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 1 Foundation Tackles 2 Mandates
October 10, 2022
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A new foundation from Excite Credit Union focuses on disaster relief and college savings to support its markets in California and North Carolina.
Impact Strategies From September 2022
September 26, 2022
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A look inside strategies and programs that are helping credit unions of all sizes make a difference in the communities they serve.
School Branches Earn High Grades For This Ohio Cooperative
September 26, 2022
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Atomic Credit Union helps students build savings and careers as it increases visibility through its 58 school branches.
Service Puts Financial Wellness In Members’ Pockets
September 26, 2022
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The financial atmosphere is changing. A decline in in-person transactions is leaving credit union staffers with fewer face-to-face opportunities to talk with members about financial planning and wellness. And the rise of non-traditional resources for investment and savings advice tempting resources that young people are turning to more often, according to a recent national survey
Adding Fun To Financial Education
September 26, 2022
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Abound Credit Union’s in-house curriculum meets state requirements while engaging and entertaining young students.
An Inside Look At Organizational Change
September 19, 2022
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Methodologies to manage change abound, but these two credit unions have best practices and lessons learned that can apply to everyone.
Clearwater Embraces Its CDFI Status
September 5, 2022
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Leaders of the Montana cooperative discuss the importance of the credit union’s certification as a community development financial institution and how that status dovetails with the institution’s broader mission.
Impact Strategies From August 2022
August 29, 2022
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A look back at recent stories of how credit unions are making a difference in the communities they serve.
Financial Literacy Offerings Drive Down Credit Union Delinquency Rates
August 29, 2022
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For institutions with $100 million or more in assets, educational offerings are often a key factor when it comes to preventing late loan payments.
The Changing Climate For Credit Unions
August 22, 2022
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Seven steps to protect your credit union’s balance sheet and membership from increasing climate risks.
How 1 Foundation Tackles 2 Mandates
A new foundation from Excite Credit Union focuses on disaster relief and college savings to support its markets in California and North Carolina.
Impact Strategies From September 2022
A look inside strategies and programs that are helping credit unions of all sizes make a difference in the communities they serve.
School Branches Earn High Grades For This Ohio Cooperative
Atomic Credit Union helps students build savings and careers as it increases visibility through its 58 school branches.
Service Puts Financial Wellness In Members’ Pockets
The financial atmosphere is changing. A decline in in-person transactions is leaving credit union staffers with fewer face-to-face opportunities to talk with members about financial ...
Adding Fun To Financial Education
Abound Credit Union’s in-house curriculum meets state requirements while engaging and entertaining young students.
An Inside Look At Organizational Change
Methodologies to manage change abound, but these two credit unions have best practices and lessons learned that can apply to everyone.
Clearwater Embraces Its CDFI Status
Leaders of the Montana cooperative discuss the importance of the credit union’s certification as a community development financial institution and how that status dovetails with ...
Impact Strategies From August 2022
A look back at recent stories of how credit unions are making a difference in the communities they serve.
Financial Literacy Offerings Drive Down Credit Union Delinquency Rates
For institutions with $100 million or more in assets, educational offerings are often a key factor when it comes to preventing late loan payments.
The Changing Climate For Credit Unions
Seven steps to protect your credit union’s balance sheet and membership from increasing climate risks.
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.
Consumers Are Financing The Future Any Way They Can
Aaron Passman
Recent studies show credit card debt and Buy Now, Pay Later usage continue to rise. Bigger increases could be around the corner.
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.