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.
Understanding NCUA’s 2023 Grant Funding
July 15, 2024
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The regulator’s Community Development Revolving Loan Fund distributed $3.8 million in grant funding last year, benefitting more than 140 credit unions.
GreenState Foundation Invests In Data To Improve Its Community
July 1, 2024
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A partnership with United Ways of Iowa is uncovering insights about employed community members who struggle under limited assets and constrained income.
Community Financial Flips The Script On Junk Fees
June 24, 2024
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The Michigan credit union has dropped punitive overdraft fees in favor of a checking account feature that helps members save money when their spending outstrips their budget.
Is Growth The Goal Or The Result?
June 17, 2024
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Credit unions that want to remain relevant might need to rethink how they approach the “G” word.
Innovative Card Solutions Enhance Member Engagement And Deliver Exceptional Value
June 10, 2024
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A Q&A with the credit card manufacturing company reveals skills and best practices that set it apart.
True Sky’s Blueprint For Internal And External Change Management
May 13, 2024
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The Oklahoma credit union is deploying new tools that change the game for its staff and its mission-based membership strategies.
Vantage West Works A Side HUSTL
May 6, 2024
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The Arizona-based credit union’s new fintech venture is part of a broader segmentation trend across the financial services industry.
Mega Bank Skips Town, Premier America Steps In
April 29, 2024
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The cooperative boosts its standing with Southern California’s Hispanic community as part of a bid to expand financial inclusion.
Hyperlocal Help In The Golden State
April 29, 2024
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After conducting in-depth research on income disparity and wealth gaps throughout California, Golden 1 made a five-year, $10 million investment in a local community.
Where Are The Gaps In Financial Inclusion?
April 29, 2024
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Marginalized communities are largely unbanked or underserved, but credit unions can bolster inclusivity and enhance the financial wellbeing of these groups.
Understanding NCUA’s 2023 Grant Funding
The regulator’s Community Development Revolving Loan Fund distributed $3.8 million in grant funding last year, benefitting more than 140 credit unions.
GreenState Foundation Invests In Data To Improve Its Community
A partnership with United Ways of Iowa is uncovering insights about employed community members who struggle under limited assets and constrained income.
Community Financial Flips The Script On Junk Fees
The Michigan credit union has dropped punitive overdraft fees in favor of a checking account feature that helps members save money when their spending outstrips ...
Innovative Card Solutions Enhance Member Engagement And Deliver Exceptional Value
A Q&A with the credit card manufacturing company reveals skills and best practices that set it apart.
True Sky’s Blueprint For Internal And External Change Management
The Oklahoma credit union is deploying new tools that change the game for its staff and its mission-based membership strategies.
Vantage West Works A Side HUSTL
The Arizona-based credit union’s new fintech venture is part of a broader segmentation trend across the financial services industry.
Mega Bank Skips Town, Premier America Steps In
The cooperative boosts its standing with Southern California’s Hispanic community as part of a bid to expand financial inclusion.
Hyperlocal Help In The Golden State
After conducting in-depth research on income disparity and wealth gaps throughout California, Golden 1 made a five-year, $10 million investment in a local community.
Where Are The Gaps In Financial Inclusion?
Marginalized communities are largely unbanked or underserved, but credit unions can bolster inclusivity and enhance the financial wellbeing of these groups.
Browse Topics
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.
Exit Interview: Deb Vollmer
Aaron Passman
The retired Langley FCU executive looks back on a career shaped by industry change, evolving leadership responsibility, and a constant focus on serving members first.
How Affinity FCU Became A Financial First Responder
Callahan & Associates
The New Jersey-New York metro credit union shares how a wellbeing-led strategy ensures members know where to turn first when life gets difficult.
Running With Scissors: The Bold Side Of Personalization
Callahan & Associates
To become skilled at personalization, credit unions must stop making assumptions about what resonates with members and start leveraging data to be sure.
A Short Guide To Compliance With The New Succession Planning Rule
Jennie Boden
Check all the right boxes while tying your credit union compliance efforts to strategy.
Is Growth The Goal Or The Result?