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.
Ask An Analyst: What Does The Data Say About Financial Wellness?
August 26, 2024
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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 ...
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.
Browse Topics
Innovation Only Goes So Far Without Internal Alignment
Marc Rapport
Coastal Credit Union evaluates fintech through the lens of member value, strategic growth, and organizational readiness to implement new ideas.
Why Legacy Institutions Must Evolve To Survive
Matt Kershaw
Long-term growth depends on pairing trusted community relationships with intentional investment in technology, leadership, and purpose.
Future Bets For Fintech
Rebecca Wessler
Credit unions are making decisions about where to build, invest, and partner as they balance today’s priorities with tomorrow’s opportunities.
Future Bets From Today’s Credit Unions
Marc Rapport
Industry leaders share how they approach fintech investment, balancing immediate needs with longer-term bets while keeping member value and mission at the center.
Competing For Gen Z, SMBs, And The Future Of Money
Callahan & Associates
Credit unions that enable seamless movement between fiat and digital assets position themselves as a trusted on- and off-ramp.
The Financial Readiness Gap: Credit Unions Evaluate It Every Day. But Who Builds It?
Callahan & Associates
The credit unions that win the next generation will be the ones that showed up early, when young members were forming habits and deciding whom to trust.
Defending Your Credit Union Against Fraud Means Fighting Fire With Smarter Fire
Callahan & Associates
The challenge is no longer whether to adopt AI, but how to adopt it responsibly with the right governance, the right partners, and the right balance between technology and human oversight.
Digital Assets Are Coming For Payments. Are Credit Unions Ready?
Andrew Lepczyk
McKinsey projects trillions of dollars in growth across digital assets, with money movement emerging as one of the biggest opportunities.
The Long Game For Fintech At FORUM Credit Union
Marc Rapport
The Indiana cooperative blends internal development with selective partnerships to meet members’ needs today now while positioning for what’s next.
Mission Fed Weighs Fintech Returns Against Real-World Fit
Marc Rapport
The San Diego cooperative leans on its CUSO and the CURQL network to make fintech investments, but member needs still guide which solutions ultimately make it into the credit union’s operations.
Is Growth The Goal Or The Result?