Industry Press
The Press Center allows credit unions and their partners to share important news and keep accomplishments front and center in the credit union industry.
MERGER PLANNED FOR HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATES CREDIT UNION (HACU) AND BAXTER CREDIT UNION (BCU)
HealthCare Associates Credit Union (HACU), a $479.4 million credit union headquartered in Lisle, IL, and Baxter Credit Union (BCU), a $6.5 billion credit union headquartered in Vernon Hills, IL, have announced their intent to merge.
BCU EARNS 2026-2027 GREAT PLACE TO WORK CERTIFICATION™
BCU is proud to be Certified™ by Great Place To Work®. The prestigious award is based entirely on what current employees say about their experience working at the Credit Union. This year, 88% of BCU employees said it’s a great place to work – ranking 31 points higher than the average US company.
BCU SHINES IN 2026 DIAMOND AWARDS HONORING MARKETING EXCELLENCE
BCU was among 181 credit unions nationwide honored with the prestigious Diamond Awards at the America’s Credit Unions Marketing, PR & Development Council’s annual competition recognizing excellence in credit union marketing.
BAXTER CREDIT UNION (BCU) ANNOUNCES CEO SUCCESSION PLAN
Baxter Credit Union (BCU) today announced that following regular succession planning discussions with the Board of Directors, BCU’s President/CEO, Michael G. Valentine, has informed the Board of his decision to retire in 2027.
BCU WEALTH ADVISORS, LLC HONORED AT KEHRER GROUP’S 2025 TOP DIRECTORS AWARDS
BCU Wealth Advisors, LLC is proud to announce that Kristi Mertens, CFP®, Managing Director of BCU Wealth Advisors, has been ranked #4 in the nation in the Women-Led Firms category by the Kehrer Group’s Top Director Awards.
BCU Named A Computerworld 2026 Best Place To Work In IT
BCU has been ranked No. 2 among small organizations on Foundry’s Computerworld 2026 Best Places to Work in IT. This recognition highlights BCU’s belief that taking care of our people leads to better experiences for our members. From flexible work arrangements and inclusive culture to professional development and fun onsite perks, the Credit Union committed
BCU PRESIDENT, CEO MIKE VALENTINE RECOGNIZED WITH HERB WEGNER MEMORIAL AWARD, THE CREDIT UNION MOVEMENT’S HIGHEST NATIONAL HONOR
BCU President and CEO, Mike Valentine, has been named a recipient of the 2025 Herb Wegner Memorial Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement by the National Credit Union Foundation. This honor recognizes Mike’s exceptional contributions to the credit union movement, his visionary leadership, and his unwavering commitment to improving financial well-being for all.
BCU, AVIARYAI PARTNER TO REVOLUTIONIZE MEMBER SERVICES THROUGH AI FOLLOWING HURRICANE RELIEF OUTREACH
BCU and AviaryAI are excited to announce a significant strategic partnership as BCU invests in AviaryAI, a cutting-edge AI startup specializing in AI communications for financial institutions. This partnership emerges after a highly successful collaboration during the recent hurricane relief efforts, which demonstrated the profound impact of outbound AI voice agents on member support.
BCU EXPANDS EFFORTS TO SUPPORT EMPLOYEES, MEMBERS AFFECTED BY HURRICANES HELENE, MILTON
As the southern US braced for the impact of Hurricane Helene, with Hurricane Milton fast following, BCU swiftly activated its disaster relief assistance, fulfilling its promise to be “Here Today, For Your Tomorrow.”
