Gulf Winds joins Great Lakes and Dort Financial to invest in data and member engagement infrastructure built for the credit union industry.
WAYZATA, Minn. — October 7th, 2026 — Nook, a credit union service organization (CUSO), today announced a fully subscribed investment round backed by Gulf Winds Credit Union, Great Lakes Credit Union, and Dort Financial Credit Union. Nook has built data integration and member engagement capabilities specifically for credit unions. The investments reflect confidence in Nook’s ability to help credit unions turn data, technology, and strategy into meaningful member growth and a shared belief in what becomes possible when credit unions have the right tools and expertise to compete and innovate.
Credit unions have more ways than ever to reach members, but the information needed to make those interactions timely and relevant often sits across disconnected systems. Nook connects data from credit union systems and helps teams use it through HubSpot to coordinate engagement across the member relationship. Credit union ownership gives participating institutions a stake in the continued development of capabilities designed for their industry.
“Credit unions should have a voice in the infrastructure that will support their relationships with members for years to come,” said Austin Wentzlaff, Co-Founder and CEO of Nook. “Gulf Winds, Great Lakes, and Dort Financial each recognized the opportunity in what Nook is building. Their investment reflects confidence in our team, the technology we’re building and a shared belief that credit unions can shape stronger capabilities for the industry.”
Over the past year, Nook has expanded its data integration capabilities and connected more credit union systems to HubSpot. Client growth increased by 200% during the period. Nook also completed HubSpot integrations across four core systems, including Symitar Episys, Corelation Keystone, Fiserv XP2 and Fiserv-Portico, with several more in development, including Fiserv-DNA.
Beyond core systems, Nook has expanded the data sources it can bring together and consolidate into a single contact record, giving credit unions a more complete and actionable view of each member. To date, Nook has built integrations with Velera, Candescent, Enrich, SavvyMoney, and three leading predictive analytics providers—further strengthening the foundation credit unions can use to personalize engagement, improve targeting, and activate data across HubSpot.
Gulf Winds is the newest of the three credit union investors. Its decision reflects a shared view of the need to connect member data and make it more useful to the people serving members.
“Credit unions can deliver more personal, relevant experiences when they have access to the right data,” said Daniel Souers, President and CEO of Gulf Winds Credit Union. “I’ve seen Nook’s technology firsthand. We chose to invest in them because we believe in how they build data foundations needed to help marketers put ideas into action and strengthen member relationships.”
With the round closed, Nook will continue developing its integrations, HubSpot capabilities and services for credit unions. A broader group of credit union owners brings more industry experience into Nook’s work and supports the development of solutions grounded in how credit unions operate and serve members.
Nook’s latest funding round was fully subscribed, with significant additional investor interest beyond the round’s original allocation. In response to this strong demand and continued growth, Nook plans to move quickly toward its next funding round, providing additional investors with an opportunity to participate in the company’s next phase of growth.
About Gulf Winds Credit Union
At Gulf Winds Credit Union, soon to be become TruWorth Credit Union, we believe financial success is the foundation for stronger communities. Since 1954, we’ve helped members move forward with confidence—providing innovative solutions, certified financial coaching, and a deep commitment to the people and communities we serve. With 12 branches, more than $1.3 billion in assets, powerful digital tools, and a nationwide network of surcharge-free ATMs, Gulf Winds delivers the reach of a major financial institution with the heart of a local partner. Together, our team of 260+ employees are unlocking financial greatness serving more than 75,000 members across North Florida, Southern Alabama, and Southern Georgia. Learn more about our transition to TruWorth and how we are growing for good at GoGulfWinds.com/feature/GrowingforGood.
About Great Lakes Credit Union
Great Lakes Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative committed to helping members and communities thrive through strong service, financial empowerment, and community impact. They represent 100,000 members and $1.4 billion in assets across Chicagoland, Central Illinois, and Western Indiana.
About Dort Financial Credit Union
Dort Financial Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative whose mission is enriching people’s lives…members, employees, community. We stand behind our values–empowerment, accountability, transparency, collaboration, and volunteerism–as they help drive our mission and vision for the credit union. As a member of Dort Financial, each member owns one share of the cooperative, represented by the initial deposit made to a primary savings account. Unlike other financial institutions, credit union ‘profits’ are returned to the membership in the form of lower loan rates, higher dividend rates, and affordable services. Founded in 1951, Dort Financial Credit Union serves more than 103,000 members, with assets over $2 billion and 11 locations. Membership is open to anyone who lives, works, attends school or worships in the state of Michigan or in Palm Beach, Martin, Hendry, and Broward counties in Florida. The credit union offers comprehensive financial services, including auto loans, mortgages, high interest checking accounts and much more. Learn more at dortonline.org or by calling 800-521-3796.
About Nook
Nook is a CUSO and data infrastructure company purpose-built for credit unions. Powered by the Nook Data Connector and deep credit union expertise, and backed by Platinum HubSpot Solutions Partner status, Nook helps credit unions connect data, technology and teams to build stronger member relationships.