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.
Tinsel Traditions: Holiday Loan And Savings Accounts Are Alive And Well At Credit Unions
January 9, 2020
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Cooperatives are the last refuges for holiday loans and Christmas club accounts, but members can find skip-a-payment, credit card rewards deals, and post-holiday debt consolidation programs there, too.
The Credit Union Mindset Imperative
January 8, 2020
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A collaborative culture that sticks to old principles while embracing innovation remains a key to the movement’s responsiveness and relevance.
Closing The Purpose Gap
January 8, 2020
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Credit unions have been making decisions based on perceived outcomes rather than purpose. That needs to change.
A Talent Imperative Facing Credit Unions
January 8, 2020
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A 2020 challenge: How to deepen relationships between staff, members, and the tech tools that bind, or separate, them.
Making Foundational Change $1 At A Time
January 7, 2020
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Funded by members, the SECU Foundation works closely with its vast branch network to balance giving and impact from the mountains to the sea.
Credit Union Imperatives For 2020
January 7, 2020
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Strategic decisions made around three essential elements will prove critical to the future success of the credit union movement.
Make Plans For 2020
December 30, 2019
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The most successful decade in the history of the movement is coming to an end. How can credit unions prepare for what comes next?
4 Ways To Help Members Tackle Their Savings Resolutions
December 23, 2019
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Credit unions across the country are deploying creative solutions to engage members and encourage savings.
Charter Changes, Data Scientists, Foundational Support
December 16, 2019
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Five can’t-miss data points this week on CreditUnions.com.
Fostering Foundation Support From Branch To Board
December 16, 2019
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The SECU Foundation relies on personnel and resources from across its parent credit union to increase capacity and visibility.
Tinsel Traditions: Holiday Loan And Savings Accounts Are Alive And Well At Credit Unions
Cooperatives are the last refuges for holiday loans and Christmas club accounts, but members can find skip-a-payment, credit card rewards deals, and post-holiday debt consolidation ...
Closing The Purpose Gap
Credit unions have been making decisions based on perceived outcomes rather than purpose. That needs to change.
A Talent Imperative Facing Credit Unions
A 2020 challenge: How to deepen relationships between staff, members, and the tech tools that bind, or separate, them.
Making Foundational Change $1 At A Time
Funded by members, the SECU Foundation works closely with its vast branch network to balance giving and impact from the mountains to the sea.
Credit Union Imperatives For 2020
Strategic decisions made around three essential elements will prove critical to the future success of the credit union movement.
Make Plans For 2020
The most successful decade in the history of the movement is coming to an end. How can credit unions prepare for what comes next?
4 Ways To Help Members Tackle Their Savings Resolutions
Credit unions across the country are deploying creative solutions to engage members and encourage savings.
Charter Changes, Data Scientists, Foundational Support
Five can't-miss data points this week on CreditUnions.com.
Fostering Foundation Support From Branch To Board
The SECU Foundation relies on personnel and resources from across its parent credit union to increase capacity and visibility.
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.
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.
AI Boot Camp Is More Than Basic Training At Clearview FCU
Aaron Passman
Hands-on work with artificial intelligence tools is future-proofing staff members, giving them the confidence to adopt new technology and embrace efficiencies.
The Credit Union Mindset Imperative