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.
Financial Nihilism Is Real, But How Can Credit Unions Respond?
January 12, 2026
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When money stops making sense, people suffer a crisis of financial confidence. Now’s the time to reconnect with members to help them establish long-term stability.
Exit Interview: Cheryl Sio, MembersAlliance Credit Union
January 12, 2026
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From the teller line to the corner office, CEO Cheryl Sio’s story spans five decades of industry transformation and enduring leadership lessons.
Introduction to CDFIs: Why Credit Unions Are (and Always Have Been) Community Development Financial Institutions
December 23, 2025
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Credit unions have always been engines of community development, long before the CDFI Fund existed.
All Things CDFI: Wrapping 2025, Ready for 2026
December 23, 2025
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Mike Beall, John McKechnie. and Christine Duncan wrap up an eventful year for the CDFI Fund and cover what credit unions need to know heading into 2026.
3 Popular Case Studies From 2024: Where Are They Now?
December 22, 2025
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CreditUnions.com revisits three credit unions to learn how their strategies have evolved since their original spotlight and see what’s in store for the future.
5 Lessons About Ground-Level Intelligence From A Rooftop Farm
December 22, 2025
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A national leader in urban agriculture shows how front-line insights drive real local impact — and why credit union branches are perfectly positioned to do the same.
Financial Wellbeing Is About More Than Vulnerability
December 15, 2025
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Half of Americans feel financially secure, yet one in five is suffering. A consortium of credit unions is changing the narrative by focusing on emotional engagement and trust.
Hurricane Knocked The Power Out? New Orleans Firemen’s FCU Is Ready.
December 15, 2025
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The next big storm in the Gulf isn’t an “if,” it’s a “when,” but the small Gulf-area credit union has a plan to help the community get back on its feet when the time comes.
6 Lessons For Credit Unions From Craft Breweries
December 8, 2025
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Craft breweries demonstrate how commitment to value, operational agility, and community focus can ignite growth and drive property.
Every Member Deserves A Financial Oasis
December 8, 2025
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Discover how First Alliance Credit Union is redefining success by putting values and member needs at the heart of everything it does.
Exit Interview: Cheryl Sio, MembersAlliance Credit Union
From the teller line to the corner office, CEO Cheryl Sio’s story spans five decades of industry transformation and enduring leadership lessons.
Introduction to CDFIs: Why Credit Unions Are (and Always Have Been) Community Development Financial Institutions
Credit unions have always been engines of community development, long before the CDFI Fund existed.
All Things CDFI: Wrapping 2025, Ready for 2026
Mike Beall, John McKechnie. and Christine Duncan wrap up an eventful year for the CDFI Fund and cover what credit unions need to know heading ...
3 Popular Case Studies From 2024: Where Are They Now?
CreditUnions.com revisits three credit unions to learn how their strategies have evolved since their original spotlight and see what's in store for the future.
5 Lessons About Ground-Level Intelligence From A Rooftop Farm
A national leader in urban agriculture shows how front-line insights drive real local impact — and why credit union branches are perfectly positioned to do ...
Financial Wellbeing Is About More Than Vulnerability
Half of Americans feel financially secure, yet one in five is suffering. A consortium of credit unions is changing the narrative by focusing on emotional ...
Hurricane Knocked The Power Out? New Orleans Firemen’s FCU Is Ready.
The next big storm in the Gulf isn’t an “if,” it’s a “when,” but the small Gulf-area credit union has a plan to help the ...
6 Lessons For Credit Unions From Craft Breweries
Craft breweries demonstrate how commitment to value, operational agility, and community focus can ignite growth and drive property.
Every Member Deserves A Financial Oasis
Discover how First Alliance Credit Union is redefining success by putting values and member needs at the heart of everything it does.
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.
Financial Nihilism Is Real, But How Can Credit Unions Respond?