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.
Increasing Mobility One Loan At A Time
June 13, 2022
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New loan products from DCU and Service Credit Union could help provide a wider range of mobility options for disabled consumers.
What’s In A Name: Director Of Social Impact
June 13, 2022
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Ivy Glover is one year into making sure DEI is more than just a buzzword at the Buckeye State’s biggest credit union.
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Book Raises Questions For Credit Unions
June 13, 2022
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A recent study of one family’s struggles with poverty and social services should force our industry to examine how we can be a better resource for consumers who lack access to access basic services.
A Call For Cooperatives To Close The Racial Homeownership Gap
June 6, 2022
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GreenState Credit Union has committed $1 billion toward home loans for communities of color. CEO Jeff Disterhoft is rallying the entire industry to take similar steps.
Crowdsourcing For A Cause: How Blue FCU Plans To Ease The Down Payment Pinch
June 6, 2022
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The Wyoming-based credit union is testing a program that rewards members for contributing to a fund to help other members more easily afford a down payment on a home.
5 Ways Credit Unions Are Fighting The Affordable Housing Crisis
June 6, 2022
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Credit unions across the country have rolled out programs to create better days in their communities.
Inclusive Lending For First-Time Homebuyers Turns Dreams Into Reality
June 6, 2022
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A program at Carolina Foothills FCU targets low-income borrowers with flexible underwriting practices, financial education, and partnerships with public, private, and nonprofit groups.
Fees With Benefits? TCT FCU Makes It Work.
May 30, 2022
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The New York credit union has lowered punitive fees and added an array of benefits to spread the gain while easing the pain.
What’s In A Name: Chief Culture Officer
May 30, 2022
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Emma Hayes brings a career built on a commitment to inclusion and internal development for her new role at SECU.
How Data Analytics Helps Peoples Advantage Fulfill Its CDFI Mandate
May 23, 2022
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Top-Level Takeaways A better understanding of data trends has helped Peoples Advantage get buy-in from staff at all levels when it comes to meeting lending and membership goals. Credit unions with low-income and CDFI certification can use data to ensure they’re fulfilling the mission that goes along with those designations. Analytics isn’t just for large
Increasing Mobility One Loan At A Time
New loan products from DCU and Service Credit Union could help provide a wider range of mobility options for disabled consumers.
What’s In A Name: Director Of Social Impact
Ivy Glover is one year into making sure DEI is more than just a buzzword at the Buckeye State’s biggest credit union.
A Call For Cooperatives To Close The Racial Homeownership Gap
GreenState Credit Union has committed $1 billion toward home loans for communities of color. CEO Jeff Disterhoft is rallying the entire industry to take similar ...
Crowdsourcing For A Cause: How Blue FCU Plans To Ease The Down Payment Pinch
The Wyoming-based credit union is testing a program that rewards members for contributing to a fund to help other members more easily afford a down ...
5 Ways Credit Unions Are Fighting The Affordable Housing Crisis
Credit unions across the country have rolled out programs to create better days in their communities.
Inclusive Lending For First-Time Homebuyers Turns Dreams Into Reality
A program at Carolina Foothills FCU targets low-income borrowers with flexible underwriting practices, financial education, and partnerships with public, private, and nonprofit groups.
Fees With Benefits? TCT FCU Makes It Work.
The New York credit union has lowered punitive fees and added an array of benefits to spread the gain while easing the pain.
What’s In A Name: Chief Culture Officer
Emma Hayes brings a career built on a commitment to inclusion and internal development for her new role at SECU.
How Data Analytics Helps Peoples Advantage Fulfill Its CDFI Mandate
Top-Level Takeaways A better understanding of data trends has helped Peoples Advantage get buy-in from staff at all levels when it comes to meeting lending ...
Browse Topics
Growth Is A Mindset, But Success Is In The Contract
Callahan & Associates
Arriba Advisors co-founder Tom Russell explores how credit unions can bridge the gap between a growth mindset and their technical reality.
Fraud Is Faster, Smarter, And Harder To Stop. Here’s How To.
Callahan & Associates
RKL offers insight, expertise, and experience to help fight off growing threats.
The Numbers Are Good. The Moment Is Hard.
William Hunt
Members are anxious about their financial futures, even as credit unions remain financially strong. Institutions that respond to this moment can make 2026 a turning point.
Wages Are Growing. Wallets Are Not.
Sherry Virden
Global events are flowing directly into household budgets, reshaping how credit union members save, borrow, and cope. Such trends don’t always show up in headline data.
Credit Unions Are Having A Margin Moment
Tony Waltrich
Credit unions are benefiting from a rare margin advantage as loans reprice slower than deposits. The question now is how institutions will use that strength to better serve members.
Where Have All The Members Gone?
Omar Shalabi
Membership growth is slowing, but financial activity is not. What does the modern financial relationship look like?
5 Takeaways From First Quarter Credit Union Performance Data
William Hunt
Inflation, war, and uncertain futures have reshaped members’ needs in 2026. What does credit union performance data from the first quarter of 2026 say about household budgets, inflation pressures, and more?
New Highs For Equity Markets Despite Iran And Oil Prices
Jason Haley
Look beyond the headlines to better understand what is driving current market trends and how they could impact credit union investment portfolios.
New Graduates Face A Cautious Job-Hiring Landscape
Tony Waltrich
Today’s job market is shaped by skills based expectations, with employers slowing entry level hiring and placing greater emphasis on applied experience.
A Credit Union Journey Into Cryptocurrency And Stablecoins
Savana Morie
St. Cloud Financial is betting on digital assets to protect member relationships and future relevance. It’s picked up lessons for other leaders along the way.
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Book Raises Questions For Credit Unions