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.
TDECU Raises The Game On NIL
May 20, 2024
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A new partnership gives the Texas-based credit union a broader reach for name, image, and licensing deals, providing access to some 600 university athletes.
Like, Share, Comment: How Social Influencers Are Helping SF Fire Build Its Brand
May 20, 2024
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SF Fire reaches younger consumers through trusted local social media personalities.
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.
TDECU Raises The Game On NIL
A new partnership gives the Texas-based credit union a broader reach for name, image, and licensing deals, providing access to some 600 university athletes.
Like, Share, Comment: How Social Influencers Are Helping SF Fire Build Its Brand
SF Fire reaches younger consumers through trusted local social media personalities.
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.
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.
Green Lending: What Is Your ‘Why?’