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.
Buy Now, Pay Later: Fad Or The Future?
September 9, 2024
No Comments
BNPL programs have become a key player in the financial landscape, with some credit unions adopting their own version for their members.
KPIs Kick Good Will Into High Gear
September 2, 2024
No Comments
From Knoxville to Nome, credit unions are attaching hard numbers to community impact and taking their philanthropy further than ever before.
A Blueprint To Build Better Volunteers
September 2, 2024
No Comments
A three-year-old program at 3Rivers Federal Credit Union prepares team members to participate on local boards and committees.
A Guide To Measuring Credit Union Impact
September 2, 2024
No Comments
Credit unions build stronger communities every day. It’s time to share those success stories with the world.
Exit Interview: Hank Hubbard, One Detroit Credit Union
September 2, 2024
No Comments
The veteran leader and Motor City hype man looks back on a career centered on living the “people helping people” philosophy.
A New Way to Measure Impact
September 1, 2024
No Comments
To better fulfil its mission, Blue FCU has adopted a different method of measuring success that more closely examines members’ financial health.
A Path To Prosperity And Financial Wellness
August 26, 2024
No Comments
Some credit unions offer loans for trade schools and vocational programs that provide well-paying jobs without a four-year college degree.
3 Ways To Make Financial Education Stick
August 26, 2024
No Comments
More U.S. states are mandating financial literacy courses. Credit unions are responding with tailored approaches to equip students with essential financial skills.
For These Credit Unions, Financial Wellness Starts At Home
August 26, 2024
No Comments
Jeanne D’Arc and Affinity Plus are driving financial wellness for staff with initiatives like emergency savings accounts and an employee-only branch.
Ask An Analyst: What Does The Data Say About Financial Wellness?
August 26, 2024
No Comments
Americans face challenges in retirement planning and rising debt. Credit unions can help them tackle that.
Buy Now, Pay Later: Fad Or The Future?
BNPL programs have become a key player in the financial landscape, with some credit unions adopting their own version for their members.
KPIs Kick Good Will Into High Gear
From Knoxville to Nome, credit unions are attaching hard numbers to community impact and taking their philanthropy further than ever before.
A Blueprint To Build Better Volunteers
A three-year-old program at 3Rivers Federal Credit Union prepares team members to participate on local boards and committees.
A Guide To Measuring Credit Union Impact
Credit unions build stronger communities every day. It’s time to share those success stories with the world.
Exit Interview: Hank Hubbard, One Detroit Credit Union
The veteran leader and Motor City hype man looks back on a career centered on living the “people helping people” philosophy.
A New Way to Measure Impact
To better fulfil its mission, Blue FCU has adopted a different method of measuring success that more closely examines members’ financial health.
A Path To Prosperity And Financial Wellness
Some credit unions offer loans for trade schools and vocational programs that provide well-paying jobs without a four-year college degree.
3 Ways To Make Financial Education Stick
More U.S. states are mandating financial literacy courses. Credit unions are responding with tailored approaches to equip students with essential financial skills.
For These Credit Unions, Financial Wellness Starts At Home
Jeanne D’Arc and Affinity Plus are driving financial wellness for staff with initiatives like emergency savings accounts and an employee-only branch.
Ask An Analyst: What Does The Data Say About Financial Wellness?
Americans face challenges in retirement planning and rising debt. Credit unions can help them tackle that.
Browse Topics
Growth Is A Mindset, But Success Is In The Contract
Callahan & Associates
Arriba Advisors co-founder Tom Russell explores how credit unions can bridge the gap between a growth mindset and their technical reality.
Fraud Is Faster, Smarter, And Harder To Stop. Here’s How To.
Callahan & Associates
RKL offers insight, expertise, and experience to help fight off growing threats.
The Numbers Are Good. The Moment Is Hard.
William Hunt
Members are anxious about their financial futures, even as credit unions remain financially strong. Institutions that respond to this moment can make 2026 a turning point.
Wages Are Growing. Wallets Are Not.
Sherry Virden
Global events are flowing directly into household budgets, reshaping how credit union members save, borrow, and cope. Such trends don’t always show up in headline data.
Credit Unions Are Having A Margin Moment
Tony Waltrich
Credit unions are benefiting from a rare margin advantage as loans reprice slower than deposits. The question now is how institutions will use that strength to better serve members.
Where Have All The Members Gone?
Omar Shalabi
Membership growth is slowing, but financial activity is not. What does the modern financial relationship look like?
5 Takeaways From First Quarter Credit Union Performance Data
William Hunt
Inflation, war, and uncertain futures have reshaped members’ needs in 2026. What does credit union performance data from the first quarter of 2026 say about household budgets, inflation pressures, and more?
New Highs For Equity Markets Despite Iran And Oil Prices
Jason Haley
Look beyond the headlines to better understand what is driving current market trends and how they could impact credit union investment portfolios.
New Graduates Face A Cautious Job-Hiring Landscape
Tony Waltrich
Today’s job market is shaped by skills based expectations, with employers slowing entry level hiring and placing greater emphasis on applied experience.
A Credit Union Journey Into Cryptocurrency And Stablecoins
Savana Morie
St. Cloud Financial is betting on digital assets to protect member relationships and future relevance. It’s picked up lessons for other leaders along the way.