EJ Kritz, Chief Experience Officer at DBSI, has been named a finalist for Consultant of the Year in the 2026 Credit Union Times Luminaries Awards. The Luminaries program, now in its fifth year, recognizes the individuals and organizations whose leadership, innovation, and commitment to the cooperative model are shaping the future of the credit union industry. The Consultant of the Year category made its debut this year to honor the advisors helping credit unions strengthen operations, member experience, and growth.
This year's 230 finalists were selected from several hundred submissions across 27 categories. The program highlights measurable impact, creative problem-solving, and work that strengthens credit unions and the communities they serve.
Kritz is not a neutral party on the subject of the credit union branch, and he would be the first to tell you so. While industry leaders have declared the branch obsolete, EJ remains a champion for credit unions and their branch networks. He believes that a well-designed branch remains one of a credit union's strongest growth tools and a relationship center where members handle the financial moments that matter most. Through DBSI, he advises the country's top credit unions, including Arizona Financial Credit Union, GECU, Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union, Everwise Credit Union, and REV Federal Credit Union.
Behind the conviction is research, including DBSI's recent branch transformation study with Jim Marous and the Digital Banking Report, giving financial institutions real data for their branch network decisions.
"The credit union movement has always understood that lasting growth is built on trust, and trust is built by supporting people. I'm deeply honored to be named to the founding class of Consultant of the Year, and grateful for the credit union partners whose commitment to their members and communities makes this work so meaningful," said Kritz.
The recognition caps a year in which Kritz has been a fixture on stages across the country, speaking to thousands of financial leaders. Recent appearances include an impactful keynote at BankSpaces 2026 alongside Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union and Arizona Financial Credit Union, The Financial Brand Forum, CBA LIVE, NEFMA’s fall conference, HealthSpaces, the Bank Trainers Conference, and Future Branches. He is also the creator and host of Visionary Voices, DBSI's exclusive annual gathering for leaders of financial institutions, with its second year fully booked months in advance. That thought leadership runs alongside client work that has earned attention from across the industry.
Winners will be announced live at the annual Luminaries Gala on November 5, 2026, at the JW Marriott Bonnet Creek Resort in Orlando, Florida. The full list of 2026 finalists is available on the Credit Union Times website.
About DBSI
DBSI is a leading retail transformation firm that designs and builds better experiences for financial institutions and the people they serve. For nearly 30 years, DBSI has blended experience design, architecture, interiors, technology, and a people-first methodology to turn everyday spaces into destinations that drive measurable results. With design-build, digital signage, experiential marketing, service, and equipment all under one roof, DBSI delivers every phase of transformation with a single trusted partner, a model proven across thousands of projects nationwide. DBSI has been named one of Inc. 5000's fastest-growing companies, a winner in the 2026 Global Digital Signage Awards, and a repeat honoree in the 2027 People and Projects to Know in Commercial Real Estate. To learn more, visit dbsi.com or connect on LinkedIn.