David Metz shares his journey from early entrepreneurial ventures to founding Prizeout, explaining how the idea emerged from recognizing the overlap between customer acquisition and digital gift cards. He outlines why credit unions became the ideal partners, the challenges of building fintech solutions for their ecosystem, and how Prizeout’s CashBack+ platform is reshaping rewards by integrating merchant-funded offers directly into digital banking. The conversation also covers the impact of industry shifts like the Durbin Amendment, the role of the CUSO model in scaling innovation, and how collaboration with credit unions is driving the next phase of fintech growth.

Prizeout POV: This discussion underscores a broader shift in how financial value is created and distributed across the ecosystem. By aligning merchant acquisition goals with credit union member needs, Prizeout introduces a model that moves beyond traditional, card-dependent economics and toward more sustainable, partner-driven rewards. It also highlights the importance of building within the unique constraints and values of the credit union space, where trust, collaboration, and member experience are central. The result is a framework for innovation that is not only scalable, but also more equitable and better aligned with how modern consumers expect to engage with their financial institutions.

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Credit unions are facing increasing pressure from digital banks and fintech competitors that are attracting deposits with better digital experiences and more compelling financial incentives. To address this, many are turning to innovation and collaboration through CUSOs to enhance member engagement and retention. Solutions like Prizeout’s CashBack+ platform are helping credit unions deliver instant cashback on debit and checking transactions, driving higher digital engagement, increased spend, and new non-interest income, while strengthening member loyalty.

Prizeout POV: This highlights a critical shift in how credit unions must compete for deposits in a more digital and incentive-driven market. Rates alone are no longer enough. Value needs to be delivered continuously through the member experience. By embedding rewards directly into everyday banking, credit unions can turn deposit accounts into active engagement tools rather than passive products. Combined with the collaborative power of the CUSO model, this creates a scalable path to innovation that helps credit unions retain deposits, deepen relationships, and compete more effectively against both traditional banks and fintech entrants.

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Credit unions are increasingly turning to CUSOs to pool resources and accelerate innovation as they compete with larger banks in payments and rewards. Prizeout’s CUSO, Prizeout Partners, has rapidly expanded its membership, giving credit unions access to new debit rewards capabilities, shared investment opportunities, and a role in product development. The model enables institutions to overcome resource constraints, drive member engagement, and capture new revenue streams, particularly in areas like debit rewards that have historically been difficult to fund.

Prizeout POV: This highlights the growing importance of collaborative innovation in enabling credit unions to compete in a rapidly evolving payments landscape. The CUSO model allows institutions to collectively invest in and shape solutions that would be difficult to build independently, aligning technology development with real member needs. By combining shared resources with merchant-funded rewards and new payment models, credit unions can unlock capabilities like meaningful debit rewards while keeping spend within their ecosystem and creating new, scalable revenue opportunities.

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Jaycee Schwarz, talent acquisition specialist at Prizeout, shares how her role extends beyond recruiting to shaping company culture, employee engagement, and broader business initiatives. She highlights the importance of creating a workplace where employees feel valued through personalized recognition, in-office experiences, and a strong sense of community. The conversation also touches on evolving HR trends, including a growing focus on employee well-being and the need to move away from one-size-fits-all approaches to engagement.

Prizeout POV: This reflects a broader shift in how high-growth companies think about talent, where culture and employee experience are treated as core drivers of performance rather than secondary considerations. In competitive markets, attracting and retaining talent requires more than compensation or flexibility. It requires intentional, personalized engagement that makes employees feel genuinely valued. For companies building innovative products, that kind of culture becomes a strategic advantage, enabling stronger collaboration, faster execution, and a more cohesive team.

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Prizeout Partners, the CUSO formed in 2023, continues to expand with the addition of major credit unions including Golden 1, Coastal, and Municipal Credit Union, extending its reach to millions of additional members. The growth highlights increasing demand for Prizeout’s CashBack+ platform, which enables credit unions to offer merchant-funded cashback, drive member engagement, and generate new non-interest income through integrated digital experiences.

Prizeout POV: This momentum reflects how quickly collaborative innovation can scale within the credit union ecosystem when there is clear alignment around member value. The CUSO model not only accelerates adoption, but also ensures that product development is shaped by the institutions themselves. As more credit unions join, the network effect strengthens, enabling broader merchant participation, richer offers, and a more competitive rewards experience that helps credit unions collectively compete with larger financial institutions.

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