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.
Plain Vanilla Hands Down
April 29, 2016
No Comments
Whitefish Credit Union will soon have $600 million in assets and 22% of credit union assets in Montana, although it is confined to a small corner of the state. It is plain vanilla, taking deposits and making loans and little else. It relies on word of mouth. Its notable success owes to its above-market dividend rate, good loan rates and a reputation for reliability.
LIFE AFTER INDIRECT LENDING
April 29, 2016
No Comments
Indirect lending was good to Affinity Plus FCU, but it did not allow for the kind of trust-based relationship building with members that the credit union’s mission calls for. So it dropped indirect lending, and discovered that member-centric product innovations, such as an alternative mortgage product, not only made up for the financial loss but resulted in stronger member relationships.
Appropriate Reaction to the DFCU Decisions: Outrage
April 29, 2016
No Comments
The NCUA and the federal district court for Eastern Michigan have both erred in not making DFCU Financial live up to the credit union’s bylaws. Fundamental freedoms are at stake. DFCU members acquired three times more signatures for a special meeting than the bylaws required. But management refused to call a special meeting. NCUA and the court are allowing this democratic ownership right of the me
Transparency: Keeping Integrity When Market Participants Play Outside the Lines
April 29, 2016
No Comments
University FCU is the major student loan lender at the University of Texas because of the value of its product, not for its relationship with the financial aid office. Transparency will reveal its work of putting students first.
Our Salaries are Made Public, and With Little Comment
April 29, 2016
No Comments
At BECU we file executive compensation on the IRS Form 990, which is available to the public. We believe we it’s the right thing to do, and we have not suffered any backlash from the public or members.
Not Playing It Safe
April 29, 2016
No Comments
At ABNB FCU we empower employees to do the right thing. Our culture of extraordinary service is a function of our military heritage, hiring the right people, giving employees the right training, and keeping focus on our tradition of helping our members.
First-Time Home Buyers Benefit from Community First Stimulus Mortgage Package
April 29, 2016
No Comments
At Community First Credit Union, one brief phrase captures our commitment to our members: “We’ll find a way.” Our new outreach specifically targeting first-time home buyers reflects this mind set. The housing market in Wisconsin has not escaped the national home purchase slump, with homeowners unable to sell their homes and potential first-time home-buyers unable to get into the market.
Meeting Challenges in Indiana
April 29, 2016
No Comments
Amy Sink, CFO at Teachers CU in Indiana, shares her thoughts on the challenges and opportunities running the largest credit union in her state during these troubling times.
One of the Nation’s Best Credit Card Programs
April 29, 2016
No Comments
Pennsylvania State Employees CU has one of the best credit card programs in the nation. With penetration at 40% and growth in balances last year at 23%, members are demonstrating they see the value in PSECU’s program above the programs of banks and other institutions.
Refinancing Is a Win-Win Situation
April 29, 2016
No Comments
Wright-Patt Credit Union has seen members affected firsthand by the economy, but the credit union has helped members, improved credit union revenue, and shown how America can get growth started.
Plain Vanilla Hands Down
Whitefish Credit Union will soon have $600 million in assets and 22% of credit union assets in Montana, although it is confined to a small ...
LIFE AFTER INDIRECT LENDING
Indirect lending was good to Affinity Plus FCU, but it did not allow for the kind of trust-based relationship building with members that the credit ...
Appropriate Reaction to the DFCU Decisions: Outrage
The NCUA and the federal district court for Eastern Michigan have both erred in not making DFCU Financial live up to the credit union’s bylaws. ...
Transparency: Keeping Integrity When Market Participants Play Outside the Lines
University FCU is the major student loan lender at the University of Texas because of the value of its product, not for its relationship with ...
Our Salaries are Made Public, and With Little Comment
At BECU we file executive compensation on the IRS Form 990, which is available to the public. We believe we it’s the right thing to ...
Not Playing It Safe
At ABNB FCU we empower employees to do the right thing. Our culture of extraordinary service is a function of our military heritage, hiring the ...
First-Time Home Buyers Benefit from Community First Stimulus Mortgage Package
At Community First Credit Union, one brief phrase captures our commitment to our members: "We'll find a way." Our new outreach specifically targeting first-time home ...
Meeting Challenges in Indiana
Amy Sink, CFO at Teachers CU in Indiana, shares her thoughts on the challenges and opportunities running the largest credit union in her state during ...
One of the Nation’s Best Credit Card Programs
Pennsylvania State Employees CU has one of the best credit card programs in the nation. With penetration at 40% and growth in balances last year ...
Refinancing Is a Win-Win Situation
Wright-Patt Credit Union has seen members affected firsthand by the economy, but the credit union has helped members, improved credit union revenue, and shown how ...
Browse Topics
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.
10 Credit Unions That Top The Charts In Member Value
William Hunt
Callahan & Associates spotlights credit unions that return more value to members.
Engagement Is Not A Perk. It Is A Strategy.
A. Jerome Fowlkes
Langley FCU asked what it would take to be a truly exceptional workplace, and it shares four ways to get there.
The Opportunity For Credit Unions In NCUA’s New Succession Planning Rule
Jennie Boden
Make your succession plan strategic and give it ‘teeth’ to reap the benefits of stronger governance and more effective C-suite leadership.
How A Child Savings Account Program Is Shaping Futures In Harbor Beach
Savana Morie
A public-private partnership in Michigan aims to influence opportunities after high school via a child savings account that provides yearly deposits and every reason to imagine what comes after graduation.