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.
Best Of 2023: Building Vibrant Communities
December 26, 2023
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No matter how a credit union defines its community, strengthening that common bond is a major role for credit unions.
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.
Best Of 2023: Building Vibrant Communities
No matter how a credit union defines its community, strengthening that common bond is a major role for credit unions.
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.
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.