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.
Meritrust Takes Financial Literacy To The Locker Room
August 22, 2022
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The credit union has partnered with three of Kansas’s largest universities to provide financial education for college athletes.
Clearwater Credit Union: What’s In A Brand?
August 22, 2022
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Clearwater Credit Union leaders look back on their credit union’s history and branding and reflect on the path that led to where they are today.
How Empower FCU Empowers Branch Employees
August 15, 2022
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The Syracuse, NY-based credit union has put in place a “self-promotion” program to help branch employees advance their careers and earn a series of raises, all while boosting member service.
Banking On Values In A Crowded Montana Market
August 8, 2022
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Clearwater Credit Union is growing rapidly by embracing values-based banking and characteristics of life unique to Big Sky Country.
When Banks Left The Community, Honor Credit Union Stepped In
August 8, 2022
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After Huntingdon Bank closed several branches where the credit union has a presence, Honor purchased five of those locations so those communities wouldn’t be banking deserts.
Filling Your Mortgage Pipeline By Marketing To Millennials
August 1, 2022
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The market Is changing rapidly, and young adults now have more spending power than any other demographic. Here’s how to harness It to help grow your credit union and Increase home ownership among this market segment.
How Canopy Credit Union Uses Personal Loans To Improve Members’ Financial Lives
August 1, 2022
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A one-day-only promotion that mixes financial counseling with loan growth opportunities has been a roaring success since it was introduced two years ago.
How The TowerCares Foundation Maximizes Its Impact
July 25, 2022
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As the philanthropic organization surges past the $1 million mark, its CEO looks back on lessons learned and offers advice for those just getting started.
Credit Unions On Campus
July 25, 2022
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I grew up in California, but these days I’m a student at Williams College, located in a small, rural town in the heart of the Berkshires. My family has always been involved in the credit union movement, and while in college I’ve been interested to hear other students’ perspectives on this industry. I was directed
Impact Strategies From July 2022
July 25, 2022
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A look back at stories from the last month showcasing how credit unions are making a difference in ways that go way beyond just banking.
Meritrust Takes Financial Literacy To The Locker Room
The credit union has partnered with three of Kansas’s largest universities to provide financial education for college athletes.
Clearwater Credit Union: What’s In A Brand?
Clearwater Credit Union leaders look back on their credit union’s history and branding and reflect on the path that led to where they are today.
How Empower FCU Empowers Branch Employees
The Syracuse, NY-based credit union has put in place a “self-promotion” program to help branch employees advance their careers and earn a series of raises, ...
Banking On Values In A Crowded Montana Market
Clearwater Credit Union is growing rapidly by embracing values-based banking and characteristics of life unique to Big Sky Country.
When Banks Left The Community, Honor Credit Union Stepped In
After Huntingdon Bank closed several branches where the credit union has a presence, Honor purchased five of those locations so those communities wouldn’t be banking ...
Filling Your Mortgage Pipeline By Marketing To Millennials
The market Is changing rapidly, and young adults now have more spending power than any other demographic. Here's how to harness It to help grow ...
How Canopy Credit Union Uses Personal Loans To Improve Members’ Financial Lives
A one-day-only promotion that mixes financial counseling with loan growth opportunities has been a roaring success since it was introduced two years ago.
How The TowerCares Foundation Maximizes Its Impact
As the philanthropic organization surges past the $1 million mark, its CEO looks back on lessons learned and offers advice for those just getting started.
Impact Strategies From July 2022
A look back at stories from the last month showcasing how credit unions are making a difference in ways that go way beyond just banking.
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.
Credit Unions On Campus