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.
Collaboration Is A Business, Not A Social Mission
May 17, 2017
No Comments
Winning and collaborating are not mutually exclusive.
Beyond Blaine: Retirement And Succession
May 15, 2017
No Comments
In May 2016, industry maverick Jim Blaine announced his retirement from State Employees’ Credit Union. His successor, longtime SECU executive Mike Lord, was named soon after. In this ongoing series, CreditUnions.com details Blaine’s history with the credit union and the movement, how SECU arrived at a successor, and what’s next under Lord for the $30 billion institution.
Credit Unions For Sale?
May 14, 2017
No Comments
When member-owned financial cooperatives are sold in a merger that is really a fire sale, the benefit goes to the buyers, the selling board, and senior managers at the members’ expense.
How To Stop Exploiting Members In Mergers
May 14, 2017
No Comments
There is an alternative approach to self-dealing credit union mergers that corrupt the ideals of member-owned financial cooperatives.
Shruti Miyashiro On Leadership
May 8, 2017
No Comments
The head of Orange County’s Credit Union talks leadership, mentors, and recruiting — and retaining — the best associates for her team.
FS-ISAC Ramps Up Credit Union Outreach
May 2, 2017
No Comments
The international threat intelligence sharing and analysis organization has added its first credit union-focused staffer.
The State Of Grants In The Credit Union Movement
April 27, 2017
No Comments
How financial services cooperatives are leveraging CDFI, NCUA, and NCUF grants to underwrite their expanding reach and impact.
4 Tips To Make Gamification Work For Your Members
April 26, 2017
No Comments
There’s no secret code to control members’ actions, but gamification can still help credit unions encourage financially sound behavior.
The Myth Of The Fast Follower
April 25, 2017
No Comments
As credit unions face new marketplace disruptions, it’s time to take a closer look at some traditional responses to these challenges.
Introducing A New Way To Turn Ideas Into Action
April 24, 2017
No Comments
Credit Union Strategy & Performance gets a facelift for 2017 and pushes a model for sharing credit union best practices to the next level.
Beyond Blaine: Retirement And Succession
In May 2016, industry maverick Jim Blaine announced his retirement from State Employees’ Credit Union. His successor, longtime SECU executive Mike Lord, was named soon ...
Credit Unions For Sale?
When member-owned financial cooperatives are sold in a merger that is really a fire sale, the benefit goes to the buyers, the selling board, and ...
How To Stop Exploiting Members In Mergers
There is an alternative approach to self-dealing credit union mergers that corrupt the ideals of member-owned financial cooperatives.
Shruti Miyashiro On Leadership
The head of Orange County’s Credit Union talks leadership, mentors, and recruiting — and retaining — the best associates for her team.
FS-ISAC Ramps Up Credit Union Outreach
The international threat intelligence sharing and analysis organization has added its first credit union-focused staffer.
The State Of Grants In The Credit Union Movement
How financial services cooperatives are leveraging CDFI, NCUA, and NCUF grants to underwrite their expanding reach and impact.
4 Tips To Make Gamification Work For Your Members
There’s no secret code to control members’ actions, but gamification can still help credit unions encourage financially sound behavior.
The Myth Of The Fast Follower
As credit unions face new marketplace disruptions, it’s time to take a closer look at some traditional responses to these challenges.
Introducing A New Way To Turn Ideas Into Action
Credit Union Strategy & Performance gets a facelift for 2017 and pushes a model for sharing credit union best practices to the next level.
Browse Topics
A Rewards Program That Relies On Relationships, Not Usage
Savana Morie
Nuvision’s Added Advantage program tracks member engagement across the credit union, then rewards relationships through better pricing and other perks.
Innovations Financial Bets Big On Small Business Lending
Aaron Passman
CDFI grant funding helps the Florida cooperative offer microloans for small businesses after many banks pulled out of its market.
How Marine Credit Union Shifted Its Foundation From Siloed To Symbiotic
Savana Morie
By aligning governance, leadership, and day to day operations, Marine Credit Union transformed its foundation from a parallel operation into a visible extension of the credit union brand.
How Today’s Market Is Stress-Testing Credit Union And Bank Earnings Models
Andrew Lepczyk
Credit union and bank earnings reflect different business objectives. Those differences matter for how financial institutions serve their markets.
The Case For Marketing That Doesn’t Lead With The Credit Union
Savana Morie
Whitefish Credit Union barely mentions itself in its member stories. Instead, its high-quality video storytelling spotlights people, businesses, and communities, building trust, advocacy, and impact that don’t always show up in traditional ROI metrics.
Exit Interview: Deb Vollmer
Aaron Passman
The retired Langley FCU executive looks back on a career shaped by industry change, evolving leadership responsibility, and a constant focus on serving members first.
How Affinity FCU Became A Financial First Responder
Callahan & Associates
The New Jersey-New York metro credit union shares how a wellbeing-led strategy ensures members know where to turn first when life gets difficult.
Running With Scissors: The Bold Side Of Personalization
Callahan & Associates
To become skilled at personalization, credit unions must stop making assumptions about what resonates with members and start leveraging data to be sure.
A Short Guide To Compliance With The New Succession Planning Rule
Jennie Boden
Check all the right boxes while tying your credit union compliance efforts to strategy.
Industry Intelligence For Credit Union Leaders
Callahan & Associates
Looking for quarterly data coverage, expert analysis, lessons from leading credit unions, and more? Callahan has it covered. Comparing top-level performance and digging into the details has never been easier.
Collaboration Is A Business, Not A Social Mission