your Credit Union Do Next?
Opportunity alone doesn’t drive results; execution does. As demand rises, success increasingly hinges on a credit union’s ability to unify data, streamline processes, and deliver an experience that feels intuitive rather than intimidating. To make this possible, credit unions need a digital lending technology partner that can move them from reactive to proactive.
By integrating lending data with core systems, your institution can identify equity-rich members, spot moments of financial pressure or life changes, and engage members before they start searching elsewhere for answers. Automation across underwriting, documentation, and decisioning further shortens the path from application to funding, without sacrificing diligence or compliance.
Members may be motivated to use their equity, but their decision to move forward depends on how clearly they understand their options, how confident they feel in the guidance they receive, and how quickly your credit union can respond.
Across the industry, credit unions are using the MeridianLink® digital lending platform to:
- Simplify application processes to speed approvals and reduce errors
- Enable faster time to fund through instant decisioning and automated workflows
- Leverage data-powered credit risk assessments to make more informed lending decisions
- Offer integrated debt optimization to help members manage their financial needs with personalized solutions
- Provide real-time, personalized borrower engagement that keeps members informed and confident
- Create a scalable, resilient lending business with a modern, cloud-based infrastructure
The real question for credit unions in 2026 isn’t whether members will access their equity. It’s who they’ll trust to help them do it well.