Inflation-adjusted wages grew just 0.1% last year while late-stage credit card delinquency hit a 20-year high. Community FIs have a narrow window to rescue struggling households—and grow loans—through strategic prescreen campaigns.

Credit unions stress-testing their card programs focus on processors, margins, and scale—but overlook the critical question of acquisition infrastructure. Before choosing in-house or agent models, leaders must ask: where will your next qualified cardholders come from?