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.
Making An Impact – And Getting Results
July 22, 2022
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Callahan’s 2021 Impact Survey shows the variety of ways credit unions are making a difference in their communities and advancing the industry’s philosophy of “people helping people.”
Interest Rate Volatility Reaches New Highs For 2022
July 18, 2022
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A look beyond the headlines to better understand what is driving the current market trends that could impact your credit union’s investment portfolio.
GRAPH OF THE WEEK: Credit Union Hiring Spikes Amid Hot Job Market
July 18, 2022
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Credit unions are hosting more FTEs and paying them more than they were one year ago, in large part driven by an extremely competitive hiring environment.
Lessons From A Fintech’s First Year
July 11, 2022
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Nearly 12 months after the launch of Dora, a credit union-backed fintech, one executive looks back at lessons learned and what comes next.
How Credit Unions Can Ease The Back-To-School Burden
July 4, 2022
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Summer may only be at its midway point, but that’s not stopping credit unions from back-to-school planning. Many institutions all over the country kick off their back-to-school campaigns well ahead of the new academic year. Parents and students often need help to buy new backpacks, clothing, laptops and a host of other classroom supplies. Many
Create a Ripple Effect For Positive Impact
June 27, 2022
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A mentoring experience offered one participant the chance to better understand biases, stand in another person’s shoes, and put DEI principles into action.
Impact Strategies From June 2022
June 27, 2022
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Think there’s no room for creativity in banking? Think again. These stories from the last month reveal a host of new ways credit unions are finding to serve members and make a difference in their communities.
Mentoring Program Connects C-Suite Women With Young Black Professionals
June 20, 2022
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A six-week, 1-to-1 mentoring program connects white women in senior leadership positions with up-and-coming black women in the credit union industry to open discussion around the racial divide and gender bias.
How 3 Credit Unions Tackle Systemic Issues
June 20, 2022
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Special loan programs at cooperatives across the country address equity, financial deserts, emergency aid, and climate change.
Small Credit Unions Get A Big Charge Out Of EV Lending
June 20, 2022
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Financing alternatives for electric vehicles make mission sense for two cooperatives in Denver and Seattle.
Making An Impact – And Getting Results
Callahan’s 2021 Impact Survey shows the variety of ways credit unions are making a difference in their communities and advancing the industry’s philosophy of “people ...
Interest Rate Volatility Reaches New Highs For 2022
A look beyond the headlines to better understand what is driving the current market trends that could impact your credit union’s investment portfolio.
GRAPH OF THE WEEK: Credit Union Hiring Spikes Amid Hot Job Market
Credit unions are hosting more FTEs and paying them more than they were one year ago, in large part driven by an extremely competitive hiring ...
Lessons From A Fintech’s First Year
Nearly 12 months after the launch of Dora, a credit union-backed fintech, one executive looks back at lessons learned and what comes next.
How Credit Unions Can Ease The Back-To-School Burden
Summer may only be at its midway point, but that’s not stopping credit unions from back-to-school planning. Many institutions all over the country kick off ...
Create a Ripple Effect For Positive Impact
A mentoring experience offered one participant the chance to better understand biases, stand in another person’s shoes, and put DEI principles into action.
Impact Strategies From June 2022
Think there’s no room for creativity in banking? Think again. These stories from the last month reveal a host of new ways credit unions are ...
Mentoring Program Connects C-Suite Women With Young Black Professionals
A six-week, 1-to-1 mentoring program connects white women in senior leadership positions with up-and-coming black women in the credit union industry to open discussion around ...
How 3 Credit Unions Tackle Systemic Issues
Special loan programs at cooperatives across the country address equity, financial deserts, emergency aid, and climate change.
Small Credit Unions Get A Big Charge Out Of EV Lending
Financing alternatives for electric vehicles make mission sense for two cooperatives in Denver and Seattle.
Browse Topics
What Makes Good AI Policy? Start With Curiosity And Accountability.
Marc Rapport
As credit unions move from experimentation to adoption, leaders offer firsthand knowledge on what separates weak policies from strong ones that actually work.
Governance And Guardrails Help Credit Unions Navigate AI
Aaron Passman
How Members Cooperative focuses on structure, oversight, and clear expectations to ensure AI supports, not undermines, long term strategy.
What’s In A Name: Chief AI Officer
Aaron Passman
As Hudson Valley Credit Union’s artificial intelligence chief, Preetha Sekharan holds a rare role in the industry, but it’s one that is likely to become far more common in the future.
All Eyes On AI
Aaron Passman
Artificial intelligence for credit unions has moved from a future concept to today’s full-fledged leadership and governance challenge.
The Callahan Guide To The 2026 Final Four
Tony Waltrich
What happens when credit union performance data meets March Madness? Callahan’s proprietary model breaks down state-level results to forecast who takes home the hardware.
A Rewards Program That Relies On Relationships, Not Usage
Savana Morie
Nuvision’s Added Advantage program tracks member engagement across the credit union, then rewards relationships through better pricing and other perks.
Innovations Financial Bets Big On Small Business Lending
Aaron Passman
CDFI grant funding helps the Florida cooperative offer microloans for small businesses after many banks pulled out of its market.
How Marine Credit Union Shifted Its Foundation From Siloed To Symbiotic
Savana Morie
By aligning governance, leadership, and day to day operations, Marine Credit Union transformed its foundation from a parallel operation into a visible extension of the credit union brand.
How Today’s Market Is Stress-Testing Credit Union And Bank Earnings Models
Andrew Lepczyk
Credit union and bank earnings reflect different business objectives. Those differences matter for how financial institutions serve their markets.
The Case For Marketing That Doesn’t Lead With The Credit Union
Savana Morie
Whitefish Credit Union barely mentions itself in its member stories. Instead, its high-quality video storytelling spotlights people, businesses, and communities, building trust, advocacy, and impact that don’t always show up in traditional ROI metrics.