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: 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.
Data And Analytics: Unlocking Insights To Stay Competitive
March 6, 2023
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Financial institutions have a wealth of data available to generate insights to inform difficult decisions about how to adapt and thrive in real time.
Banking Desert? Not So Fast, Says Great Lakes Credit Union.
February 27, 2023
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While the cooperative is focused on filling financial services gaps in the Chicagoland area, a host of community partners are working to meet other needs.
CEO Onboarding: Tonita Webb, Verity Credit Union
February 21, 2023
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Showing up as her true self helped Tonita Webb navigate her first foray into the corner office as CEO of Seattle’s Verity Credit Union.
4Q22 Trendwatch
February 17, 2023
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Watch the recording of Trendwatch to learn about credit union performance trends gathered from 4Q 2022 data.
CEO Onboarding: Brian Waldron, Dort Financial Credit Union
February 13, 2023
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A newly minted chief executive uses intentional listening to build connections and spark growth at his Michigan cooperative.
Exit Interview: Dave Roughton, SAFE Credit Union
February 13, 2023
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From the coin vault to the corner office, Dave Roughton looks back on a career and to the future of an industry with impact in mind.
Tiny Houses Are Helping Redwood Credit Union Address A Big Problem
February 6, 2023
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The California-based cooperative is writing loans for small properties to help combat the affordable-housing crisis.
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.
Data And Analytics: Unlocking Insights To Stay Competitive
Financial institutions have a wealth of data available to generate insights to inform difficult decisions about how to adapt and thrive in real time.
Banking Desert? Not So Fast, Says Great Lakes Credit Union.
While the cooperative is focused on filling financial services gaps in the Chicagoland area, a host of community partners are working to meet other needs.
CEO Onboarding: Tonita Webb, Verity Credit Union
Showing up as her true self helped Tonita Webb navigate her first foray into the corner office as CEO of Seattle’s Verity Credit Union.
4Q22 Trendwatch
Watch the recording of Trendwatch to learn about credit union performance trends gathered from 4Q 2022 data.
CEO Onboarding: Brian Waldron, Dort Financial Credit Union
A newly minted chief executive uses intentional listening to build connections and spark growth at his Michigan cooperative.
Exit Interview: Dave Roughton, SAFE Credit Union
From the coin vault to the corner office, Dave Roughton looks back on a career and to the future of an industry with impact in ...
Tiny Houses Are Helping Redwood Credit Union Address A Big Problem
The California-based cooperative is writing loans for small properties to help combat the affordable-housing crisis.
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.