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.
Interest Rate Volatility Reaches New Highs For 2022
July 18, 2022
No Comments
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
No Comments
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
No Comments
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
No Comments
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
No Comments
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
No Comments
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
No Comments
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
No Comments
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
No Comments
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
No Comments
New loan products from DCU and Service Credit Union could help provide a wider range of mobility options for disabled consumers.
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.
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.
Browse Topics
Why Financial Empowerment Matters More Than Financial Literacy
Savana Morie
Alltru FCU stopped treating education as the end goal. Now, financial empowerment guides product design, access, and risk decisions.
42% Of U.S. Households Experience Financial Hardship
Tony Waltrich
More than 50 million U.S. households earn less than the minimum average income needed to cover basic costs of living.
Excite Foundation Breaks Down Barriers For Children’s Savings
Savana Morie
Automatic enrollment and community partnerships help the credit union foundation expand access to early savings for underserved families.
Consumers Are Financing The Future Any Way They Can
Aaron Passman
Recent studies show credit card debt and Buy Now, Pay Later usage continue to rise. Bigger increases could be around the corner.
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.