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.
Polar Plunge With A Purpose
January 1, 2024
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Each year, Affinity Plus takes an ice-cold dive to make a big impact in the community.
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.
Polar Plunge With A Purpose
Each year, Affinity Plus takes an ice-cold dive to make a big impact in the community.
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 ...
Browse Topics
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.
The Lending Lag Is Real, And Here’s What Smaller Credit Unions Can Do About It
Callahan & Associates
Discover how small to midsize credit unions can weather the economic headwinds hitting their communities right now.
Fresh Risks For Financial Markets
Jason Haley
Look beyond the headlines to better understand what is driving current market trends and how they could impact credit union investment portfolios.
What’s In A Name: AVP Of Member Insights
Aaron Passman
At Service Credit Union, Dave Widener connects data, strategy, and culture to shape better outcomes for members.
At Cardinal Credit Union, Small Investments Offer Big Financial Lessons
Aaron Passman
The Ohio-based cooperative has partnered with a fintech to offer fractional investing as part of its financial education curriculum in local schools.
How Compensation Blind Spots Impact CEO Retention And Succession
Callahan & Associates
Seven questions credit union board members should ask to ensure alignment on executive benefit plan goals.
What Makes Good AI Policy? Start With Curiosity And Accountability.
Marc Rapport
As credit unions move from experimentation to adoption, leaders offer firsthand knowledge on what separates weak policies from strong ones that actually work.
Governance And Guardrails Help Credit Unions Navigate AI
Aaron Passman
How Members Cooperative focuses on structure, oversight, and clear expectations to ensure AI supports, not undermines, long term strategy.
What’s In A Name: Chief AI Officer
Aaron Passman
As Hudson Valley Credit Union’s artificial intelligence chief, Preetha Sekharan holds a rare role in the industry, but it’s one that is likely to become far more common in the future.
All Eyes On AI
Aaron Passman
Artificial intelligence for credit unions has moved from a future concept to today’s full-fledged leadership and governance challenge.