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.
Alabama Credit Union Scores With ‘My Credit Score’
September 13, 2021
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The cooperative has integrated credit score reporting and improvement tips into its mobile and online banking. So far, uptake has been strong.
Help Members Reskill To Pay The Bills
September 6, 2021
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A scholarship program in North Carolina provides more than $1 million annually to statewide community colleges for continuing education and career planning.
Insider Tips For Effective Employee Resource Groups
August 30, 2021
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Leaders from three credit unions share insights gleaned from launching and supporting employee resource groups.
How BECU Supports Black Communities In Seattle And Beyond
August 23, 2021
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Two years after launching a DEI-focused internal initiative, the Washington state cooperative created a fund to donate $5 million over five years to Black-led nonprofits.
What’s In A Name: COVID Recovery Program Manager
August 23, 2021
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As a business owner herself, Ivory Lloyd knows how important it is to connect local businesspeople with resources to weather this storm or create new streams of income.
Exit Interview: Mike Lord, State Employees’ Credit Union
August 9, 2021
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“A positive difference” at the end of the day and a career of 46 years.
A 3-Pronged Approach Provides High-Impact Lending
August 2, 2021
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Community development loan officers at Wright-Patt build on the cooperative’s position as Dayton’s leading mortgage lender.
Where Do PPP Loans Fit In The Credit Union Balance Sheet?
August 2, 2021
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The SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program has helped businesses operate during COVID-19. But where do these loans live on the balance sheet? And what will forgiveness look like?
What’s In A Name: Sales Manager And Accountability Trainer
August 2, 2021
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Laurie Flanders cleans up the reputation of “sales” by ensuring All In Federal Credit Union serves members as it works to meet goals.
Richard Romero On Leadership
July 26, 2021
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The veteran CEO guides DEI at a billion-dollar credit union.
Alabama Credit Union Scores With ‘My Credit Score’
The cooperative has integrated credit score reporting and improvement tips into its mobile and online banking. So far, uptake has been strong.
Help Members Reskill To Pay The Bills
A scholarship program in North Carolina provides more than $1 million annually to statewide community colleges for continuing education and career planning.
Insider Tips For Effective Employee Resource Groups
Leaders from three credit unions share insights gleaned from launching and supporting employee resource groups.
How BECU Supports Black Communities In Seattle And Beyond
Two years after launching a DEI-focused internal initiative, the Washington state cooperative created a fund to donate $5 million over five years to Black-led nonprofits.
What’s In A Name: COVID Recovery Program Manager
As a business owner herself, Ivory Lloyd knows how important it is to connect local businesspeople with resources to weather this storm or create new ...
Exit Interview: Mike Lord, State Employees’ Credit Union
“A positive difference” at the end of the day and a career of 46 years.
A 3-Pronged Approach Provides High-Impact Lending
Community development loan officers at Wright-Patt build on the cooperative’s position as Dayton’s leading mortgage lender.
Where Do PPP Loans Fit In The Credit Union Balance Sheet?
The SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program has helped businesses operate during COVID-19. But where do these loans live on the balance sheet? And what will forgiveness ...
What’s In A Name: Sales Manager And Accountability Trainer
Laurie Flanders cleans up the reputation of "sales" by ensuring All In Federal Credit Union serves members as it works to meet goals.
Browse Topics
Why Financial Empowerment Matters More Than Financial Literacy
Savana Morie
Alltru FCU stopped treating education as the end goal. Now, financial empowerment guides product design, access, and risk decisions.
42% Of U.S. Households Experience Financial Hardship
Tony Waltrich
More than 50 million U.S. households earn less than the minimum average income needed to cover basic costs of living.
Excite Foundation Breaks Down Barriers For Children’s Savings
Savana Morie
Automatic enrollment and community partnerships help the credit union foundation expand access to early savings for underserved families.
Consumers Are Financing The Future Any Way They Can
Aaron Passman
Studies show credit card debt and Buy Now, Pay Later usage continue to rise. Bigger increases could be around the corner.
Credit Human Redefines ‘Green’ In The Heart Of Texas
Savana Morie
The credit union completed a three acre headquarters campus in 2021 that offers 52% more space while consuming a fraction of the resources. It’s a model of how cooperatives can lead on sustainability without sacrificing performance.
CDFIs By The Numbers
Omar Shalabi
CDFI credit unions might be fewer in number, but their impact reaches millions of members, and their footprint highlights how targeted mission can translate into broad, measurable reach.
Serving The Underserved Without Accepting Preventable Fraud Losses
Callahan & Associates
Preventable fraud losses quietly erode credit union margins. The difference between a 25% and 6% loss rate isn’t risk. It’s execution.
Inside An In-School Model That Links Classrooms With College And Careers
Savana Morie
Holy Rosary Credit Union has embedded itself into a local high school’s career and technical education program, offering scholarships, internships, and courses eligible for college credit.
6 Credit Union Executive Priorities For 2026
Jay Johnson
Credit union leaders want to know where peers are placing their focus. These six priorities reflect how leadership teams are responding to change with intention and clarity.
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.