Los Angeles FCU has awarded $10,000 in its 2021 Jack C. Mathews College Scholarship to four college students who are currently attending UCLA, John Hopkins, Mount Saint Mary’s, and the University of Pennsylvania, and one high school student, who plans on attending Occidental College. Each winner received a $2,000 check to pursue higher education in the fall of 2021.

Retired Frontwave CU Director and Lt. Col. USMC (Ret.) George Hoagland has been selected by the Defense Credit Union Council for induction into its Hall of Honor. Hoagland, the inaugural recipient of the Frontwave Credit Union Lifetime Achievement Award, retired from the Frontwave CU Board of Directors in March of 2021 after an exemplary 53 years of service to the credit union.

Redwood CU welcomes Tshikashi (Kashi) Moore-Stallworth as a human resources leader. In her new role, Moore-Stallworth is responsible for initiatives that help ensure the organization is able to achieve success through its people and make Redwood CU a great place to work. Under her leadership, employees will be supported in their wellness and career growth.

Tech CU (Technology CU) was named one of America’s 2021 best-in-state credit unions by Forbes and no. 6 in California. Winners were identified by Forbes and Statista, a world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider, based on an independent survey of approximately 25,000 US consumers

Los Angeles FCU celebrates its 85^th anniversary this year. The credit union will continue the celebration throughout 2021 with fun contests and giveaways, including $85 monthly raffles and an exciting $850 grand prize. 

Meriwest CU celebrates 60 years of member service, touting more than 88,000 members and approaching $2 billion in assets. 

San Diego County CU President and CEO Teresa Campbell was named a 2021 CEO of the Year Finalist by the San Diego Business Journal. The award recognizes exceptional local executives who have made a significant impact in the community. Additionally, Campbell was named a 2021 Woman of Influence by SD Metro Magazine. The award recognizes local executives who have made meaningful contributions to the San Diego region, and this marks the second consecutive year Campbell has received this honor.

Kinecta FCU has announced the winners of its 2021 “Youth Scholarships and Teaching Grants for Growth” program. After receiving 128 scholarship and 30 teaching grant applications, eight students and six teachers were selected to receive $2,000 each.

Compass Community CU turns 70 this year. To celebrate, Compass Community CU has a “Refer a Friend” promotion. When a member invites a friend to open an account with Compass Community CU, both are automatically entered with a chance to win $700.

Los Angeles FCU raised a total of $9,000 in donations for Operation Gratitude. This includes $4,000 that Los Angeles FCU raised in our branches and online in May, plus a $5,000 corporate contribution through our charity, the Los Angeles Charitable Association (LACA), which was created in 2006 to collect and distribute funds to deserving charities in the greater Los Angeles Area.

San Diego County CU has won a 2021 Platinum Hermes Creative Award for its Stuff the Bus campaign and a Gold Hermes Creative Award for its mobile banking video. This is the second year that the credit union has received acknowledgement in the Hermes Creative Awards.

LBS Financial CU was voted for the 11^th year in a row as the Best Credit Union in Long Beach by Press-Telegram and Gazettes readers in their 2021 Reader’s Choice Awards. Readers of the publications also voted the Credit Union “the best” in the following new categories: Best Home Loans, Best Auto Loans, Best Refinancing Company, and Best Financial Planning Company.

SAFE CU launched an ad campaign that celebrates Sacramento-area small businesses’ fortitude and resilience. The new campaign features the owners of five small businesses in Sacramento who are also SAFE CU members: Rob Archie, Urban Roots Brewery & Smokehouse; Cecil Rhodes, Nash & Proper; Brad Cecchi, Canon; and Faith McDaniels, Nubian Family Beauty Supply. Also included in on the outdoor ad campaign is Mckaylee Mejia, Glink Studios.

San Diego County CU President and CEO Teresa Campbell was honored with a Business Leadership Award at the North San Diego Business Chamber’s annual Celebration of Business event in June. The award celebrates the best and brightest in the San Diego business community, honoring business leaders who made the greatest positive impact on their organization and community. Campbell was selected by independent judges for demonstrating steadfast leadership in 2020 during a challenging year due to the COVID-19 pandemic along with directing the organization’s ongoing commitment to the San Diego community.

1st United CU has teamed up with the Oakland A’s to support the Alameda County Community Food Bank. For every home run the A’s hit during the regular season, 1st United CU will donate $50 to the Food Bank.

