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.
Are Credit Unions Having A Meaningful Impact On Employees?
November 8, 2021
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Focusing on front-line employees helps credit unions better serve their members and communities.
Student Internships In The Age Of Virtual Staffing
October 29, 2021
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After adopting a virtual model for its college internship program, UFCU continued to build out financial wellness counseling, networking, and scholarship components.
Rebuilding Community One Mortgage At A Time
October 29, 2021
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How a loan consortium in La Crosse, WI, aims to rebuild downtown and keep college students in state.
Helping St. Louis Help Itself
October 29, 2021
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1st Financial combines the right products with direct engagement to help underbanked residents build credit and financial security.
Financial Health Underpins A Broader Social Purpose At A Texas Credit Union
October 29, 2021
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University FCU considers community needs and institutional strengths to identify high-impact areas of service.
A Cooperative Spin On Local Marketing
October 28, 2021
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A California credit union partners with local businesses and earns positive guilt by association.
What Has More Value: Quantitative Data Or Qualitative Conversation?
October 25, 2021
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An impact benchmark is a worthwhile endeavor, but community impact doesn’t stop — or even start — with a number.
Fellows Step Into Local Leadership Roles
October 25, 2021
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A three-year partnership between SECU Foundation and a North Carolina nonprofit places high-achieving college graduates into community government roles to curb the state’s brain drain.
How To Use Culture And Perks To Achieve Hiring Happiness
October 18, 2021
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Employees asked, and Horizon FCU made Black Friday a paid holiday. The Pennsylvania cooperative has made other decisions by following its mission, vision, and values, too.
4 Reasons Credit Unions Need To Train Front-Line Staff As Financial Counselors
October 13, 2021
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When all staff can recognize members’ financial challenges and make timely recommendations, you can improve your members’ financial lives and your credit union’s bottom line.
Student Internships In The Age Of Virtual Staffing
After adopting a virtual model for its college internship program, UFCU continued to build out financial wellness counseling, networking, and scholarship components.
Rebuilding Community One Mortgage At A Time
How a loan consortium in La Crosse, WI, aims to rebuild downtown and keep college students in state.
Helping St. Louis Help Itself
1st Financial combines the right products with direct engagement to help underbanked residents build credit and financial security.
Financial Health Underpins A Broader Social Purpose At A Texas Credit Union
University FCU considers community needs and institutional strengths to identify high-impact areas of service.
A Cooperative Spin On Local Marketing
A California credit union partners with local businesses and earns positive guilt by association.
What Has More Value: Quantitative Data Or Qualitative Conversation?
An impact benchmark is a worthwhile endeavor, but community impact doesn’t stop — or even start — with a number.
Fellows Step Into Local Leadership Roles
A three-year partnership between SECU Foundation and a North Carolina nonprofit places high-achieving college graduates into community government roles to curb the state’s brain drain.
How To Use Culture And Perks To Achieve Hiring Happiness
Employees asked, and Horizon FCU made Black Friday a paid holiday. The Pennsylvania cooperative has made other decisions by following its mission, vision, and values, ...
4 Reasons Credit Unions Need To Train Front-Line Staff As Financial Counselors
When all staff can recognize members’ financial challenges and make timely recommendations, you can improve your members’ financial lives and your credit union’s bottom line.
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.
Are Credit Unions Having A Meaningful Impact On Employees?