CU Times 2024 Luminaries Awards Finalists: Community Impact - Credit Unions
These 21 finalists reflect the tremendous work being done by CUs of all sizes in communities across the country.
Community Impact – Credit Unions ($1B & below)
Strata Credit Union
Strata Credit Union’s commitment to supporting education and environmental conservation aligns with its mission to enrich the communities it serves. Through initiatives like sponsoring students for Camp KEEP, Strata Credit Union continues to make a positive difference in the lives of local youth. Strata plans to continue the sponsorship for years to come and is seeking more community partners to assist with the expense.
Verity Credit Union
Verity is demonstrating its action in providing opportunities for all to build wealth by significantly reducing overdraft fees and saving members over $1.2 million annually. The credit union also reinvests 87% of deposits back into the local economy, highlighting its dedication to economic growth and prosperity for everyone.
American 1 Credit Union
American 1 Credit Union is a standout candidate for the award. American 1’s dedication to being boldly generous to members, employees and community has been shown through its donations, community offerings and convenient, uncomplicated banking products promoting financial wellness.
Community Impact – Credit Unions ($1B-4B)
Chartway Credit Union
Chartway is all about people and building relationships. Unlocking potential to help individuals and families thrive is its purpose. The guiding principles and values are at the heart of every Chartway endeavor. They care about members’ financial well-being at every life stage – providing the tools, coaching and information for their unique situation so they can meet their financial goals.
Addition Financial Credit Union
Addition Financial Credit Union honors the educators who founded the organization 87 years ago by remaining steadfast in its commitment to making a positive impact in the community that begins with education. Through the credit union’s actions and culture, Addition Financial continually fosters financial education from children just beginning their education, to adults in the workforce.
AmeriCU Credit Union
AmeriCU offers special programs tailored to the military community, and the credit union’s virtual services are designed to serve members from anywhere. This allows military members and their families who relocate frequently the opportunity to continue being an AmeriCU member and deepens the relationship so AmeriCU can continue to provide the right products and services to help them succeed.
United States Senate Federal Credit Union
USSFCU tailors financial products to meet diverse member needs and ensures responsive customer service. It champions community impact through sponsorships, relief and emergency assistance programs like the Government Shutdown Assistance Loan, aiding students, organizations and members facing financial challenges. It is championing cultural diversity with a dedicated DEI department led by its DEI officer. Additionally, it is promoting wellness through social initiatives and health programs.
Family Savings Credit Union
Family Savings Credit Union’s ALL IN volunteer program exemplifies the profound impact that organized community service initiatives can have on both the participants and the community they serve. This program, which encourages credit union employees to engage in various volunteer activities, highlights the power of collective action and the positive ripple effects it generates.
OnPath Federal Credit Union
Over the past three years, OnPath has prioritized outreach to serve underbanked individuals in the growing Hispanic communities. OnPath introduced banking products tailored for ITIN individuals, launched a custom Spanish-language website, provided bilingual collateral and banking documents and hired bilingual staff. Their dedication to this area is unwavering.
Commonwealth Credit Union
Commonwealth Credit Union has made a mark on community health in Kentucky through its significant philanthropic efforts. Its historic $2 million donation to Baptist Health Hamburg has supported the construction of a state-of-the-art facility, providing expanded outpatient services for cancer, cardiovascular, breast imaging, diagnostics, emergency care, orthopedics and surgery. This initiative alone has transformed health care access for thousands of patients.
USF Federal Credit Union
USF Federal Credit Union’s most impactful accomplishment in the past year has been the development and execution of its comprehensive gift and partnership agreement with the University of South Florida. This initiative embodies a robust, student-centered, collaborative approach, offering substantial support through education, scholarships and professional development opportunities aimed at empowering underrepresented groups.
Community Impact – Credit Unions ($4B & up)
California Credit Union
While California Credit Union has achieved a number of community impact accomplishments over the past year, one noteworthy focus has been investing in educational programs that build financial wellness for youth and adults across its communities, providing meaningful, accessible resources for long term financial empowerment. The focus is on this area because of the transformative impact these programs have on members and communities, particularly the underserved communities.
FAIRWINDS Credit Union
At FAIRWINDS, they work to inspire generosity, volunteer in the community and support organizations that improve lives through financial well-being. They believe that when families and individuals have the information and tools needed to secure and improve their financial health, the credit union collectively impacts and improves the community’s economic well-being.
Delta Community Credit Union
As Georgia’s largest credit union, Delta Community leverages its financial strength and expertise to champion financial literacy and education opportunities in the communities it is privileged to serve. Because many metro Atlanta families report a lack of access to information and tools needed to improve their financial well-being, Delta Community has prioritized addressing these needs through its award-winning Financial Education Center, which exists as an extension of the credit union focused on educating and supporting the community at large on issues and skills relating to finance.
Teachers Federal Credit Union
Teachers is committed to serving the needs of its members, teammates and communities. With one of the credit union’s guiding principles being “Build a Strong Community,” the credit union shares its time and resources with nonprofit organizations that support education, human services, economic development and research. Teachers is proud to have made an impact in 2023 through charitable giving and volunteerism.
Alliant Credit Union
The Alliant Foundation’s Million Dollar Challenge has been this year’s most impactful community-focused accomplishment. Digital inclusion, including providing technology devices and affordable, reliable broadband, delivering digital skills education, and advocating for internet accessibility reform, has never been more crucial.
Northwest Federal Credit Union
Northwest Federal Credit Union stands out as a beacon of community service. As the 2024 top corporate philanthropist in the D.C. metro area for its size, Northwest donated $3.5 million to local causes. Its community outreach encompasses children, special needs, animal welfare, the environment, the arts, and health and wellness.
MSUFCU
Over the past decade, MSUFCU Financial Education team has developed innovative ways to offer financial education and help community members achieve their financial dreams. Recognizing the need for a more inclusive financial literacy initiative that reaches traditionally underserved and unbanked community members, MSUFCU launched The Culture of Finances. This program eliminates obstacles for underrepresented and unbanked populations, providing equitable access to financial education, and addressing financial fears and barriers.
VyStar Credit Union
VyStar Credit Union, founded in 1952 with a mission to “Do Good,” has become a beacon of philanthropy and volunteerism. In 2023, VyStar’s employees dedicated over 32,000 hours to volunteer work, and the credit union donated $6.6 million to more than 300 nonprofits. This commitment to community service is embodied in their Volunteer of the Year Awards, which honored 35 employees for their exceptional contributions.
Suncoast Credit Union
In 2023 by partnering with or supporting 987 community and youth-oriented sponsorships, events, programs and initiatives, Suncoast successfully influenced the lives of individuals with valuable experiences, financial education and information to carry forward as they continue their journeys toward financial health and wellness. Through the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation, and its special focus on education and improving the lives of children, 413,476 students were impacted through grants, financial education programs and college scholarships.
GreenState Credit Union
GreenState’s immigrant financial inclusion provides dignified financial services regardless of immigration status. By tracking members’ language preferences, GreenState identified a growth of 10,283 non-English-preferring members and tackled common barriers like lack of documentation, limited English proficiency and credit history. Their strategy focused on five key areas: Training staff and hiring bilingual talent, expanding policies to accept foreign IDs, developing culturally relevant products, enhancing digital engagement with multi-language support, and increasing visibility through targeted marketing and outreach.