UNCLE CU has re-elected Chung Bothwell as Board Chairman for the 2021-2022 term. In other election results, the board named Vice Chairman John Stein, Ph.D. and Treasurer Mila Shapovalov to their respective leadership positions again in 2021. Clay Smith stepped up as Board Secretary, succeeding Bob Corey who remains a member of the board. Neda Gray and Lee Neely also retained their board seats for the new term.

The Silver State Schools CU People Over Profit (POP) Foundation has made a $2,500 donation to The Garden Foundation. The Garden Foundation  is dedicated to helping those with special needs by providing a place to learn, grow,  socialize, explore, create independence, and have some fun doing so. This donation will help purchase much needed technology equipment to provide for computer workshops, internet  access, and/or access day-to-day computer programs to assist The Garden Foundation’s  young adults achieve their full potential.  

San Diego County CU is a proud sponsor of the 47^th San Diego LGBTQ+ Pride celebration, held as a hybrid event this year, including both virtual and in-person community events happening July 10-18.

Travis CU has elected Debbie Aspling to oversee the financial cooperative as Board Chair, effective at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in April 2021.  First elected to the board of directors in 2008, Aspling now marks her 13th year in her leadership position on the board of directors. She replaces Patricia (Pat) Moreno who served as chair for the past seven years and who has been a board member since 2004.

Los Angeles Police FCU has introduced End of Watch Debt Protection, a vital complimentary benefit that addresses the core Credit Union membership’s financial needs. The debt protection program pays off a member’s Los Angeles Police FCU debt if he or she is killed in the line of duty.

USE CU announced the five recipients of the second annual USECU Dream Scholarship program for the 2021-22 school year. The first place finalist will receive $2,500 and the four remaining finalists will receive $1,000 each. Since last year, the credit union awarded $13,000 to Dream Scholarship recipients.

San Diego County CU has announced it is a proud sponsor of the Los Angeles Angels 2021 season.

SafeAmerica CU’s KRON4 Salutes Essential Workers segment has won a silver award for best Campaign Branding in Regional TV along with a bronze award for Best Campaign for a Not-for-profit in the 42nd Annual Telly Awards. The Telly Awards honors excellence in video and television across all screens.

SAFE CU President and CEO Dave Roughton, fourth from right, joins city of Sacramento and California state dignitaries during the ribbon cutting ceremony.

SAFE CU leaders and representatives from the city of Sacramento and California celebrated the grand opening of the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in the heart of Downtown Sacramento. The Convention Center is one of the three facilities in the SAFE Credit Union Convention & Performing Arts District. The SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center, scheduled to open with the Broadway Sacramento production of “Hamilton” in September, and the Memorial Auditorium are the other two parts of the District.

L-R: New Frontwave CU hires Kirsten Hanson, Director of Real Estate Lending; Melissa Patacsil, Director of Consumer Lending; and Anthony Iverson Real Estate Sales Manager.

Frontwave CU has appointed three new leaders to its Consumer Lending and Real Estate teams. Kirsten Hanson joins Frontwave CU as director of real estate lending, Melissa Patacsil is the new director of consumer lending, and Anthony Iverson has been hired as real estate sales manager.

San Diego County CU's Senior Vice President of Business Development and Community Relations, Sarah Bilyeu, was named the 2021 IABC/San Diego Communicator of the Year. The award recognizes local leaders who demonstrate strategic excellence in communication, and lead the way with their contributions and high quality work.

Financial Center CU and Valley Strong CU have announced plans to merge pending regulatory approval and membership vote. If approved, the organization will operate under the Valley Strong CU name. The organization’s combined assets would be approximately $3.2 billion, and would serve nearly 200,000 Members with 27 branches throughout the San Joaquin Valley from Lodi to Tehachapi.

Patelco CU was named a 2021 Diamond Award winner by the Credit Union National Association Marketing and Business Development Council for its 2020 digital advertising campaign. Entitled “What Matters Most,” the campaign brought real stories about Patelco CU’s members and its mission of people helping people to the small screen.

Bryce Wilson of Soil Born Farms talks with Amanda Merz, SAFE CU Community and Government Relations Manager at Soil Born Farms. 

SAFE CU has awarded $40,000 in grants to Soil Born Farms and Allegiant Giving to support programs providing skills and knowledge to veterans seeking to apply their military experience in new careers.

