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.
3 Ways To Reach Unbanked And Underbanked Households
September 11, 2023
No Comments
Bank On certified accounts fulfill the credit union mission while fortifying community partnerships.
Gesa Gives Students Meaningful Work Opportunities. Other Credit Unions Can, Too.
August 30, 2023
No Comments
An internship program launched more than 20 years ago provides financial education and career enhancement for Washington state high school students.
CEO Onboarding: Brandon Michaels, OneAZ Credit Union
August 28, 2023
No Comments
A veteran CEO is onboarded once again and shares how he — and the process — have evolved.
Making — And Measuring — A Difference In The Community
August 21, 2023
No Comments
Self-Help taps multiple perspectives and systems to tell a meaningful, compelling story about its accomplishments.
OneAZ Is Expanding Financial Access To The Underbanked. Here’s How.
August 14, 2023
No Comments
The Grand Canyon State cooperative is offering three new products to reach underbanked members and provide financial education for adults and young members alike.
Micro Grants. Major Support.
July 31, 2023
No Comments
A microgrant program from Verity Credit Union lifts up local nonprofits and other organizations.
Navigating Liquidity In Testing Times: Insights From Leaders Credit Union
July 24, 2023
No Comments
The Tennessee cooperative uses a “balanced balance sheet approach” to ensure steady growth in lending and deposits.
Inside The Connecticut League’s Approach To Media, Young Members, And More
July 10, 2023
No Comments
In this exclusive video, league CEO Bruce Adams and others provide a glimpse into the trade group’s strategies around advocacy, public relations, and why there’s a better term than “the credit union difference.”
A League Of Its Own
July 3, 2023
No Comments
The Credit Union League of Connecticut goes well beyond legislative advocacy in its efforts to spread the “people helping people” philosophy to every corner of the Constitution State.
Home Ownership Is Out Of Reach
June 26, 2023
No Comments
Housing is less affordable today than it was before the 2008 housing crisis. How did we get here? And how can credit unions help?
3 Ways To Reach Unbanked And Underbanked Households
Bank On certified accounts fulfill the credit union mission while fortifying community partnerships.
Gesa Gives Students Meaningful Work Opportunities. Other Credit Unions Can, Too.
An internship program launched more than 20 years ago provides financial education and career enhancement for Washington state high school students.
CEO Onboarding: Brandon Michaels, OneAZ Credit Union
A veteran CEO is onboarded once again and shares how he — and the process — have evolved.
Making — And Measuring — A Difference In The Community
Self-Help taps multiple perspectives and systems to tell a meaningful, compelling story about its accomplishments.
OneAZ Is Expanding Financial Access To The Underbanked. Here’s How.
The Grand Canyon State cooperative is offering three new products to reach underbanked members and provide financial education for adults and young members alike.
Micro Grants. Major Support.
A microgrant program from Verity Credit Union lifts up local nonprofits and other organizations.
Navigating Liquidity In Testing Times: Insights From Leaders Credit Union
The Tennessee cooperative uses a “balanced balance sheet approach” to ensure steady growth in lending and deposits.
Inside The Connecticut League’s Approach To Media, Young Members, And More
In this exclusive video, league CEO Bruce Adams and others provide a glimpse into the trade group's strategies around advocacy, public relations, and why there's ...
A League Of Its Own
The Credit Union League of Connecticut goes well beyond legislative advocacy in its efforts to spread the “people helping people” philosophy to every corner of ...
Home Ownership Is Out Of Reach
Housing is less affordable today than it was before the 2008 housing crisis. How did we get here? And how can credit unions help?
Browse Topics
Why Financial Empowerment Matters More Than Financial Literacy
Savana Morie
Alltru FCU stopped treating education as the end goal. Now, financial empowerment guides product design, access, and risk decisions.
42% Of U.S. Households Experience Financial Hardship
Tony Waltrich
More than 50 million U.S. households earn less than the minimum average income needed to cover basic costs of living.
Excite Foundation Breaks Down Barriers For Children’s Savings
Savana Morie
Automatic enrollment and community partnerships help the credit union foundation expand access to early savings for underserved families.
Credit Human Redefines ‘Green’ In The Heart Of Texas
Savana Morie
The credit union completed a three acre headquarters campus in 2021 that offers 52% more space while consuming a fraction of the resources. It’s a model of how cooperatives can lead on sustainability without sacrificing performance.
CDFIs By The Numbers
Omar Shalabi
CDFI credit unions might be fewer in number, but their impact reaches millions of members, and their footprint highlights how targeted mission can translate into broad, measurable reach.
Serving The Underserved Without Accepting Preventable Fraud Losses
Callahan & Associates
Preventable fraud losses quietly erode credit union margins. The difference between a 25% and 6% loss rate isn’t risk. It’s execution.
Inside An In-School Model That Links Classrooms With College And Careers
Savana Morie
Holy Rosary Credit Union has embedded itself into a local high school’s career and technical education program, offering scholarships, internships, and courses eligible for college credit.
6 Credit Union Executive Priorities For 2026
Jay Johnson
Credit union leaders want to know where peers are placing their focus. These six priorities reflect how leadership teams are responding to change with intention and clarity.
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 Great Wealth Transfer Is Also A Relationship Transfer
Savana Morie
Harvard FCU combines digital estate planning with human financial guidance to support positive, proactive wealth transfer across generations.