WASHINGTON -- The Department of Treasury recently honored two credit unions for the "exceptional" results with the agency's "Go Direct" campaign.

The Go Direct campaign supports the agency's longstanding efforts to shift from paper payments to direct deposit.

At a July 24 ceremony, $29 million Interstate Unlimited FCU and $510 million Utilities Employees CU were named "Champions" in the small tier category. In addition to the nine winners, 58 other participating financial institutions also performed better than the industry average in their respective tiers, according to Treasury.

A total of 133 financial institutions representing more than 25,000 branches nationwide participated in the Go Direct Champions program, which tracked their increases in Social Security and Supplemental Security Income ACH payments over a six-month period ending June 30. Participating banks and credit unions were grouped in three tiers according to size--small, medium and large--and the top three performers in each of the tiers are being recognized as Champions.

More than 700 financial institutions are involved in the overall Go Direct campaign to inform federal benefit recipients about the advantages of direct deposit and to help them sign up for it.

The Go Direct Champions are:

Large Tier Champions

First Place -- Washington Mutual, Seattle

Second Place -- Citibank, New York

Third Place -- Chase, New York

Medium Tier Champions

First Place -- Woodforest National Bank, The Woodlands, Texas

Second Place -- Commerce Bank National Association, Cherry Hill, N.J.

Third Place -- First National Bank Texas, Killeen, Texas

Small Tier Champions

First Place: Interstate Unlimited Federal Credit Union, Jesup, Ga.

Second Place: Utilities Employees Credit Union, Sinking Spring, Pa.

Third Place: Guaranty Bank, Milwaukee, Wis.

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