Safe 1 CU has hired Tim Spencer as its new Executive Vice President of Lending. Spencer brings more than 34 years of credit union industry experience to his new position.

UNCLE CU has partnered with Alkami Technology, Inc. to deliver a new and enhanced digital banking experience to its 30,000 members. Built for security, speed and extensibility, Alkami’s award-winning digital banking platform provides for easy completion of nearly all banking tasks via desktop, tablet, mobile, chat and voice. A unified interface synchronized across all devices allows members to view and access multiple accounts under a single login.

Bay FCU announced that the 10^th class of the credit union’s leadership program, BayFed University, held its graduation ceremony on May 11, 2021. BayFed University, a leadership program in partnership with Cabrillo College Supervisory Academy, has been offered to up-and-coming Bay FCU managers and supervisors since the spring of 2014. The program incorporates the 12-week Cabrillo College Supervisory Academy curriculum along with a strategic project that contributes significantly to the credit union’s business initiatives and celebrates the culture of Bay FCU.

Meriwest CU selected ten area high school students as winners of the High School Video Competition for their inventive videos answering the question, “What new banking features, products or other innovations do you think would make banking easier, more fun, or more rewarding for your generation?” The annual competition is designed to motivate and support high school students in grades 9-12 who are planning to continue their academic achievements in college.

First Financial CU has announced two volunteers were re-elected at the Annual Meeting last month to serve on the Board of Directors. Incumbents Shirley Burkhardt and James Dilday will each serve another three-year term.  

Frontwave CU has welcomed the first-ever platoon of female Marines graduating from Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) San Diego to the Frontwave family. The 53 new Marines, part of Lima Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, graduated from boot camp at MCRD San Diego in May. Frontwave CU has a long history of serving Marines in Southern California and across the nation and has managed the direct deposit program for all recruits at MCRD San Diego for the last 25 years. It also provides financial education to these recruits during boot camp and offers continuing education and planning advice throughout their lives.

Redwood CU received four Diamond Awards at the annual Credit Union National Association (CUNA) Marketing & Business Development Council conference—this year held virtually. Redwood CU was recognized in four categories, including Membership Marketing, Outdoor, Website and Video (Non-Commercial).

Ventura County CU has been selected for FHLBank San Francisco’s donation matching program.This means FHLBank San Francisco will match recent contributions that Ventura County CU made to three local nonprofits, including to Food Share, Ventura County Community Foundation and Health Care Foundation for Ventura County last June through the #VCCUCares program. FHLBank San Francisco is matching $25,000 of Ventura County CU's total contributions, and the funds will be split among the three nonprofits.

Kinecta FCU has been named a Great Place to Work-Certified™ company. To reach Great Place to Work certification, anonymous employee feedback was gathered, and a rigorous, data-driven methodology proved 89% of employees consistently have a positive experience at Kinecta, compared to 59% for a typical U.S.-based company.

Silver State Schools CU's Board of Directors announced its ten scholarship recipients for 2021. Each winner selected is a Southern Nevada High School Senior and will receive a $2,000 scholarship renewable for up to four years, for a total of up to $8,000, to use towards higher education. 

SAFE CU received two prestigious awards in a credit union industry competition for its financial education video series and pandemic response. The Marketing and Business Development Council of CUNA Councils awarded SAFE CU the Category Best award for a series of financial education videos and a Diamond Award in the Crisis Management category.

Compass Community CU has once again been awarded the highest (5-Star) rating for financial strength and stability from the Nation’s Premier Credit Union and Bank Rating Firm, BauerFinancial, Inc. Earning and maintaining this 5-Star rating is proof that Compass Community CU excels in such areas as capital adequacy, profitability, asset quality and much more. This is the 44th consecutive quarter Compass Community CU has earned this top rating. This has earned Compass Community CU the added title of “Exceptional Performance Credit Union”, a status reserved for institutions that have earned Bauer’s highest rating consistently for at least 10 consecutive years.

San Diego County CU was recognized with three 2021 Stevie® Awards in the 19^th Annual American Business Awards–which honors the achievements and positive contributions of organizations and working professionals. More than 3,800 entries were submitted this year by organizations and individuals around the world for consideration. Winners were determined from the average scores of more than 250 professionals over three months of judging.