People Helping People: Credit Unions Creating Lasting Community Impact
Credit unions continue to strengthen communities through financial education, volunteerism, philanthropy, and hands-on service. This article highlights three inspiring examples of credit unions investing in youth, uplifting neighborhoods, and advancing financial wellbeing.
The pressure for credit unions to evolve is accelerating faster each day, yet — the “people serving people” mission has held steady since the birth of the credit union movement in the early 1900s.
At Allied Solutions, we believe deeply in this enduring, collective mission, and we are passionate about partnering with them to grow their impact and amplify their voices.
Three Credit Union Tales of Success
From coast to coast, credit unions are building a legacy of financial literacy, employee volunteerism, philanthropy, and community involvement. We are honored to tell the stories of three credit unions that are living out their mission through action and investment.
Investing in the Youth of Utah: Wasatch Peaks Credit Union
Wasatch Peaks Credit Union (WPCU) has a heart for promoting financial literacy in youth, formalizing their philanthropic mission with the creation of their foundation in 2022. Since its founding, the Wasatch Peaks Credit Union Foundation has contributed over $600,000 to local children’ programs through schools and nonprofit partners that align with their values.
WPCU also offers generous scholarships for technical school or college-bound high school graduates totaling $42,500 and has provided additional six-figure donations to several local charities focused on environmental and financial wellbeing. These youth programs underscore how vital it is to instill financial wellness for the next generation.
Compassion and Action for the Communities in Oklahoma and Kansas: Communication Federal Credit Union
With a motto like “Connecting with You”, it’s no surprise that connection is at the heart of Communication Federal Credit Union (CFCU), and that’s exactly what their membership and community members experience. Their mission is woven into the culture.
Recently, after a tornado ripped through Shawnee, OK, CFCU branch staff and executives rallied to help a community member clean up her home. The response exemplified how CFCU continually seeks opportunities to go beyond serving members and actively support the broader community as needs arise.
In addition to hands-on volunteerism, CFCU provides essential financial literacy programming, offering dependable support with a strong emphasis on the next generation.
Donating More than Dollars to Florida and Alabama Regions: Gulf Winds Credit Union
Gulf Winds Credit Union (GWCU) is deeply passionate about the financial success of its members and the greater communities of Pensacola and Tallahassee. With a strong focus on financial education, their foundation was created to provide a sustainable funding source for community organizations. Through local events, the GWCU Foundation is putting more than $400,000 back into their community.
And while financial support is meaningful, their impact extends even further — employee volunteerism at GWCU is at an all-time high with each employee averaging eight hours of volunteer time each year. Recently, a team of volunteers joined hands with Habitat for Humanity to build a new house for a local, deserving family. Before the first nail was hammered, the frame boards were signed with messages of encouragement from credit union staff and members — a tangible reminder that community is built from the inside out.
More than A Motto: How Credit Unions Create Strong Communities
Each of these credit unions is committed to building stronger communities through financial contributions and hands-on service — embodying the larger credit union mission while living out their unique brand impact. Their individual communities are stronger because of their advocacy for financial literacy, financial access, and real involvement.
Allied for Good: What Happens When Mission Meets Momentum
At Allied Solutions, our drive to help credit unions do their best work is unwavering.
As a CUSO, we’ve adopted the credit union mission of “people helping people” and it isn’t just a slogan — it’s the heartbeat of a technology company that hasn’t forgotten about humans.
We advocate for our credit union partners in three key areas:
- Being a reliable, experienced thought leader
Compliance, regulatory impacts, digital trends, and fraud prevention tactics are evergreen, and we strive to keep our readership up to date with expert insights through blogs, podcasts, and webinars, for today’s financial market. - Building trusted products and services
Our in-house proprietary products and rigorously vetted partner products help credit unions achieve their goals for lending and risk management. We understand the unique challenges credit unions face and, in response, craft solutions that help them retain a competitive edge. - Funding generous community philanthropy
Allied’s corporate giving surpassed $1.5 million in 2024. This year, we’ve invested $2.5 million in credit union advocacy and have big plans to expand our generosity.
In 2026, a brand-new philanthropy program will generously match funds raised for Children’s Miracle Network dollar-for-dollar. The CU4Kids grant will strengthen our community ties with credit unions while helping ensure children across America receive the critical healthcare they deserve.
Whether delivering timely industry insights, strategic products and services, or partnering with credit unions for meaningful giving, Allied Solutions is relentlessly committed to serving the communities where we live, work, and bank.
Mission Critical: Communities Need Credit Unions More Than Ever
Twenty-five percent of surveyed credit unions report to Allied that community engagement and purpose-driven positioning are their top drivers of growth. In a tumultuous economy where people are stretched thin and seeking guidance, credit unions are filling the gaps for accessible credit and financial literacy.
And so, the voices of credit unions must continue to rise. Because the credit union movement isn’t fading. It’s being reborn.