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.
Increasing Mobility One Loan At A Time
June 13, 2022
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New loan products from DCU and Service Credit Union could help provide a wider range of mobility options for disabled consumers.
What’s In A Name: Director Of Social Impact
June 13, 2022
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Ivy Glover is one year into making sure DEI is more than just a buzzword at the Buckeye State’s biggest credit union.
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Book Raises Questions For Credit Unions
June 13, 2022
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A recent study of one family’s struggles with poverty and social services should force our industry to examine how we can be a better resource for consumers who lack access to access basic services.
A Call For Cooperatives To Close The Racial Homeownership Gap
June 6, 2022
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GreenState Credit Union has committed $1 billion toward home loans for communities of color. CEO Jeff Disterhoft is rallying the entire industry to take similar steps.
Crowdsourcing For A Cause: How Blue FCU Plans To Ease The Down Payment Pinch
June 6, 2022
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The Wyoming-based credit union is testing a program that rewards members for contributing to a fund to help other members more easily afford a down payment on a home.
5 Ways Credit Unions Are Fighting The Affordable Housing Crisis
June 6, 2022
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Credit unions across the country have rolled out programs to create better days in their communities.
Inclusive Lending For First-Time Homebuyers Turns Dreams Into Reality
June 6, 2022
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A program at Carolina Foothills FCU targets low-income borrowers with flexible underwriting practices, financial education, and partnerships with public, private, and nonprofit groups.
Fees With Benefits? TCT FCU Makes It Work.
May 30, 2022
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The New York credit union has lowered punitive fees and added an array of benefits to spread the gain while easing the pain.
What’s In A Name: Chief Culture Officer
May 30, 2022
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Emma Hayes brings a career built on a commitment to inclusion and internal development for her new role at SECU.
How Data Analytics Helps Peoples Advantage Fulfill Its CDFI Mandate
May 23, 2022
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Top-Level Takeaways A better understanding of data trends has helped Peoples Advantage get buy-in from staff at all levels when it comes to meeting lending and membership goals. Credit unions with low-income and CDFI certification can use data to ensure they’re fulfilling the mission that goes along with those designations. Analytics isn’t just for large
Increasing Mobility One Loan At A Time
New loan products from DCU and Service Credit Union could help provide a wider range of mobility options for disabled consumers.
What’s In A Name: Director Of Social Impact
Ivy Glover is one year into making sure DEI is more than just a buzzword at the Buckeye State’s biggest credit union.
A Call For Cooperatives To Close The Racial Homeownership Gap
GreenState Credit Union has committed $1 billion toward home loans for communities of color. CEO Jeff Disterhoft is rallying the entire industry to take similar ...
Crowdsourcing For A Cause: How Blue FCU Plans To Ease The Down Payment Pinch
The Wyoming-based credit union is testing a program that rewards members for contributing to a fund to help other members more easily afford a down ...
5 Ways Credit Unions Are Fighting The Affordable Housing Crisis
Credit unions across the country have rolled out programs to create better days in their communities.
Inclusive Lending For First-Time Homebuyers Turns Dreams Into Reality
A program at Carolina Foothills FCU targets low-income borrowers with flexible underwriting practices, financial education, and partnerships with public, private, and nonprofit groups.
Fees With Benefits? TCT FCU Makes It Work.
The New York credit union has lowered punitive fees and added an array of benefits to spread the gain while easing the pain.
What’s In A Name: Chief Culture Officer
Emma Hayes brings a career built on a commitment to inclusion and internal development for her new role at SECU.
How Data Analytics Helps Peoples Advantage Fulfill Its CDFI Mandate
Top-Level Takeaways A better understanding of data trends has helped Peoples Advantage get buy-in from staff at all levels when it comes to meeting lending ...
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.
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Book Raises Questions For Credit Unions