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.
NCUA: Here’s What The FDIC Really Said
March 4, 2015
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When will the NCUA pay attention to how the FDIC views risk-based capital?
2014 Credit Union Impact Report
March 3, 2015
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How much money did credit unions lend in 2014? How much higher were the interest rates they offered on deposit products? How many workers did they employ? All that and more in this year’s report.
If You Think Your Youth Campaign Is Hip, It Probably Isn’t
March 2, 2015
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Youth advisory boards help financial institutions connect with a new demographic on its own terms.
The Opportunity In Crowdsourced Lending For A Hispanic Community
March 2, 2015
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California-based Travis Credit Union combines the credit union experience with cultural customs.
SECU Scores Obama Nod With FICO Program
March 2, 2015
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A half-million members respond so far to North Carolina credit union’s offer of free credit scores. President digs it, too.
Member-Focused Staff Can Sell With Tech Tools
March 2, 2015
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You can have a member-focused staff while increasing sales and growing fee-income opportunities through technology.
Subprime Bubble? Not In Credit Union Land.
February 26, 2015
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Equifax report buttresses evidence that subprime auto lending is opportunity for credit unions to do good while doing well.
The Tithe That Binds
February 25, 2015
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Looking to make a larger community impact, Assemblies of God Credit Union has donated 10% of its yearly revenue to charity the past three years.
The Measurement Trap
February 24, 2015
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Is it time to rethink how and what we measure, especially in the credit union world where “high performance” has a different meaning than in for-profit financial institutions?
Need Expertise? Take Expertise. Got A Branch? Give A Branch.
February 23, 2015
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The financial system is ripe for enhanced cooperation between leagues, CUSOs, credit unions, and talented individuals.
2014 Credit Union Impact Report
How much money did credit unions lend in 2014? How much higher were the interest rates they offered on deposit products? How many workers did ...
If You Think Your Youth Campaign Is Hip, It Probably Isn’t
Youth advisory boards help financial institutions connect with a new demographic on its own terms.
The Opportunity In Crowdsourced Lending For A Hispanic Community
California-based Travis Credit Union combines the credit union experience with cultural customs.
SECU Scores Obama Nod With FICO Program
A half-million members respond so far to North Carolina credit union’s offer of free credit scores. President digs it, too.
Member-Focused Staff Can Sell With Tech Tools
You can have a member-focused staff while increasing sales and growing fee-income opportunities through technology.
Subprime Bubble? Not In Credit Union Land.
Equifax report buttresses evidence that subprime auto lending is opportunity for credit unions to do good while doing well.
The Tithe That Binds
Looking to make a larger community impact, Assemblies of God Credit Union has donated 10% of its yearly revenue to charity the past three years.
The Measurement Trap
Is it time to rethink how and what we measure, especially in the credit union world where “high performance” has a different meaning than in ...
Need Expertise? Take Expertise. Got A Branch? Give A Branch.
The financial system is ripe for enhanced cooperation between leagues, CUSOs, credit unions, and talented individuals.
Browse Topics
What Makes Good AI Policy? Start With Curiosity And Accountability.
Marc Rapport
As credit unions move from experimentation to adoption, leaders offer firsthand knowledge on what separates weak policies from strong ones that actually work.
Governance And Guardrails Help Credit Unions Navigate AI
Aaron Passman
How Members Cooperative focuses on structure, oversight, and clear expectations to ensure AI supports, not undermines, long term strategy.
What’s In A Name: Chief AI Officer
Aaron Passman
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.
All Eyes On AI
Aaron Passman
Artificial intelligence for credit unions has moved from a future concept to today’s full-fledged leadership and governance challenge.
The Callahan Guide To The 2026 Final Four
Tony Waltrich
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.
A Rewards Program That Relies On Relationships, Not Usage
Savana Morie
Nuvision’s Added Advantage program tracks member engagement across the credit union, then rewards relationships through better pricing and other perks.
Innovations Financial Bets Big On Small Business Lending
Aaron Passman
CDFI grant funding helps the Florida cooperative offer microloans for small businesses after many banks pulled out of its market.
How Marine Credit Union Shifted Its Foundation From Siloed To Symbiotic
Savana Morie
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.
How Today’s Market Is Stress-Testing Credit Union And Bank Earnings Models
Andrew Lepczyk
Credit union and bank earnings reflect different business objectives. Those differences matter for how financial institutions serve their markets.
The Case For Marketing That Doesn’t Lead With The Credit Union
Savana Morie
Whitefish Credit Union barely mentions itself in its member stories. Instead, its high-quality video storytelling spotlights people, businesses, and communities, building trust, advocacy, and impact that don’t always show up in traditional ROI metrics.
NCUA: Here’s What The FDIC Really Said