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.
Point Your Compass Toward Purpose
March 15, 2021
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Great achievements start with individual resolve. So, commit to leading with purpose.
Work From Home Presents Risk For Some Staff
March 8, 2021
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Success is often measured in promotions, project leadership, and recognition, but to be successful, one needs to be known.
How To Charter A Credit Union
March 8, 2021
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After four years of dreaming, planning, and acting, Growing Oaks FCU opened its doors for business in December 2020.
4 Fabulous Onboarding Practices
March 1, 2021
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HR leaders at cooperatives big and small share how they welcome new hires, from breaking bread to explaining the credit union difference.
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.
Point Your Compass Toward Purpose
Great achievements start with individual resolve. So, commit to leading with purpose.
How To Charter A Credit Union
After four years of dreaming, planning, and acting, Growing Oaks FCU opened its doors for business in December 2020.
4 Fabulous Onboarding Practices
HR leaders at cooperatives big and small share how they welcome new hires, from breaking bread to explaining the credit union difference.
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.
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.
Why Legacy Institutions Must Evolve To Survive
Matt Kershaw
Long-term growth depends on pairing trusted community relationships with intentional investment in technology, leadership, and purpose.
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.
Work From Home Presents Risk For Some Staff