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.
Making An Impact – And Getting Results
July 22, 2022
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Callahan’s 2021 Impact Survey shows the variety of ways credit unions are making a difference in their communities and advancing the industry’s philosophy of “people helping people.”
Interest Rate Volatility Reaches New Highs For 2022
July 18, 2022
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A look beyond the headlines to better understand what is driving the current market trends that could impact your credit union’s investment portfolio.
GRAPH OF THE WEEK: Credit Union Hiring Spikes Amid Hot Job Market
July 18, 2022
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Credit unions are hosting more FTEs and paying them more than they were one year ago, in large part driven by an extremely competitive hiring environment.
Lessons From A Fintech’s First Year
July 11, 2022
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Nearly 12 months after the launch of Dora, a credit union-backed fintech, one executive looks back at lessons learned and what comes next.
How Credit Unions Can Ease The Back-To-School Burden
July 4, 2022
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Summer may only be at its midway point, but that’s not stopping credit unions from back-to-school planning. Many institutions all over the country kick off their back-to-school campaigns well ahead of the new academic year. Parents and students often need help to buy new backpacks, clothing, laptops and a host of other classroom supplies. Many
Create a Ripple Effect For Positive Impact
June 27, 2022
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A mentoring experience offered one participant the chance to better understand biases, stand in another person’s shoes, and put DEI principles into action.
How Credit Unions Can Reach Gen Z Through TikTok
June 27, 2022
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The industry can fill a void on the social app, where posts intended as financial education are frequently just vehicles for content creators to promote their personal brands.
Impact Strategies From June 2022
June 27, 2022
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Think there’s no room for creativity in banking? Think again. These stories from the last month reveal a host of new ways credit unions are finding to serve members and make a difference in their communities.
Mentoring Program Connects C-Suite Women With Young Black Professionals
June 20, 2022
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A six-week, 1-to-1 mentoring program connects white women in senior leadership positions with up-and-coming black women in the credit union industry to open discussion around the racial divide and gender bias.
How 3 Credit Unions Tackle Systemic Issues
June 20, 2022
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Special loan programs at cooperatives across the country address equity, financial deserts, emergency aid, and climate change.
Making An Impact – And Getting Results
Callahan’s 2021 Impact Survey shows the variety of ways credit unions are making a difference in their communities and advancing the industry’s philosophy of “people ...
Interest Rate Volatility Reaches New Highs For 2022
A look beyond the headlines to better understand what is driving the current market trends that could impact your credit union’s investment portfolio.
GRAPH OF THE WEEK: Credit Union Hiring Spikes Amid Hot Job Market
Credit unions are hosting more FTEs and paying them more than they were one year ago, in large part driven by an extremely competitive hiring ...
Lessons From A Fintech’s First Year
Nearly 12 months after the launch of Dora, a credit union-backed fintech, one executive looks back at lessons learned and what comes next.
How Credit Unions Can Ease The Back-To-School Burden
Summer may only be at its midway point, but that’s not stopping credit unions from back-to-school planning. Many institutions all over the country kick off ...
Create a Ripple Effect For Positive Impact
A mentoring experience offered one participant the chance to better understand biases, stand in another person’s shoes, and put DEI principles into action.
How Credit Unions Can Reach Gen Z Through TikTok
The industry can fill a void on the social app, where posts intended as financial education are frequently just vehicles for content creators to promote ...
Impact Strategies From June 2022
Think there’s no room for creativity in banking? Think again. These stories from the last month reveal a host of new ways credit unions are ...
Mentoring Program Connects C-Suite Women With Young Black Professionals
A six-week, 1-to-1 mentoring program connects white women in senior leadership positions with up-and-coming black women in the credit union industry to open discussion around ...
How 3 Credit Unions Tackle Systemic Issues
Special loan programs at cooperatives across the country address equity, financial deserts, emergency aid, and climate change.
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.