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.
Is Your Credit Union Prepared for the CDFI Emergency Support and Minority Lending Grant?
March 16, 2022
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The Treasury has said it will be rolling out the long-awaited $1.75B Emergency Support and Minority Lending Program Grant funds in the spring of 2022. That’s over five times as much as the CDFI’s FY 2022 FA budget, and Spring is just a few weeks away… are you ready?
DEI Best Practices For Credit Unions
March 14, 2022
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Three executives share success stories learned from their cooperatives’ DEI journeys.
Awkward Conversations: How To ‘ACT’ On The Crisis In Ukraine
March 8, 2022
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Key stakeholders in the credit union movement are perhaps feeling anxious or uncertain. What should we, as leaders, be saying to members and employees?
Women CEOs On Leadership
March 7, 2022
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In honor of International Women’s Day, CreditUnions.com offers insight into what makes an effective leader from women executives across the industry.
Affinity Plus Learns Lessons Of Its Own By Investing In Staff MBAs
February 28, 2022
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The Minnesota cooperative leaned on insight from industry peers to create a path for building employees’ skills and knowledge.
Organizational Structures And Today’s Credit Union: A View From The Top
February 28, 2022
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Org charts reflect key responsibilities, but what do variations in top-level structures say about business strategies, compliance goals, CEO priorities, and more?
Inside CAP COM’s Focus On Infrastructure
February 21, 2022
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Top-Level Takeaways CAP COM provides infrastructure grants that fund needs that don’t normally appeal to gifting. The credit union’s foundation is in its second year of granting $100,000 to a diverse array of service providers. Infrastructure is an essential need that doesn’t easily attract funding, especially in the non-profit world. Its costs underly the ability
Langley Members Help Other Homebuyers
February 14, 2022
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A new program for first-time mortgage applicants intends to substantially reduce burdens around closing costs.
VSECU: The Budding Cannabis Market
January 12, 2022
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VSECU is one of a few financial institutions that serves the needs of cannabis businesses in Vermont. By doing so, the credit union addresses an area of financial exclusion within its field of membership.
VSECU: Community Impact
January 12, 2022
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As a values-based organization, VSECU takes seriously the cooperative principle of concern for community. This is evident in the community programs it supports, which range from securing better fuel prices to fighting food insecurity.
Is Your Credit Union Prepared for the CDFI Emergency Support and Minority Lending Grant?
The Treasury has said it will be rolling out the long-awaited $1.75B Emergency Support and Minority Lending Program Grant funds in the spring of 2022. ...
DEI Best Practices For Credit Unions
Three executives share success stories learned from their cooperatives’ DEI journeys.
Women CEOs On Leadership
In honor of International Women’s Day, CreditUnions.com offers insight into what makes an effective leader from women executives across the industry.
Affinity Plus Learns Lessons Of Its Own By Investing In Staff MBAs
The Minnesota cooperative leaned on insight from industry peers to create a path for building employees' skills and knowledge.
Organizational Structures And Today’s Credit Union: A View From The Top
Org charts reflect key responsibilities, but what do variations in top-level structures say about business strategies, compliance goals, CEO priorities, and more?
Inside CAP COM’s Focus On Infrastructure
Top-Level Takeaways CAP COM provides infrastructure grants that fund needs that don’t normally appeal to gifting. The credit union’s foundation is in its second year ...
Langley Members Help Other Homebuyers
A new program for first-time mortgage applicants intends to substantially reduce burdens around closing costs.
VSECU: The Budding Cannabis Market
VSECU is one of a few financial institutions that serves the needs of cannabis businesses in Vermont. By doing so, the credit union addresses an ...
VSECU: Community Impact
As a values-based organization, VSECU takes seriously the cooperative principle of concern for community. This is evident in the community programs it supports, which range ...
Browse Topics
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.
Exit Interview: Deb Vollmer
Aaron Passman
The retired Langley FCU executive looks back on a career shaped by industry change, evolving leadership responsibility, and a constant focus on serving members first.
How Affinity FCU Became A Financial First Responder
Callahan & Associates
The New Jersey-New York metro credit union shares how a wellbeing-led strategy ensures members know where to turn first when life gets difficult.
Running With Scissors: The Bold Side Of Personalization
Callahan & Associates
To become skilled at personalization, credit unions must stop making assumptions about what resonates with members and start leveraging data to be sure.
A Short Guide To Compliance With The New Succession Planning Rule
Jennie Boden
Check all the right boxes while tying your credit union compliance efforts to strategy.
Industry Intelligence For Credit Union Leaders
Callahan & Associates
Looking for quarterly data coverage, expert analysis, lessons from leading credit unions, and more? Callahan has it covered. Comparing top-level performance and digging into the details has never been easier.
10 Credit Unions That Top The Charts In Member Value
William Hunt
Callahan & Associates spotlights credit unions that return more value to members.
Engagement Is Not A Perk. It Is A Strategy.
A. Jerome Fowlkes
Langley FCU asked what it would take to be a truly exceptional workplace, and it shares four ways to get there.
The Opportunity For Credit Unions In NCUA’s New Succession Planning Rule
Jennie Boden
Make your succession plan strategic and give it ‘teeth’ to reap the benefits of stronger governance and more effective C-suite leadership.
How A Child Savings Account Program Is Shaping Futures In Harbor Beach
Savana Morie
A public-private partnership in Michigan aims to influence opportunities after high school via a child savings account that provides yearly deposits and every reason to imagine what comes after graduation.
Awkward Conversations: How To ‘ACT’ On The Crisis In Ukraine