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.
Best Of 2023: Driving Employee Engagement
December 26, 2023
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Credit unions are deploying myriad strategies to engage employees and make them feel like part of something bigger.
Best Of 2023: Building Vibrant Communities
December 26, 2023
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No matter how a credit union defines its community, strengthening that common bond is a major role for credit unions.
How To Measure Mission
December 20, 2023
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A dashboard at Marine Credit Union helps the Wisconsin cooperative focus on member and community impact.
7 17 Steps Up To Tackle The Nation’s Mental Health Crisis
December 19, 2023
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With Americans under more stress than they were before the pandemic, the Ohio-based credit union has seen a roaring response after adding mental healthcare to its benefit offerings.
Want To Prevent A Food Desert? Just Add Hope.
December 18, 2023
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The Gulf-area credit union and its Hope Enterprise Coalition have helped a popular grocery not only stay in town but also expand operations.
Jen Kuhn On Leadership
December 18, 2023
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The Bank-Fund Staff executive focuses on employee empowerment in her role as chief human resources officer.
Exit Interview: Tom Berquist, BECU
December 11, 2023
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BECU’s longtime chief marketer helped build the cooperative’s considerable legacy as an industry leader.
The Evolution Of Leadership Development At Together Credit Union
November 27, 2023
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A comprehensive program at the Missouri cooperative helps those outside its walls become better leaders, too.
CEO Onboarding: Jenny Vipperman, ORNL FCU
November 27, 2023
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The first-time CEO leans on her experience, her network, and, last but hardly least, her talented staff to chart the future for the East Tennessee cooperative.
Exit Interview: Dan Berger
November 20, 2023
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NAFCU’s long-time front man reflects on leadership, legacy, and what lies ahead.
Best Of 2023: Driving Employee Engagement
Credit unions are deploying myriad strategies to engage employees and make them feel like part of something bigger.
Best Of 2023: Building Vibrant Communities
No matter how a credit union defines its community, strengthening that common bond is a major role for credit unions.
How To Measure Mission
A dashboard at Marine Credit Union helps the Wisconsin cooperative focus on member and community impact.
7 17 Steps Up To Tackle The Nation’s Mental Health Crisis
With Americans under more stress than they were before the pandemic, the Ohio-based credit union has seen a roaring response after adding mental healthcare ...
Want To Prevent A Food Desert? Just Add Hope.
The Gulf-area credit union and its Hope Enterprise Coalition have helped a popular grocery not only stay in town but also expand operations.
Jen Kuhn On Leadership
The Bank-Fund Staff executive focuses on employee empowerment in her role as chief human resources officer.
Exit Interview: Tom Berquist, BECU
BECU’s longtime chief marketer helped build the cooperative’s considerable legacy as an industry leader.
The Evolution Of Leadership Development At Together Credit Union
A comprehensive program at the Missouri cooperative helps those outside its walls become better leaders, too.
CEO Onboarding: Jenny Vipperman, ORNL FCU
The first-time CEO leans on her experience, her network, and, last but hardly least, her talented staff to chart the future for the East Tennessee ...
Exit Interview: Dan Berger
NAFCU’s long-time front man reflects on leadership, legacy, and what lies ahead.
Browse Topics
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.
Industry Intelligence For Credit Union Leaders
Callahan & Associates
Looking for quarterly data coverage, expert analysis, lessons from leading credit unions, and more? Callahan has it covered. Comparing top-level performance and digging into the details has never been easier.