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.
No Time For Yes Men At NCUA
February 23, 2015
No Comments
Is making the NCUA look professional more important than debating rules before they’re passed?
Compounding The Problem
February 12, 2015
No Comments
Albert Einstein hailed the power of compounding interest. But that power works both ways, as payday lenders well know.
4 Lessons From Failed Mergers
February 11, 2015
No Comments
To coincide with the merger webinar hosted by Callahan & Associates, here are four infamous examples and lessons from failed mergers in the communications and retail industries.
Economic Up Tempo May Prompt Rate Ratchet
February 6, 2015
No Comments
Rising wages, employment may be greeted by rate hikes as Fed works to direct economic harmony.
Immigration Order Spurs Huge Chance To Serve
February 6, 2015
No Comments
Credit union advocates react to Obama move with call to grab market share while serving up trusted financial resources.
Are Credit Unions Too Squeamish To Watch Matz And McWatters Duke It Out?
February 5, 2015
No Comments
A new era of transparent debate and both sides of the story will be good for us all!
Split Leadership Helps Honor Keep It Local
January 23, 2015
No Comments
Honor Credit Union formed an independent executive team to build on the knowledge of merged staff members and succeed in a new market.
Debra Vollmer On Leadership
January 20, 2015
No Comments
Debra Vollmer, senior vice president at Langley Federal Credit Union, reflects on her leadership style, lessons learned during her career, and opportunities for the industry.
The Secret Legal Opinions Behind Public Decisions
January 20, 2015
No Comments
NCUA is setting an anti-democratic precedent in its repeated efforts to keep private the legal opinions about its public regulatory authority. RBC is one example. The CUSO rule is another. Will there be more?
How Credit Unions Can Prove Themselves
January 19, 2015
No Comments
A review of practices that show how and why credit unions are boosting their visibility and viability.
Compounding The Problem
Albert Einstein hailed the power of compounding interest. But that power works both ways, as payday lenders well know.
4 Lessons From Failed Mergers
To coincide with the merger webinar hosted by Callahan & Associates, here are four infamous examples and lessons from failed mergers in the communications and ...
Economic Up Tempo May Prompt Rate Ratchet
Rising wages, employment may be greeted by rate hikes as Fed works to direct economic harmony.
Immigration Order Spurs Huge Chance To Serve
Credit union advocates react to Obama move with call to grab market share while serving up trusted financial resources.
Are Credit Unions Too Squeamish To Watch Matz And McWatters Duke It Out?
A new era of transparent debate and both sides of the story will be good for us all!
Split Leadership Helps Honor Keep It Local
Honor Credit Union formed an independent executive team to build on the knowledge of merged staff members and succeed in a new market.
Debra Vollmer On Leadership
Debra Vollmer, senior vice president at Langley Federal Credit Union, reflects on her leadership style, lessons learned during her career, and opportunities for the industry.
The Secret Legal Opinions Behind Public Decisions
NCUA is setting an anti-democratic precedent in its repeated efforts to keep private the legal opinions about its public regulatory authority. RBC is one example. ...
How Credit Unions Can Prove Themselves
A review of practices that show how and why credit unions are boosting their visibility and viability.
Browse Topics
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
Recent 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.
What’s Next For Credit Union Earnings?
Omar Shalabi
As margin support begins to fade, earnings performance is becoming more sensitive to revenue mix and harder to interpret through public reporting alone.
No Time For Yes Men At NCUA