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.
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.
How Can Credit Unions Measure Impact?
October 11, 2021
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Callahan & Associates is committed to helping credit unions quantitatively demonstrate they are not only socially and commercially valuable financial institutions but also invaluable community partners.
Measure Your Mission: Quantifying Credit Union Impact Data
October 11, 2021
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Credit unions make an impact every day on their employees, members, and communities, yet too few are showcasing their efforts. Why? Where to start?
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.
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.
How Can Credit Unions Measure Impact?
Callahan & Associates is committed to helping credit unions quantitatively demonstrate they are not only socially and commercially valuable financial institutions but also invaluable community ...
Measure Your Mission: Quantifying Credit Union Impact Data
Credit unions make an impact every day on their employees, members, and communities, yet too few are showcasing their efforts. Why? Where to start?
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.
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.
AI Boot Camp Is More Than Basic Training At Clearview FCU
Aaron Passman
Hands-on work with artificial intelligence tools is future-proofing staff members, giving them the confidence to adopt new technology and embrace efficiencies.
What Has More Value: Quantitative Data Or Qualitative Conversation?