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.
A League Of Its Own
July 3, 2023
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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
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Housing is less affordable today than it was before the 2008 housing crisis. How did we get here? And how can credit unions help?
‘Pathway’ Products Help Members Connect With What Matters Most
June 19, 2023
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Connex Credit Union accelerates its service after 80 years of helping working folks fare better.
Study Highlights Racial Disparities In Housing Affordability Across America
June 19, 2023
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New data underscores how far minorities have to go to catch up.
A Credit Union Guide To Embracing Equity
June 13, 2023
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A look at the strategies cooperatives have deployed to create more effective diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility programs at their institutions and within their communities.
UMassFive Weighs In To Fight For Affordable Housing
June 12, 2023
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The Western Massachusetts cooperative is combatting inventory and financing hurdles with creative partnerships and innovative programs.
Credit Union Of Atlanta Offers 2 Approaches To Affordable Housing
May 30, 2023
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The cooperative’s down payment assistance and ground lease partnerships enable public employees to break free from a lifetime of renting.
Smarter Loans For Smarter Homes
May 30, 2023
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A new loan at Guadalupe Credit Union helps low-income homeowners save cash while increasing comfort.
A Path To Homeownership In The Wolverine State
May 30, 2023
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Community Financial Credit Union launches a new lending solution to help alleviate the affordable housing crisis.
BECU Busts Out Digital Envelopes To Help Members Build Savings
May 30, 2023
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The big cooperative puts a new spin on an old trick to help members build a savings discipline.
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?
‘Pathway’ Products Help Members Connect With What Matters Most
Connex Credit Union accelerates its service after 80 years of helping working folks fare better.
Study Highlights Racial Disparities In Housing Affordability Across America
New data underscores how far minorities have to go to catch up.
A Credit Union Guide To Embracing Equity
A look at the strategies cooperatives have deployed to create more effective diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility programs at their institutions and within their communities.
UMassFive Weighs In To Fight For Affordable Housing
The Western Massachusetts cooperative is combatting inventory and financing hurdles with creative partnerships and innovative programs.
Credit Union Of Atlanta Offers 2 Approaches To Affordable Housing
The cooperative’s down payment assistance and ground lease partnerships enable public employees to break free from a lifetime of renting.
Smarter Loans For Smarter Homes
A new loan at Guadalupe Credit Union helps low-income homeowners save cash while increasing comfort.
A Path To Homeownership In The Wolverine State
Community Financial Credit Union launches a new lending solution to help alleviate the affordable housing crisis.
BECU Busts Out Digital Envelopes To Help Members Build Savings
The big cooperative puts a new spin on an old trick to help members build a savings discipline.
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.