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.
When It Comes To Supporting Members, Education Is Key
November 22, 2021
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Financial literacy is a strong priority for credit unions, which offer general counseling in various areas of finance as well as a variety of topical education.
Mapping Your Members: Identifying The Underserved
November 9, 2021
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This session takes on how to use public data and combine it with internal data in Tableau to map underserved members.
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.
Mapping Your Members: Identifying The Underserved
This session takes on how to use public data and combine it with internal data in Tableau to map underserved members.
Are Credit Unions Having A Meaningful Impact On Employees?
Focusing on front-line employees helps credit unions better serve their members and communities.
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.
Browse Topics
What’s Next For Credit Union Earnings?
Omar Shalabi
As margin support begins to fade, earnings performance is becoming more sensitive to revenue mix and harder to interpret through public reporting alone.
The Lending Lag Is Real, And Here’s What Smaller Credit Unions Can Do About It
Callahan & Associates
Discover how small to midsize credit unions can weather the economic headwinds hitting their communities right now.
Fresh Risks For Financial Markets
Jason Haley
Look beyond the headlines to better understand what is driving current market trends and how they could impact credit union investment portfolios.
What’s In A Name: AVP Of Member Insights
Aaron Passman
At Service Credit Union, Dave Widener connects data, strategy, and culture to shape better outcomes for members.
At Cardinal Credit Union, Small Investments Offer Big Financial Lessons
Aaron Passman
The Ohio-based cooperative has partnered with a fintech to offer fractional investing as part of its financial education curriculum in local schools.
How Compensation Blind Spots Impact CEO Retention And Succession
Callahan & Associates
Seven questions credit union board members should ask to ensure alignment on executive benefit plan goals.
What Makes Good AI Policy? Start With Curiosity And Accountability.
Marc Rapport
As credit unions move from experimentation to adoption, leaders offer firsthand knowledge on what separates weak policies from strong ones that actually work.
Governance And Guardrails Help Credit Unions Navigate AI
Aaron Passman
How Members Cooperative focuses on structure, oversight, and clear expectations to ensure AI supports, not undermines, long term strategy.
What’s In A Name: Chief AI Officer
Aaron Passman
As Hudson Valley Credit Union’s artificial intelligence chief, Preetha Sekharan holds a rare role in the industry, but it’s one that is likely to become far more common in the future.
All Eyes On AI
Aaron Passman
Artificial intelligence for credit unions has moved from a future concept to today’s full-fledged leadership and governance challenge.
When It Comes To Supporting Members, Education Is Key