Starlight: An Easier Way to Access Government Benefits
Unlock financial security for every household.
Over a dozen credit unions trust Starlight to connect 700K+ members with potential financial assistance and government benefits—building resilience, deepening engagement, and fueling loyalty.
New Benefit Alert ✨
Our AI assistant has prepped everything you need to apply for child care assistance.
💰 Total Unlocked
$3250
Latest Benefits Received
June 01, 2025
- $220
May 28, 2025
- $350
May 01, 2025
- $220
Trusted by credit unions across the U.S.
With a reach of over 700,000 members nationwide Starlight is expanding its reach everyday.
Reach the members who need you most.
Most credit unions are limited in how they serve low-income members—despite a growing need and a clear opportunity.
83%
of households required financial assistance in the last five years$100+ Billion
in government benefits go unclaimed each year.
Most low-income members qualify for little beyond a checking account. Starlight helps you engage this segment—with real support that builds trust, improves retention, and opens the door to deeper relationships.
From benefits to better banking.
Starlight connects members to unclaimed assistance—then back to your products.
- Check Eligibility.
We identify the local, state, and federal benefits that can make the biggest impact for each member based on income, household needs, and life context.
Step 1
- Apply Seamlessly.
Members get step-by-step guidance through the application process—no jargon, no guesswork, no drop-off.
Step 2
- Continue the Journey.
After enrollment, members are routed into relevant credit union products—from savings to credit—building long-term trust and deeper engagement.
Step 3
Programs we help members access.
Housing
Down Payment Assistance
Food
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Calfresh, Food Assistance Program, Nutrition Assistance, LoneStar, Womens, Infant, and Children (WIC)
Healthcare
Medicaid, Kancare, RiteCare, SoonerCare, Mass Health, MO Health Net, Family Care, ACA Health Insurance
Utilities
Fuel assistance programs, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), CEAP, Cali-Heap, LIEAP
Childcare
Child care subsidy program, Care 4 kids, Child Care Assistance Programs, Child Development and Care, NH Child Care Scholarship Program, CalWorks
Job Loss
Unemployment insurance
Tax Credits
Child Tax Credit
Earned Income Tax Credit
Outcomes that drive loyalty and growth.
$0/yr
unlocked per qualifying member.$0M+
in potential benefits unlocked for members since launch in 20240%
increase in engagement.0x
retention among supported members.
Why Credit Unions are choosing Starlight.
Reach under-served members with meaningful support.
Qualify for low-income designation.
Reduce risk in lending and portfolio health.
Enhance NPS by offering real financial relief.
Stay ahead of new compliance requirements with quarterly support tracking.
Protect your members and their data with SOC 2 Type 2 compliance.
"Starlight helps us enhance the impactful work we've always done for our community. By partnering together, we can proactively reach more residents with the resources they need, building on our strong foundation of member support in a more expansive way."
Maria Langston, AVP, Strategic Initiatives, St Louis Community Credit Union
"Our members need all the assistance they can get. Putting a few hundred dollars back in their pockets makes a huge difference in their financial health. Starlight has created an amazing opportunity for people to take advantage of benefits they qualify for but may not know about."
Shawn Wolbert, Former CEO, GHS Federal Credit Union
"Starlight … is all about delivering human support—connecting individuals to the government benefits they’re eligible for, many of which they didn’t even know existed… these tools help us live out our mission of ‘people helping people’ more meaningfully and more efficiently."
Shelley Carlson, EVP of Marketing and Relationship Management at 1st University Credit Union
Mission driven, product-focused.
Our mission is to help everyday Americans build toward financial health. We do that by modernizing the social safety net—unlocking the $140B in unclaimed government benefits that can support households through hard times.
Built by a team with roots in fintech, policy, and mission-driven technology, Starlight brings together experience from Google, the credit union movement, and government reform.