ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)

In Case You Missed It – 9.16.2026

What the heck is Babymaxxing? The income inequality credit card gulf. The pros and cons of Japanese centenarians. Solar powers up the USA. Here’s what we noticed, in case you missed it:

Babymaxxing?

Babies (well, their worried, well-heeled parents) are big bucks, and now AI-enhanced baby surveillance tools and tracking are a lucrative new niche. Nanit sells “smart baby monitors” that track metrics like “Sleep Efficiency”, diaper changes, feedings and even breathing (via a special onesie with a camera-friendly print), and even a “NextNap” feature designed to help busy parents achieve predictable sleep schedules.

Cybersecurity expert Bruce Schneier posted this news item on “Spyware for Babies” almost without comment… the problems with child surveillance and infant optimization are (or should be) fairly obvious. Or are they?

The K-shape and credit cards conundrum

This article from Steve Cocheo at The Financial Brand summarizes a JD Power report pointing out the widening gulf between affluent and stressed cardholders. This shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone, of course. For credit unions, the challenge will be helping financially stressed people understand and use cards responsibly, while balancing the demands for points, rewards, and perks from the more affluent.

Of course, innovation in cards with special features for credit builders has been a credit union specialty for many years. Showing how your CU can be a way forward is a powerful story; are you telling it?

Over 100,000 over 100 in Japan

Over the last year, the population of centenarians in Japan passed 100,000, rising by about 8,000 to 107,677. The average life expectancy in Japan was 84 years in 2024, compared to 79 in the US, and 88% of centenarians are women. While everyone is glad there are so many active, happy grandmas and grandpas, Japan is also navigating increasing economic pressure due to record low birth rates, falling population, and increasing costs of elder care.

US solar power rolls on

The economic advantages of solar power mean that generation and storage capacity is continuing to grow to record levels in the US, while coal powered generation is falling. In May 2026, solar supplied more of the nation’s electricity than coal, 12.8% vs. 12.2%. Solar is now the third-largest source of electricity in the US, after natural gas and nuclear, and wind isn’t far behind.

The article mostly covers large utility-level solar projects, but in much of the country, solar energy panels and storage installed on rooftops or on the property can make a lot of economic sense and bring the owners a lot of peace of mind. We’ve seen several credit unions launch lending products specifically for solar and storage.

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