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.
True Sky’s Blueprint For Internal And External Change Management
May 13, 2024
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The Oklahoma credit union is deploying new tools that change the game for its staff and its mission-based membership strategies.
All Things CDFI: Recertification, Grants and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Awards
May 6, 2024
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Watch CU Strategic Planning’s experts discuss: Recertification – what needs to be done NOW to retain your certification and how CU Strategic Planning can help you with 2023 and 2024 data. The new certification standards – how to work with them to benefit your credit union, and how the new reg impacts current CDFI awards. Greenhouse
Vantage West Works A Side HUSTL
May 6, 2024
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The Arizona-based credit union’s new fintech venture is part of a broader segmentation trend across the financial services industry.
Mega Bank Skips Town, Premier America Steps In
April 29, 2024
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The cooperative boosts its standing with Southern California’s Hispanic community as part of a bid to expand financial inclusion.
Hyperlocal Help In The Golden State
April 29, 2024
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After conducting in-depth research on income disparity and wealth gaps throughout California, Golden 1 made a five-year, $10 million investment in a local community.
Where Are The Gaps In Financial Inclusion?
April 29, 2024
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Marginalized communities are largely unbanked or underserved, but credit unions can bolster inclusivity and enhance the financial wellbeing of these groups.
Earth Day Is Every Day For Green Lenders
April 22, 2024
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New stores of federal funding are now available to help credit unions cultivate a growing business in solar and more.
Green Lending: What Is Your ‘Why?’
April 22, 2024
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There are different motivations for delving into green lending, but five in particular apply to the strategic focus of credit unions.
Opportunities Abound For Veterans At A Kentucky Credit Union
April 15, 2024
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A program at Abound Credit Union has helped hundreds of would-be small business owners since its launch eight years ago.
The Power Of Business Lending And Services
April 15, 2024
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Two credit unions — one large, one smaller — offer insight from their experience serving the business community.
True Sky’s Blueprint For Internal And External Change Management
The Oklahoma credit union is deploying new tools that change the game for its staff and its mission-based membership strategies.
All Things CDFI: Recertification, Grants and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Awards
Watch CU Strategic Planning’s experts discuss: Recertification – what needs to be done NOW to retain your certification and how CU Strategic Planning can help you ...
Vantage West Works A Side HUSTL
The Arizona-based credit union’s new fintech venture is part of a broader segmentation trend across the financial services industry.
Mega Bank Skips Town, Premier America Steps In
The cooperative boosts its standing with Southern California’s Hispanic community as part of a bid to expand financial inclusion.
Hyperlocal Help In The Golden State
After conducting in-depth research on income disparity and wealth gaps throughout California, Golden 1 made a five-year, $10 million investment in a local community.
Where Are The Gaps In Financial Inclusion?
Marginalized communities are largely unbanked or underserved, but credit unions can bolster inclusivity and enhance the financial wellbeing of these groups.
Earth Day Is Every Day For Green Lenders
New stores of federal funding are now available to help credit unions cultivate a growing business in solar and more.
Opportunities Abound For Veterans At A Kentucky Credit Union
A program at Abound Credit Union has helped hundreds of would-be small business owners since its launch eight years ago.
The Power Of Business Lending And Services
Two credit unions — one large, one smaller — offer insight from their experience serving the business community.
Browse Topics
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.
AI Boot Camp Is More Than Basic Training At Clearview FCU
Aaron Passman
Hands-on work with artificial intelligence tools is future-proofing staff members, giving them the confidence to adopt new technology and embrace efficiencies.
Stable Economy. Strained Households.
Andrew Lepczyk
Wages briefly caught up with inflation, but rising costs have pushed them back into negative territory. Here’s what that shift means for member finances and credit union performance.
Fintech Grounded In Mission As Much As Market Opportunity
Marc Rapport
Suncoast Credit Union balances near-term needs with longer-term bets, applying discipline to timing, valuation, and fit to decide when to invest and when to walk away.
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.
Cost Pressures Are Changing Member Behavior
Savana Morie
First quarter data shows how rising costs are pushing consumers toward flexibility and reshaping borrowing and saving habits.
WSECU Invests In Innovation To Solve Pain Points
Marc Rapport
A dedicated CUSO holding company allows WSECU to move beyond building and back fintech partners it helps shape and scale.
When Employees Own Culture, Service Follows
Savana Morie
Advancial FCU links internal service standards, employee feedback, and peer recognition to create a more consistent experience for both staff and members.
How MSUFCU Builds And Backs Fintech Solutions
Marc Rapport
MSUFCU takes a hands-on approach to fintech, piloting solutions through its in-house lab before scaling and backing them through a wholly owned CUSO.
Green Lending: What Is Your ‘Why?’