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 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.
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.
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.
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 ...
Browse Topics
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.
The Great Wealth Transfer Is Also A Relationship Transfer
Savana Morie
Harvard FCU combines digital estate planning with human financial guidance to support positive, proactive wealth transfer across generations.
The Lending Lag Is Real, And Here’s What Smaller Credit Unions Can Do About It
Callahan & Associates
Discover how small to midsize credit unions can weather the economic headwinds hitting their communities right now.
Fresh Risks For Financial Markets
Jason Haley
Look beyond the headlines to better understand what is driving current market trends and how they could impact credit union investment portfolios.
What’s In A Name: AVP Of Member Insights
Aaron Passman
At Service Credit Union, Dave Widener connects data, strategy, and culture to shape better outcomes for members.
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Book Raises Questions For Credit Unions