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.
4 Ways To Ensure A Successful Brand After A Credit Union Merger
April 7, 2016
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Concentrate on four key merger elements that take into account all stakeholders.
Rebrand And Make The Credit Union Relevant To The Members And Communities
April 7, 2016
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The need for member connection is vital, so any changes should complement the credit union’s brand and mission.
Rebrand And Rename, But First Find Common Core Values
April 7, 2016
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A rebranding effort has to be driven by values, so find out what similarities make the credit unions stand out in their communities.
6 Insights From NACUSO’s 2014 Next Big Idea Winner
April 5, 2016
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nCino CEO Pierre Naudé, winner of NACUSO’s Next Big Idea competition, talks his system, lending opportunities at credit unions, and cloud-based computing at financial institutions.
Work Hard, Play Hard
April 5, 2016
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10 credit union leaders in revenue per employee.
The Power Of Storytelling
April 5, 2016
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Credit unions need to recognize the power in their members’ stories as a way to communicate the credit union difference.
Swipe Local And Save
April 5, 2016
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A lower rate for in-state credit card purchases helps VSECU boost its product usage and gives members a grassroots outlet for activism.
Build A Successful Strategy On Cooperative Ideals
April 5, 2016
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Cooperative businesses have a foothold in sectors ranging from commercial sales and marketing to social and public services.
Credit Unions Provide VITA(L) Help In These Taxing Times
March 30, 2016
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Cooperatives across the land are continuing the tradition of offering tax preparation services for free this year, and if a member gets a little financial wellness help along the way as April 15 nears, all the better.
How To Turn A Good Member Experience Into A Great One
March 28, 2016
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In the increasingly competitive world of consumer experience, delivering a good member experience isn’t good enough. At Orange County’s Credit Union, the entire organization aligns to ease pain points.
4 Ways To Ensure A Successful Brand After A Credit Union Merger
Concentrate on four key merger elements that take into account all stakeholders.
Rebrand And Make The Credit Union Relevant To The Members And Communities
The need for member connection is vital, so any changes should complement the credit union’s brand and mission.
Rebrand And Rename, But First Find Common Core Values
A rebranding effort has to be driven by values, so find out what similarities make the credit unions stand out in their communities.
6 Insights From NACUSO’s 2014 Next Big Idea Winner
nCino CEO Pierre Naudé, winner of NACUSO’s Next Big Idea competition, talks his system, lending opportunities at credit unions, and cloud-based computing at financial institutions.
The Power Of Storytelling
Credit unions need to recognize the power in their members' stories as a way to communicate the credit union difference.
Swipe Local And Save
A lower rate for in-state credit card purchases helps VSECU boost its product usage and gives members a grassroots outlet for activism.
Build A Successful Strategy On Cooperative Ideals
Cooperative businesses have a foothold in sectors ranging from commercial sales and marketing to social and public services.
Credit Unions Provide VITA(L) Help In These Taxing Times
Cooperatives across the land are continuing the tradition of offering tax preparation services for free this year, and if a member gets a little financial ...
How To Turn A Good Member Experience Into A Great One
In the increasingly competitive world of consumer experience, delivering a good member experience isn’t good enough. At Orange County's Credit Union, the entire organization aligns ...
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.