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.
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.
Impact Strategies From January 2023
January 30, 2023
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A look back at strategies and ideas that help credit unions make an even bigger difference in the communities they serve.
CEO Onboarding: Laurie Butz, Capital Credit Union
January 23, 2023
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Listen before acting, and honor the past while embracing the future — words of wisdom to help a new chief executive settle into the role.
Time For A Rebrand? Spero Financial Knew Why, When, And How.
January 17, 2023
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After a market survey revealed cracks in the credit union’s brand equity and perception, Spero went all in on mission and values.
Beers + Bus Stops = A Winning Combination For On Tap Credit Union
January 17, 2023
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An unexpected marketing opportunity helped the Colorado-based credit union boost brand awareness and promote small area breweries.
CDFI 2023- What Comes Next for CDFI Credit Unions
January 11, 2023
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This comprehensive webinar will cover critical information that CDFI credit unions will need to know in 2023
Financial Center First Rallies Around Financial Wellness
January 9, 2023
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The Indiana credit union’s robust literacy and wellness program exploded during COVID. Today, it’s changing lives one class at a time.
How Charitable Giving Impacts Member Satisfaction
January 9, 2023
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As credit union members become more discerning, building a strong relationship becomes about more than marketing low fees and interest rates.
What Can $40,000 Do For Financial Education?
January 2, 2023
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An ongoing partnership with Mesa Community College is just one component of TruWest’s commitment to supporting secondary education.
Flexible Benefits Attract — And Keep — Top Talent
January 2, 2023
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At Advancial, $750 and two company vacation homes go a long way in helping employees manage surprise expenses.
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.
Impact Strategies From January 2023
A look back at strategies and ideas that help credit unions make an even bigger difference in the communities they serve.
CEO Onboarding: Laurie Butz, Capital Credit Union
Listen before acting, and honor the past while embracing the future — words of wisdom to help a new chief executive settle into the role.
Time For A Rebrand? Spero Financial Knew Why, When, And How.
After a market survey revealed cracks in the credit union’s brand equity and perception, Spero went all in on mission and values.
Beers + Bus Stops = A Winning Combination For On Tap Credit Union
An unexpected marketing opportunity helped the Colorado-based credit union boost brand awareness and promote small area breweries.
CDFI 2023- What Comes Next for CDFI Credit Unions
This comprehensive webinar will cover critical information that CDFI credit unions will need to know in 2023
Financial Center First Rallies Around Financial Wellness
The Indiana credit union’s robust literacy and wellness program exploded during COVID. Today, it's changing lives one class at a time.
How Charitable Giving Impacts Member Satisfaction
As credit union members become more discerning, building a strong relationship becomes about more than marketing low fees and interest rates.
What Can $40,000 Do For Financial Education?
An ongoing partnership with Mesa Community College is just one component of TruWest’s commitment to supporting secondary education.
Flexible Benefits Attract — And Keep — Top Talent
At Advancial, $750 and two company vacation homes go a long way in helping employees manage surprise expenses.
Browse Topics
Innovation Only Goes So Far Without Internal Alignment
Marc Rapport
Coastal Credit Union evaluates fintech through the lens of member value, strategic growth, and organizational readiness to implement new ideas.
Future Bets For Fintech
Rebecca Wessler
Credit unions are making decisions about where to build, invest, and partner as they balance today’s priorities with tomorrow’s opportunities.
Future Bets From Today’s Credit Unions
Marc Rapport
Industry leaders share how they approach fintech investment, balancing immediate needs with longer-term bets while keeping member value and mission at the center.
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.