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.
School Branches Earn High Grades For This Ohio Cooperative
September 26, 2022
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Atomic Credit Union helps students build savings and careers as it increases visibility through its 58 school branches.
Service Puts Financial Wellness In Members’ Pockets
September 26, 2022
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The financial atmosphere is changing. A decline in in-person transactions is leaving credit union staffers with fewer face-to-face opportunities to talk with members about financial planning and wellness. And the rise of non-traditional resources for investment and savings advice tempting resources that young people are turning to more often, according to a recent national survey
Adding Fun To Financial Education
September 26, 2022
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Abound Credit Union’s in-house curriculum meets state requirements while engaging and entertaining young students.
An Inside Look At Organizational Change
September 19, 2022
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Methodologies to manage change abound, but these two credit unions have best practices and lessons learned that can apply to everyone.
The Keys To Delivering An Excellent Member Experience
September 6, 2022
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Many credit unions struggle to deliver the online experience members want. It’s time to use technology in new ways.
Clearwater Embraces Its CDFI Status
September 5, 2022
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Leaders of the Montana cooperative discuss the importance of the credit union’s certification as a community development financial institution and how that status dovetails with the institution’s broader mission.
Impact Strategies From August 2022
August 29, 2022
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A look back at recent stories of how credit unions are making a difference in the communities they serve.
Financial Literacy Offerings Drive Down Credit Union Delinquency Rates
August 29, 2022
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For institutions with $100 million or more in assets, educational offerings are often a key factor when it comes to preventing late loan payments.
The Changing Climate For Credit Unions
August 22, 2022
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Seven steps to protect your credit union’s balance sheet and membership from increasing climate risks.
Summit Credit Union Focuses On Women
August 22, 2022
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The Wisconsin-based institution sets itself apart by focusing on the needs of women, helping them gain financial independence, and, most recently, helping people take steps to close the gender pay gap.
School Branches Earn High Grades For This Ohio Cooperative
Atomic Credit Union helps students build savings and careers as it increases visibility through its 58 school branches.
Service Puts Financial Wellness In Members’ Pockets
The financial atmosphere is changing. A decline in in-person transactions is leaving credit union staffers with fewer face-to-face opportunities to talk with members about financial ...
Adding Fun To Financial Education
Abound Credit Union’s in-house curriculum meets state requirements while engaging and entertaining young students.
An Inside Look At Organizational Change
Methodologies to manage change abound, but these two credit unions have best practices and lessons learned that can apply to everyone.
The Keys To Delivering An Excellent Member Experience
Many credit unions struggle to deliver the online experience members want. It’s time to use technology in new ways.
Clearwater Embraces Its CDFI Status
Leaders of the Montana cooperative discuss the importance of the credit union’s certification as a community development financial institution and how that status dovetails with ...
Impact Strategies From August 2022
A look back at recent stories of how credit unions are making a difference in the communities they serve.
Financial Literacy Offerings Drive Down Credit Union Delinquency Rates
For institutions with $100 million or more in assets, educational offerings are often a key factor when it comes to preventing late loan payments.
The Changing Climate For Credit Unions
Seven steps to protect your credit union’s balance sheet and membership from increasing climate risks.
Summit Credit Union Focuses On Women
The Wisconsin-based institution sets itself apart by focusing on the needs of women, helping them gain financial independence, and, most recently, helping people take steps ...
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.