How Amplify Credit Union Saved Its Members $700 in Property Taxes

Here’s what happens when a credit union makes property tax savings effortless for members.

Background

 Founded in 1967 to serve IBM employees in Austin, Amplify Credit Union has grown into one of Texas's leading digital-first financial institutions, serving more than 50,000 members with home loans, deposit accounts, and lending products.

Amplify's members are concentrated in one of the country's fastest-appreciating housing markets. Central Texas assessed property values spiked sharply over the past decade, sending annual tax bills higher for thousands of homeowners. Yet 54% of eligible Texas homeowners never challenge their assessments, often because the process feels opaque, time-consuming, or uncertain.

Amplify saw an opportunity: Put a trusted, easy-to-use property tax appeal service directly in front of members and deliver real, recurring financial relief without adding operational complexity.

The Partnership

In late 2025, Amplify Credit Union partnered with Ownwell, a property tax technology company based in Austin, to offer members access to Ownwell's appeal service at no upfront cost. Members pay only if their protest succeeds.

Ownwell handles everything: assessment monitoring, deadline tracking, evidence gathering, filing, negotiations and hearings, and final resolution.

"Credit unions have unique relationships built on trust and community impact. By partnering with Amplify, we help Texas homeowners retain more of their wealth."

— Colton Pace, Co-Founder and CEO, Ownwell

For Amplify, the value proposition was clear: Extend a meaningful member benefit with zero operational burden and zero financial risk to the institution.

"We're excited to partner with Ownwell to make homeownership as affordable as possible for Texas families."

— JC San Pedro, Chief Lending Officer, Amplify Credit Union

How Ownwell  Works With Amplify Credit Union

Step 1: Amplify surfaces Ownwell as a trusted partner benefit through a co-branded referral link in emails, mortgage communications, and other member touchpoints.

Step 2: Members sign up for free. Homeowners enroll their property in under five minutes with no upfront cost, no complicated paperwork, and no deadlines to track.

Step 3: Ownwell manages the entire protest.  Licensed property tax professionals, backed by Ownwell's proprietary valuation technology, file the protest on the member's behalf.

Step 4: Members only pay when Ownwell succeeds. Ownwell collects its 25% contingency fee only after a verified property tax bill savings outcome.

Results

Enrolled members span Travis, Williamson, Hays, Dallas, Denton, and other Texas counties, underscoring how broadly the property tax burden affects credit union members across the state.

One Amplify member enrolled through the partnership shared their experience after their protest was resolved:

"The experience with Ownwell was unbelievably easy from the start to the end. After filling out a few minutes of information about my property, they took care of everything else!"

— Alex L., Houston, TX, Amplify Credit Union Member

Why a Partnership Like This Matters for Texas Credit Unions

Texas has no state income tax, yet it carries some of the highest property tax rates in the country, with Ownwell's 2026 Texas homeowner survey revealing that property taxes are the top financial concern for 62% of Texas homeowners.

While these taxes are one of the largest annual housing costs for families, Ownwell's analysis of 2025 property tax protests across 17 major counties shows that homeowners who didn't protest left nearly $1.2 billion in potential savings on the table. 

In high-growth metros like Austin, Dallas, and Houston, where rapid appreciation often leads to inaccurate assessments, professional advocacy is becoming an essential financial tool.

Credit unions are uniquely positioned to solve this property tax burden. Credit unions have member trust, local market knowledge, and a community mission that make an opportunity like this feel genuine, not transactional. Members already look to their credit union for guidance on major financial decisions. A property tax protest benefit fits naturally into that relationship.

Partner With Ownwell

Ownwell is actively partnering with Texas credit unions to expand access to property tax savings. The program is free to implement and generates revenue for your institution on every successful member outcome.

Learn more at Ownwell.com or reach out to the Ownwell Partnerships team.

^{Note: Performance data reflects Amplify Credit Union member referrals as of October 5, 2026. All savings figures reflect verified outcomes.}