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.
Member Segmentation Paves The Way To Personalization
October 31, 2022
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PSECU takes a realistic segmentation strategy to keep personalization manageable yet effective.
California Cooperatives Both Get A Win From Shared-Branch Arrangement
October 31, 2022
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A pair of Sacramento-area credit unions have embarked on a relatively unique partnership, sharing a single facility to serve their respective memberships.
Exit Interview: Michael Poulos, Michigan First Credit Union
October 24, 2022
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After three decades of building positive impact on members’ lives, the CEO leaves his cooperative in trusted hands.
Impact Strategies From October 2022
October 24, 2022
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A look back at strategies and ideas that help credit unions make an even bigger difference in the communities they serve.
There’s No Wrong Way To Make An Impact
October 15, 2022
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Three simple steps to make a difference and measure your credit union’s impact.
It Takes A Team To Fight Fraud
October 15, 2022
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Verve, A Credit Union is collaborating with local law enforcement to help community members better protect themselves against a variety of fraud.
The Power Behind A ‘Strong’ Rebrand
October 10, 2022
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A charter change and FOM expansion prompted Kern Schools FCU to rebrand as Valley Strong, but it’s a new growth mindset that has turned the cooperative into a financial force.
Fighting Food Insecurity 1 Financial Lesson At A Time
October 10, 2022
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A pilot program is making financial literacy information available in food banks as part of a long-term push by the league to fight food insecurity statewide.
How 1 Foundation Tackles 2 Mandates
October 10, 2022
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A new foundation from Excite Credit Union focuses on disaster relief and college savings to support its markets in California and North Carolina.
Impact Strategies From September 2022
September 26, 2022
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A look inside strategies and programs that are helping credit unions of all sizes make a difference in the communities they serve.
Member Segmentation Paves The Way To Personalization
PSECU takes a realistic segmentation strategy to keep personalization manageable yet effective.
California Cooperatives Both Get A Win From Shared-Branch Arrangement
A pair of Sacramento-area credit unions have embarked on a relatively unique partnership, sharing a single facility to serve their respective memberships.
Exit Interview: Michael Poulos, Michigan First Credit Union
After three decades of building positive impact on members’ lives, the CEO leaves his cooperative in trusted hands.
Impact Strategies From October 2022
A look back at strategies and ideas that help credit unions make an even bigger difference in the communities they serve.
There’s No Wrong Way To Make An Impact
Three simple steps to make a difference and measure your credit union’s impact.
It Takes A Team To Fight Fraud
Verve, A Credit Union is collaborating with local law enforcement to help community members better protect themselves against a variety of fraud.
The Power Behind A ‘Strong’ Rebrand
A charter change and FOM expansion prompted Kern Schools FCU to rebrand as Valley Strong, but it’s a new growth mindset that has turned the ...
Fighting Food Insecurity 1 Financial Lesson At A Time
A pilot program is making financial literacy information available in food banks as part of a long-term push by the league to fight food insecurity ...
How 1 Foundation Tackles 2 Mandates
A new foundation from Excite Credit Union focuses on disaster relief and college savings to support its markets in California and North Carolina.
Impact Strategies From September 2022
A look inside strategies and programs that are helping credit unions of all sizes make a difference in the communities they serve.
Browse Topics
Innovation Only Goes So Far Without Internal Alignment
Marc Rapport
Coastal Credit Union evaluates fintech through the lens of member value, strategic growth, and organizational readiness to implement new ideas.
Why Legacy Institutions Must Evolve To Survive
Matt Kershaw
Long-term growth depends on pairing trusted community relationships with intentional investment in technology, leadership, and purpose.
Future Bets For Fintech
Rebecca Wessler
Credit unions are making decisions about where to build, invest, and partner as they balance today’s priorities with tomorrow’s opportunities.
Future Bets From Today’s Credit Unions
Marc Rapport
Industry leaders share how they approach fintech investment, balancing immediate needs with longer-term bets while keeping member value and mission at the center.
Competing For Gen Z, SMBs, And The Future Of Money
Callahan & Associates
Credit unions that enable seamless movement between fiat and digital assets position themselves as a trusted on- and off-ramp.
The Financial Readiness Gap: Credit Unions Evaluate It Every Day. But Who Builds It?
Callahan & Associates
The credit unions that win the next generation will be the ones that showed up early, when young members were forming habits and deciding whom to trust.
Defending Your Credit Union Against Fraud Means Fighting Fire With Smarter Fire
Callahan & Associates
The challenge is no longer whether to adopt AI, but how to adopt it responsibly with the right governance, the right partners, and the right balance between technology and human oversight.
Digital Assets Are Coming For Payments. Are Credit Unions Ready?
Andrew Lepczyk
McKinsey projects trillions of dollars in growth across digital assets, with money movement emerging as one of the biggest opportunities.
The Long Game For Fintech At FORUM Credit Union
Marc Rapport
The Indiana cooperative blends internal development with selective partnerships to meet members’ needs today now while positioning for what’s next.
Mission Fed Weighs Fintech Returns Against Real-World Fit
Marc Rapport
The San Diego cooperative leans on its CUSO and the CURQL network to make fintech investments, but member needs still guide which solutions ultimately make it into the credit union’s operations.