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.
Rebuild, Repair, Recover: Affinity Plus Helps The Twin Cities Heal
August 10, 2020
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Listening, then acting, has helped the big Minnesota credit union respond to the protests in its hometown.
Dupaco’s MoneyMatch Program Gives Iowans A Leg Up On Financial Independence
July 28, 2020
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How Dupaco’s individual development account and broader network of support helps those in need build a solid financial foundation.
A Credit Union Career Isn’t For Me. Change My Mind. (Part 4)
July 27, 2020
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Industry leaders talk about how they cultivated a career in credit unions and how credit unions across the United States can recruit enthusiastic employees to fill tomorrow’s leadership bench.
Credit Unions Help Save More Than 1.1 Million Jobs Through PPP
July 8, 2020
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PPP data from the Treasury Department indicates credit unions played a larger role in lending to smaller companies, underscoring the movement’s commitment to Main Street business borrowers.
Widespread Pandemic: Learnings And Implications Evident In First Quarter Data
June 22, 2020
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In the current environment, member circumstances and behaviors are changing. It is incumbent upon credit union leadership to monitor these changes and respond accordingly.
Strategy During A Crisis
May 18, 2020
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Focusing on products and service won’t build lasting, sustainable success; mission-based strategy helps separate real opportunity from feel-good initiatives.
Best Of April 2020
May 6, 2020
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Based on April traffic (and our editorial instincts), here are the top articles and blogs that appeared on CreditUnions.com.
How CDFI Can Help Credit Unions Weather This Storm
May 6, 2020
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In these unprecedented times, credit unions are stepping up to the challenge by lending to their members (often low to moderate income workers). This increased lending is valuable and necessary, but it also generates risk and a need for increased loan loss reserves.
Suffering Members Need More Than Help. They Need To Know You Care.
April 23, 2020
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Emotion, not rational assessment, drives decision-making, and members who report their credit union cares about their financial wellbeing put greater trust in the value of its guidance.
A “New Normal” Requires A New Lens
April 22, 2020
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Uncertainties shouldn’t dissuade an honest reflection on whether leadership teams have the right tools to tackle the tasks at hand.
Rebuild, Repair, Recover: Affinity Plus Helps The Twin Cities Heal
Listening, then acting, has helped the big Minnesota credit union respond to the protests in its hometown.
Dupaco’s MoneyMatch Program Gives Iowans A Leg Up On Financial Independence
How Dupaco’s individual development account and broader network of support helps those in need build a solid financial foundation.
A Credit Union Career Isn’t For Me. Change My Mind. (Part 4)
Industry leaders talk about how they cultivated a career in credit unions and how credit unions across the United States can recruit enthusiastic employees to ...
Credit Unions Help Save More Than 1.1 Million Jobs Through PPP
PPP data from the Treasury Department indicates credit unions played a larger role in lending to smaller companies, underscoring the movement’s commitment to Main Street ...
Widespread Pandemic: Learnings And Implications Evident In First Quarter Data
In the current environment, member circumstances and behaviors are changing. It is incumbent upon credit union leadership to monitor these changes and respond accordingly.
Strategy During A Crisis
Focusing on products and service won’t build lasting, sustainable success; mission-based strategy helps separate real opportunity from feel-good initiatives.
Best Of April 2020
Based on April traffic (and our editorial instincts), here are the top articles and blogs that appeared on CreditUnions.com.
How CDFI Can Help Credit Unions Weather This Storm
In these unprecedented times, credit unions are stepping up to the challenge by lending to their members (often low to moderate income workers). This increased ...
Suffering Members Need More Than Help. They Need To Know You Care.
Emotion, not rational assessment, drives decision-making, and members who report their credit union cares about their financial wellbeing put greater trust in the value of ...
Browse Topics
Growth Is A Mindset, But Success Is In The Contract
Callahan & Associates
Arriba Advisors co-founder Tom Russell explores how credit unions can bridge the gap between a growth mindset and their technical reality.
Fraud Is Faster, Smarter, And Harder To Stop. Here’s How To.
Callahan & Associates
RKL offers insight, expertise, and experience to help fight off growing threats.
The Numbers Are Good. The Moment Is Hard.
William Hunt
Members are anxious about their financial futures, even as credit unions remain financially strong. Institutions that respond to this moment can make 2026 a turning point.
Wages Are Growing. Wallets Are Not.
Sherry Virden
Global events are flowing directly into household budgets, reshaping how credit union members save, borrow, and cope. Such trends don’t always show up in headline data.
Credit Unions Are Having A Margin Moment
Tony Waltrich
Credit unions are benefiting from a rare margin advantage as loans reprice slower than deposits. The question now is how institutions will use that strength to better serve members.
Where Have All The Members Gone?
Omar Shalabi
Membership growth is slowing, but financial activity is not. What does the modern financial relationship look like?
5 Takeaways From First Quarter Credit Union Performance Data
William Hunt
Inflation, war, and uncertain futures have reshaped members’ needs in 2026. What does credit union performance data from the first quarter of 2026 say about household budgets, inflation pressures, and more?
New Highs For Equity Markets Despite Iran And Oil Prices
Jason Haley
Look beyond the headlines to better understand what is driving current market trends and how they could impact credit union investment portfolios.
New Graduates Face A Cautious Job-Hiring Landscape
Tony Waltrich
Today’s job market is shaped by skills based expectations, with employers slowing entry level hiring and placing greater emphasis on applied experience.
A Credit Union Journey Into Cryptocurrency And Stablecoins
Savana Morie
St. Cloud Financial is betting on digital assets to protect member relationships and future relevance. It’s picked up lessons for other leaders along the way.
A “New Normal” Requires A New Lens