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.
What’s In A Name: Chief Community And Public Affairs Officer
May 15, 2023
No Comments
Creighton Blackwell’s executive-level role at Coastal demonstrates the credit union’s focus on serving community from the highest level of the enterprise.
What’s The Big IDEA?
May 8, 2023
No Comments
Inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility ensures success and survival at Greylock FCU.
CDFI 2023: Grants, Certification and Compliance-OH MY!
May 3, 2023
No Comments
Watch now to learn all the most up to date information regarding All Things CDFI
Help For The Holidays And Beyond
April 27, 2023
No Comments
A leader of St. Louis Community Credit Union shares how the cooperative works every day to be “the social conscience of banking.”
How Credit Union Of Texas Turns Jobs Into Careers
April 24, 2023
No Comments
A program at the Dallas cooperative commits time and resources to develop a deep bench of talent across all levels of management.
Build Trust And Drive Engagement With An Annual Impact Report
April 24, 2023
No Comments
Langley FCU’s annual impact report has helped deepen connections at the cooperative by emphasizing servant leadership within the community.
A Cancer Diagnosis Is Scary. Managing Money Shouldn’t Be.
April 17, 2023
No Comments
A pilot program from Wright-Patt Credit Union offers support and financial advice for patients facing a serious illness while juggling daily expenses.
A Different Kind Of ‘Mobile’ Banking
April 10, 2023
No Comments
Peoples Advantage’s branch on wheels brings financial services to members who live in regions too rural to sustain a full-service branch.
Eco-Minded Members Seek Sustainable Solutions
April 3, 2023
No Comments
How can credit unions protect the planet and encourage members to do the same?
Impact Strategies From March 2023
March 27, 2023
No Comments
A look back at strategies and ideas that help credit unions make an even bigger difference in the communities they serve.
What’s In A Name: Chief Community And Public Affairs Officer
Creighton Blackwell’s executive-level role at Coastal demonstrates the credit union’s focus on serving community from the highest level of the enterprise.
What’s The Big IDEA?
Inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility ensures success and survival at Greylock FCU.
CDFI 2023: Grants, Certification and Compliance-OH MY!
Watch now to learn all the most up to date information regarding All Things CDFI
Help For The Holidays And Beyond
A leader of St. Louis Community Credit Union shares how the cooperative works every day to be “the social conscience of banking.”
How Credit Union Of Texas Turns Jobs Into Careers
A program at the Dallas cooperative commits time and resources to develop a deep bench of talent across all levels of management.
Build Trust And Drive Engagement With An Annual Impact Report
Langley FCU's annual impact report has helped deepen connections at the cooperative by emphasizing servant leadership within the community.
A Cancer Diagnosis Is Scary. Managing Money Shouldn’t Be.
A pilot program from Wright-Patt Credit Union offers support and financial advice for patients facing a serious illness while juggling daily expenses.
A Different Kind Of ‘Mobile’ Banking
Peoples Advantage’s branch on wheels brings financial services to members who live in regions too rural to sustain a full-service branch.
Eco-Minded Members Seek Sustainable Solutions
How can credit unions protect the planet and encourage members to do the same?
Impact Strategies From March 2023
A look back at strategies and ideas that help credit unions make an even bigger difference in the communities they serve.
Browse Topics
A Rewards Program That Relies On Relationships, Not Usage
Savana Morie
Nuvision’s Added Advantage program tracks member engagement across the credit union, then rewards relationships through better pricing and other perks.
Innovations Financial Bets Big On Small Business Lending
Aaron Passman
CDFI grant funding helps the Florida cooperative offer microloans for small businesses after many banks pulled out of its market.
How Marine Credit Union Shifted Its Foundation From Siloed To Symbiotic
Savana Morie
By aligning governance, leadership, and day to day operations, Marine Credit Union transformed its foundation from a parallel operation into a visible extension of the credit union brand.
How Today’s Market Is Stress-Testing Credit Union And Bank Earnings Models
Andrew Lepczyk
Credit union and bank earnings reflect different business objectives. Those differences matter for how financial institutions serve their markets.
The Case For Marketing That Doesn’t Lead With The Credit Union
Savana Morie
Whitefish Credit Union barely mentions itself in its member stories. Instead, its high-quality video storytelling spotlights people, businesses, and communities, building trust, advocacy, and impact that don’t always show up in traditional ROI metrics.
Exit Interview: Deb Vollmer
Aaron Passman
The retired Langley FCU executive looks back on a career shaped by industry change, evolving leadership responsibility, and a constant focus on serving members first.
How Affinity FCU Became A Financial First Responder
Callahan & Associates
The New Jersey-New York metro credit union shares how a wellbeing-led strategy ensures members know where to turn first when life gets difficult.
Running With Scissors: The Bold Side Of Personalization
Callahan & Associates
To become skilled at personalization, credit unions must stop making assumptions about what resonates with members and start leveraging data to be sure.
A Short Guide To Compliance With The New Succession Planning Rule
Jennie Boden
Check all the right boxes while tying your credit union compliance efforts to strategy.
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.