Press
Local Minnesota credit union receives national awards for community financial literacy education
MAPLE GROVE, MN (January 9, 2014) — After winning three statewide awards from Minnesota Credit Union Network (MnCUN) earlier this year, TopLine Federal Credit Union came out on top nationally with two awards from Credit Union National Association (CUNA), for superior financial education programs benefiting the credit union’s members and communities.
TopLine’s kudos include a first-place Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award for its initiative, “Get Smart with Your Money™,” an ongoing education effort for school-aged children in the Twin Cities metro. Through educational seminars targeted at various age groups, the credit union encourages students and parents to start conversations regarding spending, saving and sharing money wisely. TopLine also works with teachers and nonprofits to further educate students of all ages on the importance of saving and good financial management.
TopLine also took home a second place Desjardins Adult Financial Education Award for its financial literacy outreach in the community, including free seminars for credit union members and the public on topics like: survival budgeting, developing a stellar credit rating,breaking out of the debt cycle, college, retirement and estate planning, and more, as well as offering financial counseling assistance.
The awards are named after Alphonse Desjardins, who founded the first credit unions in the U.S. and Canada. Winners will be honored at a Feb. 26 award ceremony that will be held during CUNA’s 2014 Governmental Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C.
“It’s an honor for our employees to be recognized for the work they do, and humbling to know that their work — serving our communities with financial literacy education and understanding — stands nationally as a model for what all credit unions do for their members,” said Tom Smith, TopLine Federal Credit Union President and CEO. “At TopLine, we see educational programming as part of our partnership — our members invest in us, and we in turn invest in them and the communities we serve.”
“TopLine demonstrates an extraordinary dedication to helping members and communities move toward a better and brighter financial future,” said Mark D. Cummins, MnCUN President & CEO. “Their recognition in these award competitions is well-deserved, and I applaud their efforts to improve financial literacy in their local communities.”
TopLine offers financial literacy seminars for youth and adults throughout the year at their Maple Grove Learning Center, and will visit interested schools or other groups to present age-appropriate lessons about personal money management. Please visit www.Toplinecu.com or call 763-391-0872 to check for upcoming sessions or to arrange a special session at your location.
Credit Union National Association (CUNA), based in Washington, D.C., and Madison, Wisconsin, is the premier national trade association serving America’s credit unions. The not-for-profit trade group is governed by volunteer directors who are elected by their credit union peers. With its network of affiliated state credit union leagues, CUNA serves America’s 6,950 state and federally chartered credit unions, which are owned by more than 98 million consumer members.
TopLine Federal Credit Union, a Twin Cities-based credit union, is Minnesota’s 13th largest, with assets of more than $340 million. Established in 1935, the not-for-profit cooperative offers a complete line of financial services, as well as auto and home insurance, from its five locations — in Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove, Plymouth and in St. Paul’s Como Park — as well as by phone and online at www.TopLinecu.com. Membership is available to anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school or volunteers in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott or Washington Counties and their immediate family members.