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.
First Quarter 2008 Return Of The Member Scores
April 12, 2016
No Comments
Credit unions exist to serve members, and the Return of the Member (ROM) scoring system is designed to measure how well credit unions live up to this task.
Loan From the Front
April 8, 2016
No Comments
Member-facing staff at one Virginia credit union helps the institution reach its maximum lending potential.
What is the Member’s Right to Know?
April 8, 2016
No Comments
Disclosing executive salaries is not a regulatory issue; rather, it can be a marketplace advantage. Keeping compensation private only suggests that credit unions have something to hide.
The Power of Data
April 7, 2016
No Comments
Quantitative facts covering almost every aspect of credit union activity are abundant—and becoming even more plentiful. Many users of data are seeking answers. The issues range from the general, “How-am-I-doing?” to the specific, such as “Should-Iraise-my-NSF-fee?”
Management Classic: Controlling The Wind
April 7, 2016
No Comments
A hang gliding anecdote from Jim Blaine, CEO of State Employees Credit Union, offers insight into what it takes for a credit union to truly take off.
4 Ways To Ensure A Successful Brand After A Credit Union Merger
April 7, 2016
No Comments
Concentrate on four key merger elements that take into account all stakeholders.
Rebrand And Make The Credit Union Relevant To The Members And Communities
April 7, 2016
No Comments
The need for member connection is vital, so any changes should complement the credit union’s brand and mission.
Rebrand And Rename, But First Find Common Core Values
April 7, 2016
No Comments
A rebranding effort has to be driven by values, so find out what similarities make the credit unions stand out in their communities.
6 Insights From NACUSO’s 2014 Next Big Idea Winner
April 5, 2016
No Comments
nCino CEO Pierre Naudé, winner of NACUSO’s Next Big Idea competition, talks his system, lending opportunities at credit unions, and cloud-based computing at financial institutions.
Work Hard, Play Hard
April 5, 2016
No Comments
10 credit union leaders in revenue per employee.
First Quarter 2008 Return Of The Member Scores
Credit unions exist to serve members, and the Return of the Member (ROM) scoring system is designed to measure how well credit unions live up ...
Loan From the Front
Member-facing staff at one Virginia credit union helps the institution reach its maximum lending potential.
What is the Member’s Right to Know?
Disclosing executive salaries is not a regulatory issue; rather, it can be a marketplace advantage. Keeping compensation private only suggests that credit unions have something ...
The Power of Data
Quantitative facts covering almost every aspect of credit union activity are abundant—and becoming even more plentiful. Many users of data are seeking answers. The issues ...
Management Classic: Controlling The Wind
A hang gliding anecdote from Jim Blaine, CEO of State Employees Credit Union, offers insight into what it takes for a credit union to truly ...
4 Ways To Ensure A Successful Brand After A Credit Union Merger
Concentrate on four key merger elements that take into account all stakeholders.
Rebrand And Make The Credit Union Relevant To The Members And Communities
The need for member connection is vital, so any changes should complement the credit union’s brand and mission.
Rebrand And Rename, But First Find Common Core Values
A rebranding effort has to be driven by values, so find out what similarities make the credit unions stand out in their communities.
6 Insights From NACUSO’s 2014 Next Big Idea Winner
nCino CEO Pierre Naudé, winner of NACUSO’s Next Big Idea competition, talks his system, lending opportunities at credit unions, and cloud-based computing at financial institutions.
Browse Topics
Reflections From NACUSO Reimagine 2026
Alexandra Gekas
The annual conference offered insights on why service organizations remain a strategic asset for credit unions and how collaboration, AI, and advocacy are shaping what comes next.
Why Financial Empowerment Matters More Than Financial Literacy
Savana Morie
Alltru FCU stopped treating education as the end goal. Now, financial empowerment guides product design, access, and risk decisions.
42% Of U.S. Households Experience Financial Hardship
Tony Waltrich
More than 50 million U.S. households earn less than the minimum average income needed to cover basic costs of living.
Excite Foundation Breaks Down Barriers For Children’s Savings
Savana Morie
Automatic enrollment and community partnerships help the credit union foundation expand access to early savings for underserved families.
Consumers Are Financing The Future Any Way They Can
Aaron Passman
Studies show credit card debt and Buy Now, Pay Later usage continue to rise. Bigger increases could be around the corner.
Credit Human Redefines ‘Green’ In The Heart Of Texas
Savana Morie
The credit union completed a three acre headquarters campus in 2021 that offers 52% more space while consuming a fraction of the resources. It’s a model of how cooperatives can lead on sustainability without sacrificing performance.
CDFIs By The Numbers
Omar Shalabi
CDFI credit unions might be fewer in number, but their impact reaches millions of members, and their footprint highlights how targeted mission can translate into broad, measurable reach.
Serving The Underserved Without Accepting Preventable Fraud Losses
Callahan & Associates
Preventable fraud losses quietly erode credit union margins. The difference between a 25% and 6% loss rate isn’t risk. It’s execution.
Inside An In-School Model That Links Classrooms With College And Careers
Savana Morie
Holy Rosary Credit Union has embedded itself into a local high school’s career and technical education program, offering scholarships, internships, and courses eligible for college credit.
6 Credit Union Executive Priorities For 2026
Jay Johnson
Credit union leaders want to know where peers are placing their focus. These six priorities reflect how leadership teams are responding to change with intention and clarity.