Clearwater Embraces Its CDFI Status
Leaders of the Montana cooperative discuss the importance of the credit union’s certification as a community development financial institution and how that status dovetails with the institution’s broader mission.
Leaders of the Montana cooperative discuss the importance of the credit union’s certification as a community development financial institution and how that status dovetails with the institution’s broader mission.
A program at Carolina Foothills FCU targets low-income borrowers with flexible underwriting practices, financial education, and partnerships with public, private, and nonprofit groups.
Top-Level Takeaways A better understanding of data trends has helped Peoples Advantage get buy-in from staff at all levels when it comes to meeting lending and membership goals. Credit unions with low-income and CDFI certification can use data to ensure they’re fulfilling the mission that goes along with those designations. Analytics isn’t just for large
Since its launch in 2010, the credit union’s Summer Youth Employment Program has helped young members earn an income, save money, and build financial wellness.
Along with hosting its first Financial Inclusion Forums — intended to be an annual event — the California credit union is making efforts to provide products and services that meet the needs of underserved consumers who might be intimidated by traditional FIs.
The Treasury has said it will be rolling out the long-awaited $1.75B Emergency Support and Minority Lending Program Grant funds in the spring of 2022. That’s over five times as much as the CDFI’s FY 2022 FA budget, and Spring is just a few weeks away… are you ready?
CU Strategic Planning’s Chief Strategy and Advocacy Officer Mike Beall, along with John McKechnie, Senior Partner of Total Spectrum, discuss the current environment for CDFI certification.
In these unprecedented times, credit unions are stepping up to the challenge by lending to their members (often low to moderate income workers). This increased lending is valuable and necessary, but it also generates risk and a need for increased loan loss reserves.
Twenty-five years in, the Treasury Department program’s roster is dominated by member-owned cooperative financial institutions, who find a precise mission fit.

As credit unions move from experimentation to adoption, leaders offer firsthand knowledge on what separates weak policies from strong ones that actually work.

How Members Cooperative focuses on structure, oversight, and clear expectations to ensure AI supports, not undermines, long term strategy.

As Hudson Valley Credit Union’s artificial intelligence chief, Preetha Sekharan holds a rare role in the industry, but it’s one that is likely to become far more common in the future.

Artificial intelligence for credit unions has moved from a future concept to today’s full-fledged leadership and governance challenge.

What happens when credit union performance data meets March Madness? Callahan’s proprietary model breaks down state-level results to forecast who takes home the hardware.

Nuvision’s Added Advantage program tracks member engagement across the credit union, then rewards relationships through better pricing and other perks.

CDFI grant funding helps the Florida cooperative offer microloans for small businesses after many banks pulled out of its market.

By aligning governance, leadership, and day to day operations, Marine Credit Union transformed its foundation from a parallel operation into a visible extension of the credit union brand.
Credit union and bank earnings reflect different business objectives. Those differences matter for how financial institutions serve their markets.

AI governance matters as much as innovation when it comes to AI. Learn how BCU built an AI practice that prioritizes data integrity, risk management, and real world decision making.