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.
Exit Interview: Tracie Kenyon, Montana’s Credit Unions
March 27, 2023
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Montana’s Credit Unions’ longtime leader leaves a legacy of service, collaboration, and independence.
Governance, Leadership, Responsibility … Strategy!
March 20, 2023
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As spring planning sessions get underway, these are the questions credit union leaders need to be asking to ensure maximum impact.
‘Unbanked’ Rate Declines But Challenges Remain
March 20, 2023
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More consumers are entering the mainstream banking system, but more than a quarter of loan applicants say they aren’t getting the funds they need.
A Path To Affordable Homeownership For Military Members
March 20, 2023
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An initiative from VyStar Credit Union aims to give back to those who have served the country by making it easier for them to afford a home.
In A Push For Liquidity, GTE Financial Rolls Out Business Services Built For Nonprofits
March 20, 2023
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The Tampa cooperative is reducing and eliminating fees to help charities do more good while building its own lending reserves.
How Is A Microloan Program In New Mexico Reshaping The Small Business Landscape?
March 8, 2023
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Now in its fifth year, a small business lending initiative from Nusenda has helped stabilize economies across the state with more than 300 loans totaling more than $2 million.
CEO Onboarding: James McBride, Lion’s Share Federal Credit Union
March 7, 2023
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Transparency, empowerment, and clarity of mission helped James McBride make the most of his first year as chief executive.
Exit Interview: Maurice Smith, Local Government FCU
March 7, 2023
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A half-century of service hasn’t come completely to an end for this pioneer of credit union innovation and diversity.
4 Fundamental Elements Every Spring Strategy Session Needs
March 7, 2023
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Fall business planning sessions are operational in nature. Spring strategy sessions are all about relevance and impact.
Support For Women Leaders In The Badger State
March 6, 2023
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A one-day live summit and periodic virtual sessions are empowering women and ensuring their future in the movement.
Exit Interview: Tracie Kenyon, Montana’s Credit Unions
Montana’s Credit Unions’ longtime leader leaves a legacy of service, collaboration, and independence.
Governance, Leadership, Responsibility … Strategy!
As spring planning sessions get underway, these are the questions credit union leaders need to be asking to ensure maximum impact.
‘Unbanked’ Rate Declines But Challenges Remain
More consumers are entering the mainstream banking system, but more than a quarter of loan applicants say they aren’t getting the funds they need.
A Path To Affordable Homeownership For Military Members
An initiative from VyStar Credit Union aims to give back to those who have served the country by making it easier for them to afford ...
In A Push For Liquidity, GTE Financial Rolls Out Business Services Built For Nonprofits
The Tampa cooperative is reducing and eliminating fees to help charities do more good while building its own lending reserves.
How Is A Microloan Program In New Mexico Reshaping The Small Business Landscape?
Now in its fifth year, a small business lending initiative from Nusenda has helped stabilize economies across the state with more than 300 loans totaling ...
CEO Onboarding: James McBride, Lion’s Share Federal Credit Union
Transparency, empowerment, and clarity of mission helped James McBride make the most of his first year as chief executive.
Exit Interview: Maurice Smith, Local Government FCU
A half-century of service hasn’t come completely to an end for this pioneer of credit union innovation and diversity.
4 Fundamental Elements Every Spring Strategy Session Needs
Fall business planning sessions are operational in nature. Spring strategy sessions are all about relevance and impact.
Support For Women Leaders In The Badger State
A one-day live summit and periodic virtual sessions are empowering women and ensuring their future in the movement.
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.