Fuse, an AI-native loan origination and account-opening platform, announced the launch of a $5 million Rescue Fund to help credit unions transition away from restrictive, long-term contracts with legacy technology vendors.
Backed by more than $25 million from investors associated with Chime and OpenAI, the company said the initiative will provide the first 50 qualifying credit unions with free access to its platform until their existing loan origination system contracts expire. Afterward, participants will move to a flat annual subscription model with no implementation fees, variable charges, or hidden costs.
The initiative is designed to address what Fuse describes as a growing competitive gap between traditional credit unions and fintech lenders, driven largely by outdated systems, high vendor fees, and limited flexibility. The company argues that legacy SaaS providers have historically relied on lock-in tactics, such as high implementation fees and restricted data access, making it difficult for institutions to switch providers.
Fuse positions its platform as an AI-native alternative that enables faster updates, automation, and improved operational efficiency. The company claims its system can help credit unions achieve up to 71 percent automation within the first year through a combination of generative AI tools and dedicated support teams. These include “Automation Coaches” who work with clients bi-weekly to implement workflow improvements.
Under the Rescue Fund program, participating institutions receive full platform access during the transition period, followed by flat pricing of $100,000 per year, or $50,000 for smaller institutions. The offering also includes contractual guarantees around automation rates, integration timelines, data access, and support service levels.
Fuse said its platform is already in use by more than 100 financial institutions, including larger credit unions and smaller community-based organizations. The company also highlighted a recent reseller partnership with FIS Global as validation of its technology.
The Rescue Fund is limited to 50 credit unions and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
KEY QUOTES:
“Credit unions aren’t losing members because they lack heart, they’re losing them because their technology can’t keep up. Legacy platforms create a widening gap between what members expect and what the system can deliver: hidden fees, glacial change cycles, restricted data access, and zero path to automation. That gap is where fintechs are winning. Fuse exists to close it. The era of the change order is dead. Legacy SaaS vendors built their businesses on friction. The harder it is for you to leave or change your system, the more the system providers profit. Credit unions aren’t losing market share because they lack the will to serve their members, they’re losing because they’re fighting a modern war with tools from the 1990s. We built Fuse to be a generational business that realigns incentives. We don’t get paid to lock you in; we get paid to automate your work. And we’re setting aside $5 million to prove it. The question is no longer whether rent-seeking SaaS will be disrupted, but whether the disruption comes from within the industry or is imposed from outside it.”
Andres Klaric, Cofounder of Fuse
“Because our platform is AI-native, we build integrations in weeks, not months, and our system self-diagnoses bottlenecks. We pass those gains directly to clients. We’re betting that if we give credit unions the best technology for a fair, flat price, we will build the defining partnership of the next generation.”
Marc Escapa, Cofounder of Fuse
