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Winners of CUNA Awards and CUNA Benefits of Membership Awards announced at CUNA GAC

Recipients of the 2016 CUNA Awards and the CUNA Benefits of Membership Awards were revealed in a ceremony at the 2017 CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C.

“When you look at this year’s winners, you see some of the greatest accomplished throughout the credit union movement,” said CUNA President/CEO Jim Nussle. “Each one fully embodies the generosity, goodwill, concern for community, and bold thinking that makes up the credit union philosophy. I congratulate them all on their accomplishments.”

The CUNA Benefits of Membership Awards recognizes credit unions that offer exceptional financial value to their members in the form of benefits. Credit unions submit their rates, fees and account yields with their applications and judges compare these figures to those of competing banks to determine the average savings per member. Credit unions that showcase exemplary value are recognized for their achievements.

The winners in the three asset categories were:

Less than $200 million

  • Manchester Municipal FCU in Manchester, Conn.
  • Inland Valley FCU in Fontana, Calif.
  • Class Act FCU in Louisville, Ky. 

$200 million to $600 million

  • Boston Firefighters CU in Boston
  • Nebraska Energy FCU in Columbus, Neb.
  • Carolinas Telco FCU in Charlotte, N.C. 

More than $600 million

  • Star One CU in Sunnyvale, Calif.
  • Dow Chemical ECU in Midland, Mich.
  • Schools Financial CU in Sacramento, Calif.

The CUNA Awards recognize exceptional work by credit unions in three areas: financial education, social responsibility and enactment of the credit union philosophy of “People Helping People.”

Four asset categories were offered for each of the four 2016 CUNA Awards. The 1st place winners were:

Desjardins Awards: Recognizes leadership within the credit union movement on behalf of financial literacy for members and nonmembers of all ages.

Desjardins Adult Financial Education Award

  • Community CU in Lewiston, Maine // Less than $50 million
  • Carolina Foothills FCU in Spartanburg, S.C. // $50 million to $250 million
  • Financial Center First CU in Indianapolis // $250 million to $1 billion
  • Firefly CU in Burnsville, Minn. // More than $1 billion
  • Rocky Mountain Chapter of CUs in Colorado // Chapter 

Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award

  • Community CU in Lewiston, Maine // Less than $50 million
  • CORE FCU in East Syracuse, N.Y., and DOCO CU in Albany, Ga. // $50 million to $250 million
  • CommonWealth One FCU in Alexandria, Va.// $250 million to $1 billion
  • Altra FCU in Onalaska, Wis.// More than $1 billion
  • Maine CU League in Westbrook, Maine // League 

Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Award: Encourages and honors credit union and chapter involvement in community projects and activities.

  • Community CU in Lewiston, Maine // Less than $50 million
  • United CU in Mexico, Mo. // $50 million to $250 million
  • San Mateo CU in Redwood City, Calif. // $250 million to $1 billion
  • Hanscom FCU in Hanscom AFB, Mass. // More than $1 billion 

Louise Herring Philosophy-in-Action Award: Recognizes credit unions that do an extraordinary job incorporating credit union philosophy into daily operations.

  • Nueva Esperanza Community CU in Toledo, Ohio // Less than $50 million
  • Appalachian Community FCU in Gray, Tenn. // $50 million to $250 million
  • Educational Systems FCU in Greenbelt, Md. // $250 million to $1 billion
  • Associated CU in Norcross, Ga. // More than $1 billion

To view all of the 2016 award winners, click here and to learn more about the CUNA Award Programs, visit cuna.org/awards.