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.
How 3 Credit Unions Are Handling The COVID-19 Vaccine
March 1, 2021
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The coronavirus vaccine should soon be available to the general population. The federal government is not mandating vaccination; some state or local jurisdictions might. What will credit unions do?
Member Data Reveals Surprising Truths At Texas Trust Credit Union
February 22, 2021
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A new analytics strategy has fixed misconceptions about members and fuels targeted product creation and marketing.
SMCU Distributes Dollars And Dreams During A Destructive Year
February 19, 2021
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When the pandemic hit, San Mateo Credit Union moved quickly to stand up a non-profit fund and move much-needed assistance into the communities it serves.
3 Leaders Weigh In On What’s To Come In 2021
February 15, 2021
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2020 was a complicated year. But it offered plenty of lessons for leaders and has set the stage for an important 2021.
A New Board For A Changing Membership
February 12, 2021
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Backed by a changing FOM and new BOD, One Detroit Credit Union targets programs to bring hope to Detroit’s abandoned neighborhoods.
It’s A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood
February 12, 2021
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Columbus United FCU joins forces with a national nonprofit to champion housing availability in rural Nebraska.
Local Cooperatives Thrive With VSECU
February 12, 2021
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The Vermont cooperative relies on a little-known state statute to make direct investments in cooperatives to bolster local economies and create a better world.
A Strategy To Show Members Love Any Day Of The Year
February 12, 2021
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Public Service Credit Union surveyed members, bought gifts, and made donations to take care of the community it loves.
Winning With Member Experience: Are You Leaving Your Members Out In The Cold?
February 10, 2021
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In this webinar, we will showcase three member engagement strategies that real credit unions have implemented to improve their member experience initiatives during the pandemic.
A Cooperative Community Park
February 8, 2021
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Isolation in Los Alamos, NM, has prompted an alliance of local cooperatives to provide a gathering space for people craving connection.
How 3 Credit Unions Are Handling The COVID-19 Vaccine
The coronavirus vaccine should soon be available to the general population. The federal government is not mandating vaccination; some state or local jurisdictions might. What ...
Member Data Reveals Surprising Truths At Texas Trust Credit Union
A new analytics strategy has fixed misconceptions about members and fuels targeted product creation and marketing.
SMCU Distributes Dollars And Dreams During A Destructive Year
When the pandemic hit, San Mateo Credit Union moved quickly to stand up a non-profit fund and move much-needed assistance into the communities it serves.
3 Leaders Weigh In On What’s To Come In 2021
2020 was a complicated year. But it offered plenty of lessons for leaders and has set the stage for an important 2021.
A New Board For A Changing Membership
Backed by a changing FOM and new BOD, One Detroit Credit Union targets programs to bring hope to Detroit’s abandoned neighborhoods.
It’s A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood
Columbus United FCU joins forces with a national nonprofit to champion housing availability in rural Nebraska.
Local Cooperatives Thrive With VSECU
The Vermont cooperative relies on a little-known state statute to make direct investments in cooperatives to bolster local economies and create a better world.
A Strategy To Show Members Love Any Day Of The Year
Public Service Credit Union surveyed members, bought gifts, and made donations to take care of the community it loves.
Winning With Member Experience: Are You Leaving Your Members Out In The Cold?
In this webinar, we will showcase three member engagement strategies that real credit unions have implemented to improve their member experience initiatives during the pandemic.
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.
A Cooperative Community Park