Leaders in Financial Literacy
Leaders in Financial Literacy Awards for Credit Unions
The CrossState Credit Union Foundation has a history of promoting and supporting financial literacy initiatives. In 2024, we will again recognize and honor credit unions for excellence in the advancement of financial literacy.
New for next year is a fifth award called the Collaboration in Financial Literacy Award. This new award is to encourage and celebrate credit union collaboration in serving our communities. Projects from credit unions, chapters, or multiple credit unions or chapters are eligible for this award.
Award winners will be honored during the CrossState Credit Union Association’s Annual Convention, being held on May 19 to 21, 2024, at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Applications for the Awards are closed. Sponsorship information for the Foundation Luncheon is below through the link.
Eligibility Requirements
- Open to all credit unions in New Jersey and Pennsylvania
- Entries should be made for projects initiated, conducted, or ongoing during the previous calendar year (2023)
- Only one entry per credit union will be accepted; a credit union can also be a part of a Collaboration category nomination
- Credit unions will be grouped by asset size and then each group will be judged separately; the Collaboration category will be judged separately
Examples of eligible projects:
- In-school or after-school financial literacy programs
- Community-based financial literacy programs
- Workplace financial literacy programs
- Programs for the unbanked or underbanked
- First-time homebuyers programs
- Learning to budget programs
- Teaching how to use credit wisely
- Student-run branches
2023 Financial Literacy Award Winners
Belco Community Credit Union
In-School Financial Wellness Initiative – Dream, Achieve, Succeed
Belco’s financial literacy efforts Dream, Achieve Succeed expanded in-school programs and introduced new programs reaching middle and high school students. Belco offers High School Financial Reality Fairs and Middle School Deposit Days and this year launched Financial Flex Lunch and Learns and a summer program with a local school district.
Service 1st Federal Credit Union
2022 Community Savings Challenge
Last February, Service 1st launched a Community Savings Challenge. The main goal of this challenge was to support members in making smarter, more calculated financial decisions which in turn would position them for a healthier financial future. The second goal was to save members $1M in interest paid by May 31, 2022. When the goal was met, Service 1st pledged $10,000 to be distributed to 9 local charities.
North Jersey Federal Credit Union
The Castle 2.0
The Castle 2.0 is a financial literacy hub hosted by North Jersey Federal Credit Union (NJFCU) serving the Paterson Public School District. It is a student-run credit union high school branch for students and faculty and is open 2 days a week. The branch serves a 2,400-student body and over 300 staff.
White Rose Credit Union
Customizable Financial Education Offerings for Local Schools
White Rose offers customizable Financial Education Offerings at no cost to teachers and nonprofits in their two-county region. White Rose created a Financial Education Offerings Packet that is used to build a customizable program for the need of each classroom. They present the packet of information with the options they can choose from and then build a program based on the teacher’s needs.
Greater Reading Financial Reality Fair Committee
Special Collaboration Award
Ten credit unions in the greater Reading area join forces to hold Financial Reality Fairs in their communities. It is a standing committee that meets frequently to organize fairs throughout the school year.
There are 10 credit unions who partner on this ongoing committee: Utilities Employees Credit Union, Visions Federal Credit Union, Discovery Federal Credit Union, Bellco Federal Credit Union, Riverfront Federal Credit Union, Diamond Credit Union, Sun Federal Credit Union, Hidden River Credit Union, Lanco Federal Credit Union, and Members 1st Federal Credit Union.
2023 Leaders in Financial Literacy Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor — Members 1st FCU
Platinum Sponsors
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Gold Sponsors
 |
Silver & Bronze Sponsors
| Penn East FCU | Advanced Financial FCU | Merck Sharp & Dohme FCU | ||
| Thunderbolt FCU | Garden Savings FCU | Mercer County Community FCU |