BCU PRESIDENT & CEO MIKE VALENTINE HONORED WITH 2025 HERB WEGNER MEMORIAL AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT
BCU is proud to announce that President and CEO Mike Valentine has been honored with the 2025 Herb Wegner Memorial Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement, the highest recognition bestowed by the National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF). This prestigious accolade celebrates Mike’s visionary leadership and innovation, relentless advocacy for financial well-being, and his profound impact on
BCU NAMED ONE OF 10 MOST RESPECTED CREDIT UNIONS IN ILLINOIS FOR 2024 BY CARDRATES
BCU is proud to announce that it has been recognized as one of the 10 Most Respected Credit Unions in Illinois and received the top spot by being named #1 Illinois Credit Union for Mortgages in 2024 by CardRates.com, a leading financial news platform. This prestigious honor highlights BCU’s commitment to service excellence and comprehensive
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LIFE. MONEY. YOU.® AMONG 2024 CU TIMES LUMINARIES FINALISTS
BCU is proud to announce Bjorn Larson, Executive Director of Life. Money. You.®, LLC (LMY) Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO) owned by BCU, has joined the Credit Union Times LUMINARIES Class of 2024 Finalists in the Third-Party/Fintech/Trade Associations/CUSOs – Executive Leadership individual categories, respectively.
VISA OLYMPIC GAMES PARIS 2024 SWEEPSTAKES FOR BCU – GOLD, SILVER, BRONZE WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Thanks to Visa, BCU is delighted to announce the winners of the Visa Olympic Games Paris 2024 sweepstakes for BCU. Running from February 15 to April 15, 2024, the sweepstakes provided BCU Visa cardholders with the opportunity to win exceptional prizes, including a trip to the Olympic Games Paris 2024, simply by using their Visa®
BCU Announces 2024 Scholarship Program Recipients
BCU’s commitment to Empowering People To Discover Financial Freedom continues with the announcement of the 2024 scholarship program recipients. This year, BCU is honored to present ten distinguished Leader of Tomorrow awards – including the new Tom Hodson Compassionate Leader Award for outstanding leadership and commitment to service, and two new A. Rex Johnson BCU
Quavo Fraud & Disputes Earns SOC 1® Report, Demonstrating Commitment to Financial Institution Controls
Baker Market Update – Week in Review: June 18, 2026
TDFCU Announces New CEO to Drive Its Vision Forward
Greater Texas|Aggieland Credit Union Sweeps Pinnacle Awards With Six Wins
One Fintech Opened More New Checking Accounts Last Year Than All U.S. Credit Unions Combined
Redwood Credit Union hosts free North Bay Shred‑a‑thons to fight fraud and support local nonprofits
BECU expands further into South Puget Sound with new locations in Tumwater and Lacey
Chartway Ranked No. 1 Credit Union in Virginia by Forbes, Earns America’s Best-In-State Honor for Fifth Consecutive Year
Clearview Federal Credit Union Expands Pittsburgh-Area Presence with Flagship Financial Center
UNITED NATIONS FEDERAL CREDIT UNION PUBLISHES 2025 IMPACT REPORT
Meriwest Credit Union Named a 2026 Best Place to Work for the Seventh Consecutive Year
Baker Market Update – Week in Review: June 12, 2026
Gulf Winds Welcomes Jennifer Perez as Vice President of Marketing
National Cooperative Bank Provides $4 Million Subordinated Debt Loan to OnPath Federal Credit Union
Tower Federal Credit Union Welcomes Darena Merdzhanova as New Vice President of Compliance
Indianapolis Star Names Indiana Members Credit Union a Winner of the Central Indiana Top Workplaces 2026 Award
Baker Market Update – Week in Review: June 05, 2026
Chartway’s Week of Giving Brings Utah Communities Together for Celebrations and Sell-Out Fundraising Event
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Expands Across California With Seven New Branches
Five credit unions earn California’s Cal IIP Awards with assistance from CU Strategic Planning
3Rivers Credit Union Foundation Surpasses $132,000 in Community Giving During First Half of 2026
