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.
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.
Langley FCU Offers Financial Refuge For Struggling Savers
July 28, 2024
No Comments
The Virginia cooperative bucks the CD trend with a high-rate savings product aimed at members who need help building budgetary resiliency.
Can Donor-Advised Funds Make Your Philanthropy Go Further?
July 21, 2024
No Comments
Although the industry is chock-full of foundations, some institutions rely on donor-advised funds as a pathway to giving back.
Fortera Fights Against Generational Poverty
July 21, 2024
No Comments
The Fortera Foundation is breaking the cycle of generational poverty by providing essential resources and financial aid to single-parent students.
United Nations FCU’s Lessons From Global Philanthropy
July 21, 2024
No Comments
The United Nations FCU Foundation helps the New York-based credit union make an impact on multiple continents.
Understanding NCUA’s 2023 Grant Funding
July 15, 2024
No Comments
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
No Comments
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
No Comments
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
No Comments
Credit unions that want to remain relevant might need to rethink how they approach the “G” word.
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.
Langley FCU Offers Financial Refuge For Struggling Savers
The Virginia cooperative bucks the CD trend with a high-rate savings product aimed at members who need help building budgetary resiliency.
Can Donor-Advised Funds Make Your Philanthropy Go Further?
Although the industry is chock-full of foundations, some institutions rely on donor-advised funds as a pathway to giving back.
Fortera Fights Against Generational Poverty
The Fortera Foundation is breaking the cycle of generational poverty by providing essential resources and financial aid to single-parent students.
United Nations FCU’s Lessons From Global Philanthropy
The United Nations FCU Foundation helps the New York-based credit union make an impact on multiple continents.
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 ...
Browse Topics
AI Adoption Is Growing. Are Credit Unions Keeping Pace?
Andrew Lepczyk
New data from Gallup shows half of all employees who work for companies that pay for AI tools use them. Credit unions are building their own momentum.
A Credit Union Bond Beyond Bloodlines
Aaron Passman
For Mike and Dave Valentine, the family business just happens to be credit unions. The father-son duo talk leadership styles, cooperative values, and the lessons they’ve learned from each other along the way.
Connection And Caring Matter As Much As Knowledge And Resources
Chris Howard
People who are truly financially thriving have both means and a sense of security that comes from confidence about the future. Building that kind of emotional engagement requires a deliberate design of everyday interactions.
Markets Flip From Pricing Cuts To 50% Chance Of Hikes
Jason Haley
Look beyond the headlines to better understand what is driving current market trends and how they could impact credit union investment portfolios.
Keep The Mortgage. Ditch The Fees.
Savana Morie
A rethink of closing costs, rate relief, and employer partnerships helped 7 17 Credit Union build an affordable housing mortgage program that works.
Home Is Where The Heart (And More) Is
Aaron Passman
Where is mortgage growth coming from right now? This week, CreditUnions.com covers a mix of home equity campaigns, targeted affordability programs, and niche lending strategies that are bringing borrowers back into the market.
3 Ways To Market For HELOC Success
Aaron Passman
Home equity lending is a winning option for credit unions in today’s mortgage environment. Learn how three different shops meet members’ needs.
Small House, Big Opportunity: 2 Takes On Manufactured Home Loans
Aaron Passman
Manufactured home loans can provide members access to affordable housing, including those in rural areas. Two credit unions share how they approach the niche product.
Mortgage Lending Is Back, But It Looks Different
Tony Waltrich
After a prolonged slowdown, signs of life are returning to mortgage lending. Growth is uneven, with first-time buyers and shifting rate dynamics driving activity in select segments.
MSUFCU Turns A Break In Payments Into A Member Experience Moment
Aaron Passman
The Michigan cooperative keeps everyday payments working and members happy by using a common friction point to build brand loyalty.
Is Growth The Goal Or The Result?