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.
USC Credit Union Teams Up For Community Impact
May 23, 2022
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The California cooperative and two for-profit banks together launched an emergency relief fund to support vulnerable businesses struggling amid a post-COVID environment.
Supporting The Military Is More Than A Job At AmeriCU
May 23, 2022
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The New York credit union addresses financial readiness for military members via basic budgeting guidance as well as more in-depth financial planning for soldiers heading down the wrong path.
How COVID-19 Pushed The SECU Foundation Out Of Its Comfort Zone
May 16, 2022
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More targeted giving and other changes helped the foundation make a bigger difference in the lives of North Carolinians — especially those in rural and low-income communities.
Credit Unions Are Prioritizing Purpose As The Pandemic Wanes
May 16, 2022
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Credit unions have the opportunity to play important roles in the lives of members and communities, but to remain relevant, they must continually strive to help members achieve their goals.
DC Credit Union’s Decade Of Changing Young Lives
May 9, 2022
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Since its launch in 2010, the credit union’s Summer Youth Employment Program has helped young members earn an income, save money, and build financial wellness.
Lake Trust Nurtures Local Entrepreneurs
May 9, 2022
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A partnership between the Michigan-based credit union and a local economic development group is helping new businesses test concepts and gain business experience via a new incubator space.
What’s The EU Summit To Credit Unions?
May 4, 2022
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The European Union summit outcome offers no real game-changers.
7 Ways To Help Members Stretch Their Dollars As Prices Surge
May 2, 2022
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Inflation in the United States has reached a 40-year high. Food and gas prices have spiked. But credit unions are stepping in to help members stretch their dollars to the max.
A Mission-Forward Path To Pandemic Recovery
May 2, 2022
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In the age of digital, a “people-helping-people philosophy” is needed more than ever.
Impact Strategies From April 2022
April 25, 2022
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CreditUnions.com has the inspiration leaders need to improve their credit union’s impact. Check out stories below featured recently that highlight strategies, initiatives, products, and services of credit unions making a positive impact for the members and communities they serve. How To Narrow The Racial Wealth Gap And Expand Access To Underbanked Consumers The social unrest
USC Credit Union Teams Up For Community Impact
The California cooperative and two for-profit banks together launched an emergency relief fund to support vulnerable businesses struggling amid a post-COVID environment.
Supporting The Military Is More Than A Job At AmeriCU
The New York credit union addresses financial readiness for military members via basic budgeting guidance as well as more in-depth financial planning for soldiers heading ...
How COVID-19 Pushed The SECU Foundation Out Of Its Comfort Zone
More targeted giving and other changes helped the foundation make a bigger difference in the lives of North Carolinians — especially those in rural and ...
DC Credit Union’s Decade Of Changing Young Lives
Since its launch in 2010, the credit union’s Summer Youth Employment Program has helped young members earn an income, save money, and build financial wellness.
Lake Trust Nurtures Local Entrepreneurs
A partnership between the Michigan-based credit union and a local economic development group is helping new businesses test concepts and gain business experience via a ...
What’s The EU Summit To Credit Unions?
The European Union summit outcome offers no real game-changers.
7 Ways To Help Members Stretch Their Dollars As Prices Surge
Inflation in the United States has reached a 40-year high. Food and gas prices have spiked. But credit unions are stepping in to help members ...
A Mission-Forward Path To Pandemic Recovery
In the age of digital, a “people-helping-people philosophy” is needed more than ever.
Impact Strategies From April 2022
CreditUnions.com has the inspiration leaders need to improve their credit union’s impact. Check out stories below featured recently that highlight strategies, initiatives, products, and services ...
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
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.
Credit Unions Are Prioritizing Purpose As The Pandemic Wanes