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.
How To Measure Mission
December 20, 2023
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A dashboard at Marine Credit Union helps the Wisconsin cooperative focus on member and community impact.
7 17 Steps Up To Tackle The Nation’s Mental Health Crisis
December 19, 2023
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With Americans under more stress than they were before the pandemic, the Ohio-based credit union has seen a roaring response after adding mental healthcare to its benefit offerings.
Want To Prevent A Food Desert? Just Add Hope.
December 18, 2023
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The Gulf-area credit union and its Hope Enterprise Coalition have helped a popular grocery not only stay in town but also expand operations.
Jen Kuhn On Leadership
December 18, 2023
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The Bank-Fund Staff executive focuses on employee empowerment in her role as chief human resources officer.
Exit Interview: Tom Berquist, BECU
December 11, 2023
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BECU’s longtime chief marketer helped build the cooperative’s considerable legacy as an industry leader.
The Evolution Of Leadership Development At Together Credit Union
November 27, 2023
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A comprehensive program at the Missouri cooperative helps those outside its walls become better leaders, too.
CEO Onboarding: Jenny Vipperman, ORNL FCU
November 27, 2023
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The first-time CEO leans on her experience, her network, and, last but hardly least, her talented staff to chart the future for the East Tennessee cooperative.
Exit Interview: Dan Berger
November 20, 2023
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NAFCU’s long-time front man reflects on leadership, legacy, and what lies ahead.
Patelco Builds Financial Wellness One Member At A Time
November 13, 2023
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Certified staff members provide personalized guidance and coaching at the California cooperative.
A Safe Place For Members With Dementia
November 6, 2023
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A new designation is helping Landings Credit Union better serve a population projected to grow in coming years.
How To Measure Mission
A dashboard at Marine Credit Union helps the Wisconsin cooperative focus on member and community impact.
7 17 Steps Up To Tackle The Nation’s Mental Health Crisis
With Americans under more stress than they were before the pandemic, the Ohio-based credit union has seen a roaring response after adding mental healthcare ...
Want To Prevent A Food Desert? Just Add Hope.
The Gulf-area credit union and its Hope Enterprise Coalition have helped a popular grocery not only stay in town but also expand operations.
Jen Kuhn On Leadership
The Bank-Fund Staff executive focuses on employee empowerment in her role as chief human resources officer.
Exit Interview: Tom Berquist, BECU
BECU’s longtime chief marketer helped build the cooperative’s considerable legacy as an industry leader.
The Evolution Of Leadership Development At Together Credit Union
A comprehensive program at the Missouri cooperative helps those outside its walls become better leaders, too.
CEO Onboarding: Jenny Vipperman, ORNL FCU
The first-time CEO leans on her experience, her network, and, last but hardly least, her talented staff to chart the future for the East Tennessee ...
Exit Interview: Dan Berger
NAFCU’s long-time front man reflects on leadership, legacy, and what lies ahead.
Patelco Builds Financial Wellness One Member At A Time
Certified staff members provide personalized guidance and coaching at the California cooperative.
A Safe Place For Members With Dementia
A new designation is helping Landings Credit Union better serve a population projected to grow in coming years.
Browse Topics
Growth Is A Mindset, But Success Is In The Contract
Callahan & Associates
Arriba Advisors co-founder Tom Russell explores how credit unions can bridge the gap between a growth mindset and their technical reality.
Fraud Is Faster, Smarter, And Harder To Stop. Here’s How To.
Callahan & Associates
RKL offers insight, expertise, and experience to help fight off growing threats.
The Numbers Are Good. The Moment Is Hard.
William Hunt
Members are anxious about their financial futures, even as credit unions remain financially strong. Institutions that respond to this moment can make 2026 a turning point.
Wages Are Growing. Wallets Are Not.
Sherry Virden
Global events are flowing directly into household budgets, reshaping how credit union members save, borrow, and cope. Such trends don’t always show up in headline data.
Credit Unions Are Having A Margin Moment
Tony Waltrich
Credit unions are benefiting from a rare margin advantage as loans reprice slower than deposits. The question now is how institutions will use that strength to better serve members.
Where Have All The Members Gone?
Omar Shalabi
Membership growth is slowing, but financial activity is not. What does the modern financial relationship look like?
5 Takeaways From First Quarter Credit Union Performance Data
William Hunt
Inflation, war, and uncertain futures have reshaped members’ needs in 2026. What does credit union performance data from the first quarter of 2026 say about household budgets, inflation pressures, and more?
New Highs For Equity Markets Despite Iran And Oil Prices
Jason Haley
Look beyond the headlines to better understand what is driving current market trends and how they could impact credit union investment portfolios.
New Graduates Face A Cautious Job-Hiring Landscape
Tony Waltrich
Today’s job market is shaped by skills based expectations, with employers slowing entry level hiring and placing greater emphasis on applied experience.
A Credit Union Journey Into Cryptocurrency And Stablecoins
Savana Morie
St. Cloud Financial is betting on digital assets to protect member relationships and future relevance. It’s picked up lessons for other leaders along the way.