Ethan Mariner is a Finance and Accounting double major at Boise State. Currently a senior, he received the IFITS Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Scholarship in Fall 2025. Working with his faculty mentor, Kyle Allen, Associate Professor of Finance, College of Business & Economics, Ethan’s research aimed to explore the role of community banks and credit unions in Idaho, focusing on financial literacy and consumer decision-making.
Ethan’s work over the semester culminated in an article that was published in the Idaho Business Review. We reached out to Ethan and Kyle to hear about their experience working together on this research project
Ethan Mariner
What led you to working on this project?
Two main factors led me to this project. First, taking my Financial Markets and Institutions course with Dr. Allen introduced me to the structural differences between credit unions and community banks. What initially seemed like small distinctions revealed meaningful implications for consumers, and I wanted to explore those differences more deeply and help make them accessible to the public.
Second, I noticed a lack of undergraduate finance research at Boise State. Outside of STEM fields, there are limited opportunities for students to engage in applied research from an undergraduate perspective. I wanted to help change that by contributing research that demonstrates the value and impact undergraduates can have in the finance discipline.
What challenges or barriers, if any, did you face throughout the process?
By far, the biggest challenge was data collection. I underestimated how time-consuming it would be to gather the exact information I needed. What I initially thought would be straightforward ended up taking the majority of the project timeline. Many institutions were hesitant to share information over the phone, so clearly explaining the purpose of the research and building trust became both a challenge and an important skill to develop throughout the process.
What is one word of advice you have for undergraduate researchers?
Perspective. The struggles and challenges that come with research are a privilege. Being able to do research, and to learn through it, is something to be grateful for.
Keep your “why” at the center of your work and stay focused on the change you want to make. Let that purpose be the fuel that carries you through setbacks, pivots, and the inevitable challenges along the way.
Ethan Mariner
Kyle Allen
Can you share your experience working with Ethan on this research project?
Working with Ethan was a great experience. He was committed to the project and did much of the hands-on work, especially reaching out directly to banks and credit unions when data were not publicly available. Through that process, he learned firsthand how challenging real-world data collection can be, including issues of inconsistency, incomplete information, and follow-up. I believe those challenges strengthened the project and helped turn it into a meaningful learning experience.
What is some advice you have for undergraduate researchers?
Be patient with the process and do not be discouraged when research gets messy. Real data rarely arrive cleanly or easily. Valuable learning often happens when students have to track down information, verify it, and make judgment calls along the way. Taking initiative, asking questions, and sticking with a project through those challenges is what turns coursework into real life research.