The CO-OP THiNK 2016 conference echoed that theme on its first day as CO-OP Financial Services unveiled CO-OP Purpose, a new corporate social responsibility program for credit unions that provides turnkey community initiatives to help empower people to improve their financial well-being.

As part of the program, CO-OP partnered with the National Credit Union Foundation and identified other potential partners for two new financial literacy programs:

• The CU Network + Library Network Coaching Program (currently in beta), which brings financial literacy to a trusted community hub – the local library. Libraries and credit unions will partner to help educate people and improve their financial lives. This initiative was one of the winning ideas from the CO-OP THINK Prize 15. Founded in 2011 and sponsored by MasterCard, the CO-OP THINK Prize is designed to inspire creative thinking about leading issues in financial services.
• The Credit Union + Yoobi Classroom Initiative, which was developed in partnership with the socially-driven school supply company. Upon completion of feasibility studies, the initiative will enable credit unions to donate financial literacy kits along with Yoobi classroom packs to underprivileged schools. CO-OP is working with Yoobi based on a talk at THINK 15 by company co-founder Ido Leffler.

The next few pages offer a few more speaker highlights:

“The purpose story is your brand. Execute on that.”

“Ideas are cheap, everyone has them but only two out of 500 will execute on it.”

Scott Bales

Global Futurist/Digital Strategist

CO-OP THiNK Co-host

“In 2016, everyone has purpose-driven marketing. It's been cheapened and forced. But credit unions have an authentic story and can use empathy to advance that purpose. Your core history could help you win the market.”

“The status quo isn't working for people. They want alternatives.”

“Why do people share things? Because they matter.”

Sara Critchfield

Founding Editorial Director

Upworthy

CO-OP THiNK Co-host

“Don't focus financial education on what they will use in the future, help them meet their needs now.”

“We have to move from transactional/informational to transformational.”

“Simple ideas don't mean easy, but they are often the ideas that stick and can make the most impact.”

Ted Gonder

Co-founder/CEO

MoneyThink

“I wake up every morning and try to put myself out of business. It's a lot more fun to put yourself out of business than wait for someone else to do the same.”

“Credit unions need to take a step back and figure out why more people don't know about them. Then you can move forward.”

“The best advice I have for you is this: Listen. Pay attention to everyone you interact with and be an active consumer of humans. Try to surround yourself with people who are massively empathetic and put it into practical use. Don't talk, just listen.”

“Too many credit unions use compliance as the excuse not to do what they should be doing.”

“'I don't understand' is not an excuse. You weren't born knowing how to drive a car. Figure it out.”

Gary Vaynerchuk

Co-founder/CEO

VaynerMedia