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.
Eco-Minded Members Seek Sustainable Solutions
April 3, 2023
No Comments
How can credit unions protect the planet and encourage members to do the same?
Impact Strategies From March 2023
March 27, 2023
No Comments
A look back at strategies and ideas that help credit unions make an even bigger difference in the communities they serve.
A Giant Leap For Small Businesses In The Tennessee Valley
March 27, 2023
No Comments
Tennessee Valley FCU is expanding a small business program by giving away $175,000 in the Chattanooga, Cleveland, and northwest Georgia areas.
Exit Interview: Tracie Kenyon, Montana’s Credit Unions
March 27, 2023
No Comments
Montana’s Credit Unions’ longtime leader leaves a legacy of service, collaboration, and independence.
Governance, Leadership, Responsibility … Strategy!
March 20, 2023
No Comments
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
No Comments
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
No Comments
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
No Comments
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
No Comments
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
No Comments
Transparency, empowerment, and clarity of mission helped James McBride make the most of his first year as chief executive.
Eco-Minded Members Seek Sustainable Solutions
How can credit unions protect the planet and encourage members to do the same?
Impact Strategies From March 2023
A look back at strategies and ideas that help credit unions make an even bigger difference in the communities they serve.
A Giant Leap For Small Businesses In The Tennessee Valley
Tennessee Valley FCU is expanding a small business program by giving away $175,000 in the Chattanooga, Cleveland, and northwest Georgia areas.
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.
Browse Topics
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.
AI Boot Camp Is More Than Basic Training At Clearview FCU
Aaron Passman
Hands-on work with artificial intelligence tools is future-proofing staff members, giving them the confidence to adopt new technology and embrace efficiencies.
Stable Economy. Strained Households.
Andrew Lepczyk
Wages briefly caught up with inflation, but rising costs have pushed them back into negative territory. Here’s what that shift means for member finances and credit union performance.
Fintech Grounded In Mission As Much As Market Opportunity
Marc Rapport
Suncoast Credit Union balances near-term needs with longer-term bets, applying discipline to timing, valuation, and fit to decide when to invest and when to walk away.
Industry Intelligence For Credit Union Leaders
Callahan & Associates
Looking for quarterly data coverage, expert analysis, lessons from leading credit unions, and more? Callahan has it covered. Comparing top-level performance and digging into the details has never been easier.