JetStream FCU Turns CDFI Funding Into Lifelines After Hurricane Maria
A pair of CDFI grants allowed the Florida-based credit union to help members restart their lives on the island or relocate to the United States.
Impact/Purpose
Our Purpose page is your central resource to explore strategies that elevate products and services from run-of-the-mill commodities to powerful tools that support members and communities and set credit unions apart from competitors.
Top Impact/Purpose Articles
Wright-Patt Turns Purpose Into Property For First-Time Homebuyers
The Ohio credit union’s Sunshine Community Fund is backing new homes in Dayton, combining financial support, education, and cross-team collaboration to empower first-time buyers.
First Alliance Debuts Mission-Driven Deposits
The Minnesota-based cooperative invites high-dollar depositors to turn private prosperity into shared possibility through a savings product designed around social impact.
A New Employee Benefit: Long Term Care Insurance
April 29, 2016
No Comments
Why long-term care insurance was added to Wright-Patt’s benefit package. Wright-Patt Credit Union reviewed its employee benefits package during 2000 to increase the perceived value of the package among employees, while strengthening cost controls for the Credit Union. The aim was to offer a benefits package that strengthens Wright-Patt’s ability to recruit and retain quality employees while managi
Using the Internet to Enhance Member Services
April 29, 2016
No Comments
Pennsylvania State Employees launches Internet-based credit report service.
Plain Vanilla Hands Down
April 29, 2016
No Comments
Whitefish Credit Union will soon have $600 million in assets and 22% of credit union assets in Montana, although it is confined to a small corner of the state. It is plain vanilla, taking deposits and making loans and little else. It relies on word of mouth. Its notable success owes to its above-market dividend rate, good loan rates and a reputation for reliability.
LIFE AFTER INDIRECT LENDING
April 29, 2016
No Comments
Indirect lending was good to Affinity Plus FCU, but it did not allow for the kind of trust-based relationship building with members that the credit union’s mission calls for. So it dropped indirect lending, and discovered that member-centric product innovations, such as an alternative mortgage product, not only made up for the financial loss but resulted in stronger member relationships.
Appropriate Reaction to the DFCU Decisions: Outrage
April 29, 2016
No Comments
The NCUA and the federal district court for Eastern Michigan have both erred in not making DFCU Financial live up to the credit union’s bylaws. Fundamental freedoms are at stake. DFCU members acquired three times more signatures for a special meeting than the bylaws required. But management refused to call a special meeting. NCUA and the court are allowing this democratic ownership right of the me
Transparency: Keeping Integrity When Market Participants Play Outside the Lines
April 29, 2016
No Comments
University FCU is the major student loan lender at the University of Texas because of the value of its product, not for its relationship with the financial aid office. Transparency will reveal its work of putting students first.
Our Salaries are Made Public, and With Little Comment
April 29, 2016
No Comments
At BECU we file executive compensation on the IRS Form 990, which is available to the public. We believe we it’s the right thing to do, and we have not suffered any backlash from the public or members.
Not Playing It Safe
April 29, 2016
No Comments
At ABNB FCU we empower employees to do the right thing. Our culture of extraordinary service is a function of our military heritage, hiring the right people, giving employees the right training, and keeping focus on our tradition of helping our members.
First-Time Home Buyers Benefit from Community First Stimulus Mortgage Package
April 29, 2016
No Comments
At Community First Credit Union, one brief phrase captures our commitment to our members: “We’ll find a way.” Our new outreach specifically targeting first-time home buyers reflects this mind set. The housing market in Wisconsin has not escaped the national home purchase slump, with homeowners unable to sell their homes and potential first-time home-buyers unable to get into the market.
Meeting Challenges in Indiana
April 29, 2016
No Comments
Amy Sink, CFO at Teachers CU in Indiana, shares her thoughts on the challenges and opportunities running the largest credit union in her state during these troubling times.
A New Employee Benefit: Long Term Care Insurance
Why long-term care insurance was added to Wright-Patt’s benefit package. Wright-Patt Credit Union reviewed its employee benefits package during 2000 to increase the perceived value ...
Using the Internet to Enhance Member Services
Pennsylvania State Employees launches Internet-based credit report service.
Plain Vanilla Hands Down
Whitefish Credit Union will soon have $600 million in assets and 22% of credit union assets in Montana, although it is confined to a small ...
LIFE AFTER INDIRECT LENDING
Indirect lending was good to Affinity Plus FCU, but it did not allow for the kind of trust-based relationship building with members that the credit ...
Appropriate Reaction to the DFCU Decisions: Outrage
The NCUA and the federal district court for Eastern Michigan have both erred in not making DFCU Financial live up to the credit union’s bylaws. ...
Transparency: Keeping Integrity When Market Participants Play Outside the Lines
University FCU is the major student loan lender at the University of Texas because of the value of its product, not for its relationship with ...
Our Salaries are Made Public, and With Little Comment
At BECU we file executive compensation on the IRS Form 990, which is available to the public. We believe we it’s the right thing to ...
Not Playing It Safe
At ABNB FCU we empower employees to do the right thing. Our culture of extraordinary service is a function of our military heritage, hiring the ...
First-Time Home Buyers Benefit from Community First Stimulus Mortgage Package
At Community First Credit Union, one brief phrase captures our commitment to our members: "We'll find a way." Our new outreach specifically targeting first-time home ...
Meeting Challenges in Indiana
Amy Sink, CFO at Teachers CU in Indiana, shares her thoughts on the challenges and opportunities running the largest credit union in her state during ...
Browse Topics
AI Adoption Is Growing. Are Credit Unions Keeping Pace?
Andrew Lepczyk
New data from Gallup shows half of all employees who work for companies that pay for AI tools use them. Credit unions are building their own momentum.
A Credit Union Bond Beyond Bloodlines
Aaron Passman
For Mike and Dave Valentine, the family business just happens to be credit unions. The father-son duo talk leadership styles, cooperative values, and the lessons they’ve learned from each other along the way.
Connection And Caring Matter As Much As Knowledge And Resources
Chris Howard
People who are truly financially thriving have both means and a sense of security that comes from confidence about the future. Building that kind of emotional engagement requires a deliberate design of everyday interactions.
Markets Flip From Pricing Cuts To 50% Chance Of Hikes
Jason Haley
Look beyond the headlines to better understand what is driving current market trends and how they could impact credit union investment portfolios.
Keep The Mortgage. Ditch The Fees.
Savana Morie
A rethink of closing costs, rate relief, and employer partnerships helped 7 17 Credit Union build an affordable housing mortgage program that works.
Home Is Where The Heart (And More) Is
Aaron Passman
Where is mortgage growth coming from right now? This week, CreditUnions.com covers a mix of home equity campaigns, targeted affordability programs, and niche lending strategies that are bringing borrowers back into the market.
3 Ways To Market For HELOC Success
Aaron Passman
Home equity lending is a winning option for credit unions in today’s mortgage environment. Learn how three different shops meet members’ needs.
Small House, Big Opportunity: 2 Takes On Manufactured Home Loans
Aaron Passman
Manufactured home loans can provide members access to affordable housing, including those in rural areas. Two credit unions share how they approach the niche product.
Mortgage Lending Is Back, But It Looks Different
Tony Waltrich
After a prolonged slowdown, signs of life are returning to mortgage lending. Growth is uneven, with first-time buyers and shifting rate dynamics driving activity in select segments.
MSUFCU Turns A Break In Payments Into A Member Experience Moment
Aaron Passman
The Michigan cooperative keeps everyday payments working and members happy by using a common friction point to build brand loyalty.