CU WealthNext and Aaim Announce Strategic Partnership to Bring Asset-Based Lending to Credit Unions

CU WealthNext today announced a strategic partnership with Aaim Inc., a platform and protocol innovator for the financial industry, to bring its asset-based lending platform to credit unions nationwide. Unlike other fintech solutions that divert funds and depositors away from banks and credit unions, Aaim's platform is designed to put deposits to work, enhancing member relationships and driving growth within the credit union ecosystem. Under this exclusive five-year agreement, CU WealthNext will integrate Aaim's embedded technology into wealth management solutions for credit unions. This collaboration leverages Aaim's proprietary ReferenceModel protocol, enabling credit unions to offer sophisticated lending services based on a comprehensive view of their members' assets. "Our partnership with CU WealthNext transforms what credit unions can offer their members," said Robert Goodyear, CEO of Aaim. "Unlike fintech or lendtech companies that bring in outside capital and potentially distract or entice customers elsewhere, our platform empowers credit unions to maximize the value of their existing deposits. We're giving credit unions the tools to compete with large banks and outside lenders by offering private banking-like service opportunities to all their members, not just high-net-worth individuals." Aaim's platform enables community-focused financial institutions by: - Stimulating the inbuilt credit union ecosystem to fund healthy lending, creating a flywheel of healthy capital movement - Enhancing member retention by enabling advanced wealth management and lending services - bridging the generation gap and preparing for an ensuing massive wealth transfer - Enabling more competitive lending terms based on a holistic view of member assets that accommodates a modern economy and its entrepreneurial mindset - Generating new revenue streams through increased lending activity, all powered by the credit union's own deposits versus outside lending "This partnership with Aaim aligns perfectly with our commitment to bringing top tier wealth tech solutions to credit unions," said Joshua Herman, CEO of CU WealthNext. "By integrating Aaim's innovative platform, we're not just offering another fintech solution - we're providing a way for credit unions to leverage their own deposits more effectively, deepen member relationships, and drive sustainable growth in an increasingly competitive financial landscape." The Aaim platform, integrated with CU WealthNext's solutions, is expected to be available to credit unions starting in Q4 2024. This technology will enable credit unions to offer their own in-house pledged-asset lending, remote tri-party custody, and sophisticated wealth management services, all while keeping members' relationships, focus, and activities within the credit union ecosystem. For more information, please visit aaim.com or cuwealthnext.com. ## About Aaim, Inc. Aaim is a fintech company developing an asset-based lending platform that enables credit unions and community banks to expand how they serve their members and customers. By enabling these institutions to offer private banking-like services using their own deposits, Aaim bridges the gap between long-term investments and short-term financial needs, all within the credit union ecosystem. ## About CU WealthNext, LLC CU WealthNext is a leading provider of wealth management solutions for credit unions, offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and services designed to help credit unions better serve their members' financial needs while maximizing the use of credit union resources. ## About Aaim Aaim provides institutional infrastructure for asset-backed lending, enabling financial institutions to verify and value the full spectrum of what their members own. Real-time valuation across 50+ asset types covers traditional securities, cryptocurrency, private equity, startup equity, real estate investments, and assets that conventional systems cannot recognize. The platform integrates with 12,000+ core financial systems and implements controls aligned with FFIEC guidance and applicable banking, securities, and consumer protection requirements.