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.
Small Loans Make A Big Impact In New Mexico
January 5, 2022
No Comments
Nusenda Credit Union works with community partners to identify and support borrowers shut out of traditional lending.
Arlington Community Sets The PACE For Sustainability
January 5, 2022
No Comments
The Virginia cooperative leverages a government-guaranteed loans program to help local business owners make an environmental difference.
What’s In A Name: Vice President Of Strategic Initiatives And Impact
January 3, 2022
No Comments
At Together Credit Union, ensuring pillars aren’t silos is at the heart of creating a change culture based on data and collaboration.
What Is Community Impact? Callahan Has The Data.
January 3, 2022
No Comments
Collecting data for the Impact Framework, Callahan & Associates has learned impact varies depending on institution and community — and that’s OK.
Seattle Credit Unions Invest Together In Affordable Housing
November 22, 2021
No Comments
Five cooperatives provide the final piece of public-private funding needed to launch a 277-unit project in suburban King County.
When It Comes To Supporting Members, Education Is Key
November 22, 2021
No Comments
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
No Comments
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
No Comments
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
No Comments
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
No Comments
How a loan consortium in La Crosse, WI, aims to rebuild downtown and keep college students in state.
Small Loans Make A Big Impact In New Mexico
Nusenda Credit Union works with community partners to identify and support borrowers shut out of traditional lending.
Arlington Community Sets The PACE For Sustainability
The Virginia cooperative leverages a government-guaranteed loans program to help local business owners make an environmental difference.
What’s In A Name: Vice President Of Strategic Initiatives And Impact
At Together Credit Union, ensuring pillars aren’t silos is at the heart of creating a change culture based on data and collaboration.
Seattle Credit Unions Invest Together In Affordable Housing
Five cooperatives provide the final piece of public-private funding needed to launch a 277-unit project in suburban King County.
When It Comes To Supporting Members, Education Is Key
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 ...
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.
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.
What Is Community Impact? Callahan Has The Data.