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.
Serve & Advocate: 2 Steps to Achieve Local and National Impact
July 12, 2016
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A recent study showed that high impact organizations cannot achieve large-scale social change through service delivery alone. Here’s one way to raise your advocacy voice as well.
If Credit Unions Were Called to Capitol Hill
July 12, 2016
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Last week, CEOs of some of the nation’s largest banks were summoned by Congress to defend their management of bailout funds. What would it look like if they called on credit unions?
6 Tips on Innovation from Jim Blaine
July 12, 2016
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Jim Blaine speaks out about how your credit union can re-energize itself.
Why Reform Of NCUA Is Necessary And Why Now
July 12, 2016
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Credit unions themselves need to spearhead NCUA reform. Here are the reasons.
How Desert Schools Campaigns Against Childhood Hunger On Social Media
July 7, 2016
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The Arizona-based institution set up a hashtag to drive awareness and donations to the cause.
5 Graphs That Show How Technology Offers A Competitive Advantage
July 4, 2016
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Credit unions with strong technology offerings outperform their peers in growth, penetration, and average relationships.
In The Year 2025
June 30, 2016
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Future shock, building a credit union blockchain, and a sustainable initiative to create credit union awareness were all topics at America’s Credit Union Conference.
Mind, Body, And Wallet
June 29, 2016
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Community First is dedicated to promoting wellness in the communities it serves, from financial to physical and everything in between.
Collaboration And Credit Union Survival
June 27, 2016
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Small credit union roundtable kicks off ACUC with discussion on business and thought collaboration, and on the loss of intellectual capital.
Elections, Awareness, And Innovation
June 27, 2016
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Day two at ACUC sees focus on polling, projects, the regulatory burden, and how to compete.
Serve & Advocate: 2 Steps to Achieve Local and National Impact
A recent study showed that high impact organizations cannot achieve large-scale social change through service delivery alone. Here’s one way to raise your advocacy voice ...
If Credit Unions Were Called to Capitol Hill
Last week, CEOs of some of the nation’s largest banks were summoned by Congress to defend their management of bailout funds. What would it look ...
6 Tips on Innovation from Jim Blaine
Jim Blaine speaks out about how your credit union can re-energize itself.
Why Reform Of NCUA Is Necessary And Why Now
Credit unions themselves need to spearhead NCUA reform. Here are the reasons.
How Desert Schools Campaigns Against Childhood Hunger On Social Media
The Arizona-based institution set up a hashtag to drive awareness and donations to the cause.
5 Graphs That Show How Technology Offers A Competitive Advantage
Credit unions with strong technology offerings outperform their peers in growth, penetration, and average relationships.
In The Year 2025
Future shock, building a credit union blockchain, and a sustainable initiative to create credit union awareness were all topics at America’s Credit Union Conference.
Mind, Body, And Wallet
Community First is dedicated to promoting wellness in the communities it serves, from financial to physical and everything in between.
Collaboration And Credit Union Survival
Small credit union roundtable kicks off ACUC with discussion on business and thought collaboration, and on the loss of intellectual capital.
Elections, Awareness, And Innovation
Day two at ACUC sees focus on polling, projects, the regulatory burden, and how to compete.
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.
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.
The Great Wealth Transfer Is Also A Relationship Transfer
Savana Morie
Harvard FCU combines digital estate planning with human financial guidance to support positive, proactive wealth transfer across generations.