MERGER PLANNED FOR HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATES CREDIT UNION (HACU) AND BAXTER CREDIT UNION (BCU)
Centris Federal Credit Union Selects Alogent’s Unify SaaS Platform to Modernize and Streamline Enterprise Deposit Processing
Hartford Federal Credit Union Chooses Synergent as Partner for Core Processing and Integrated Services
Quavo Fraud & Disputes Releases 2026 State of Dispute Management Performance Report
Credit Unions Reach 250+ Shared Member Stories Reflecting The People-First Purpose Of The Movement
NASCUS Urges Regulatory Modernization and Greater Clarity for State-Chartered Credit Unions in Comments to NCUA
Coastal Credit Union Hires Allison Liston, VP of Legal and Compliance
Coastal Credit Union Now Live with CashBack+ Credit Card Rewards
Tower Federal Credit Union & TowerCares Foundation Launch $250,000 for a Brighter America: A New Community Giving Initiative Supporting Military, Veterans, and Children in Need
Quavo Fraud & Disputes Earns SOC 1® Report, Demonstrating Commitment to Financial Institution Controls
Baker Market Update – Week in Review: June 18, 2026
TDFCU Announces New CEO to Drive Its Vision Forward
Greater Texas|Aggieland Credit Union Sweeps Pinnacle Awards With Six Wins
One Fintech Opened More New Checking Accounts Last Year Than All U.S. Credit Unions Combined
Redwood Credit Union hosts free North Bay Shred‑a‑thons to fight fraud and support local nonprofits
BECU expands further into South Puget Sound with new locations in Tumwater and Lacey
Chartway Ranked No. 1 Credit Union in Virginia by Forbes, Earns America’s Best-In-State Honor for Fifth Consecutive Year
Clearview Federal Credit Union Expands Pittsburgh-Area Presence with Flagship Financial Center
UNITED NATIONS FEDERAL CREDIT UNION PUBLISHES 2025 IMPACT REPORT
Meriwest Credit Union Named a 2026 Best Place to Work for the Seventh Consecutive Year
Baker Market Update – Week in Review: June 12, 2026
Gulf Winds Welcomes Jennifer Perez as Vice President of Marketing
National Cooperative Bank Provides $4 Million Subordinated Debt Loan to OnPath Federal Credit Union
Tower Federal Credit Union Welcomes Darena Merdzhanova as New Vice President of Compliance
Indianapolis Star Names Indiana Members Credit Union a Winner of the Central Indiana Top Workplaces 2026 Award
Baker Market Update – Week in Review: June 05, 2026
Chartway’s Week of Giving Brings Utah Communities Together for Celebrations and Sell-Out Fundraising Event
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Expands Across California With Seven New Branches
Five credit unions earn California’s Cal IIP Awards with assistance from CU Strategic Planning
3Rivers Credit Union Foundation Surpasses $132,000 in Community Giving During First Half of 2026
MERGER PLANNED FOR HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATES CREDIT UNION (HACU) AND BAXTER CREDIT UNION (BCU)
Centris Federal Credit Union Selects Alogent’s Unify SaaS Platform to Modernize and Streamline Enterprise Deposit Processing
Hartford Federal Credit Union Chooses Synergent as Partner for Core Processing and Integrated Services
Quavo Fraud & Disputes Releases 2026 State of Dispute Management Performance Report
Credit Unions Reach 250+ Shared Member Stories Reflecting The People-First Purpose Of The Movement
NASCUS Urges Regulatory Modernization and Greater Clarity for State-Chartered Credit Unions in Comments to NCUA
Coastal Credit Union Hires Allison Liston, VP of Legal and Compliance
Coastal Credit Union Now Live with CashBack+ Credit Card Rewards
Tower Federal Credit Union & TowerCares Foundation Launch $250,000 for a Brighter America: A New Community Giving Initiative Supporting Military, Veterans, and Children in Need
Quavo Fraud & Disputes Earns SOC 1® Report, Demonstrating Commitment to Financial Institution Controls
Baker Market Update – Week in Review: June 18, 2026
TDFCU Announces New CEO to Drive Its Vision Forward
Greater Texas|Aggieland Credit Union Sweeps Pinnacle Awards With Six Wins
One Fintech Opened More New Checking Accounts Last Year Than All U.S. Credit Unions Combined
Redwood Credit Union hosts free North Bay Shred‑a‑thons to fight fraud and support local nonprofits
