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.
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
BCU NAMED ONE OF 10 MOST RESPECTED CREDIT UNIONS IN AMERICA FOR 2024 BY CARDRATES
BCU is proud to announce that it has been recognized as one of the 10 Most Respected Credit Unions in America for 2024 by CardRates.com, a leading financial news platform. This prestigious recognition highlights BCU’s commitment to excellence, member satisfaction, and financial education.
BCU NAMED TWO-TIME GALLUP® EXCEPTIONAL WORKPLACE AWARD WINNER
BCU is honored to have earned the 2024 Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award (GEWA) for the second consecutive year. This award recognizes the most engaged workplace cultures in the world. Unwavering in its Purpose of Empowering People to Discover Financial Freedom, the Credit Union keeps members and employees at the forefront of every decision it makes.
BCU PRESIDENT, CEO MIKE VALENTINE INDUCTED TO CREDIT UNION HOUSE HALL OF LEADERS
Nominated by the Illinois Credit Union League (ICUL), Mike Valentine, BCU President & CEO, was recently inducted into the Credit Union House Hall of Leaders in Washington, D.C., joining a prestigious group of previous inductees from across the country. This distinguished honor provides lasting recognition to credit union leaders past and present whose commitments have
BCU NAMED ONE OF BEST CREDIT UNIONS OF 2024 BY CNET
BCU is proud to have once again topped CNET’s list of Best Credit Unions of 2024. The list was determined by CNET’s evaluation of credit unions with the highest APYs for one-year terms.
Vizo Financial’s February 2026 Education Calendar
Coastal Credit Union Surpasses $6 Billion in Assets
13 families celebrate the new year in new homes thanks to RCU Community Fund’s Down Payment Assistance program
Vizo Financial Recaps Successful Year of Credit Union Education in 2025
Newsweek Names SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union One of America’s Best Regional Banks & Credit Unions in 2026
Elan Charitable Giving Celebrates 5 Years with $250,000 in Donations
One Nevada Announces Promotions for Five Leaders
Arkatechture Announces Launch of AI Data Analyst Tool: ArkaIQ
Indiana Members Credit Union Recognized at Best Regional Credit Union by Newsweek and Indianapolis Community Choice Awards
SchoolsFirst FCU Raised More Than $3.3M for Children’s Miracle Network
Will Valadez Earns SPHR Credential, Advancing Strategic HR Leadership at Corporate Central
Registration Now Open for ALM First’s 2026 Derivatives Symposium
Corporate One Successfully Closes Inaugural Multi-Seller Prime Auto Securitization
Newsweek names Redwood Credit Union one of America’s Best Credit Unions for third year in a row
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Lowers Down Payment Requirements to Expand Mortgage Access for School Employees
Corporate Central Supercharges Business Onboarding with Next Generation Verification, powered by Middesk, in Beastro
CUNA Strategic Services Expands Sparrow Alliance to Help Credit Unions Deepen Member Relationships Beyond the Branch
Waterbury CT Teachers Federal Credit Union Selects Alogent’s FASTdocs to Modernize Enterprise Content Management and Automate Manual Processes
First Entertainment Credit Union and Nymbus Launch CineFi, First Digital Credit Union for Entertainment Professionals
Corporate Central Promotes Hunter Cliffgard to Investment Analyst
CRIF Select Appoints Robert Christini as Senior Vice President of Sales
Applications sought for $10K LAFCU Innovation for Education Grant
Credit Union League of Connecticut Rebrands as Connecticut’s Credit Unions; Services Arm Relaunches as cuVoyant
Redwood Credit Union welcomes Jay Tkachuk as Chief Information Officer
EECU Sponsors Community Events Honoring Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy
Seven Credit Unions Select myCUmortgage as Their Home Loan Partner
Corporate One Federal Credit Union Marks More Than 70 New Connections to Immediate Payment Rails in 2025
BCU WEALTH ADVISORS, LLC HONORED AT KEHRER GROUP’S 2025 TOP DIRECTORS AWARDS
Corporate Central Welcomes Vikram Israni to Board as Jay Magulski Retires
Coastal Credit Union Foundation Awards Nearly $1 Million in Community Grants
Vizo Financial’s February 2026 Education Calendar
Coastal Credit Union Surpasses $6 Billion in Assets
13 families celebrate the new year in new homes thanks to RCU Community Fund’s Down Payment Assistance program
Vizo Financial Recaps Successful Year of Credit Union Education in 2025
Newsweek Names SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union One of America’s Best Regional Banks & Credit Unions in 2026
Elan Charitable Giving Celebrates 5 Years with $250,000 in Donations
One Nevada Announces Promotions for Five Leaders
Arkatechture Announces Launch of AI Data Analyst Tool: ArkaIQ
Indiana Members Credit Union Recognized at Best Regional Credit Union by Newsweek and Indianapolis Community Choice Awards
SchoolsFirst FCU Raised More Than $3.3M for Children’s Miracle Network
Will Valadez Earns SPHR Credential, Advancing Strategic HR Leadership at Corporate Central
Registration Now Open for ALM First’s 2026 Derivatives Symposium
Corporate One Successfully Closes Inaugural Multi-Seller Prime Auto Securitization
Newsweek names Redwood Credit Union one of America’s Best Credit Unions for third year in a row
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Lowers Down Payment Requirements to Expand Mortgage Access for School Employees
Corporate Central Supercharges Business Onboarding with Next Generation Verification, powered by Middesk, in Beastro
CUNA Strategic Services Expands Sparrow Alliance to Help Credit Unions Deepen Member Relationships Beyond the Branch
Waterbury CT Teachers Federal Credit Union Selects Alogent’s FASTdocs to Modernize Enterprise Content Management and Automate Manual Processes
First Entertainment Credit Union and Nymbus Launch CineFi, First Digital Credit Union for Entertainment Professionals
Corporate Central Promotes Hunter Cliffgard to Investment Analyst
CRIF Select Appoints Robert Christini as Senior Vice President of Sales
Applications sought for $10K LAFCU Innovation for Education Grant
Credit Union League of Connecticut Rebrands as Connecticut’s Credit Unions; Services Arm Relaunches as cuVoyant
Redwood Credit Union welcomes Jay Tkachuk as Chief Information Officer
EECU Sponsors Community Events Honoring Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy
Seven Credit Unions Select myCUmortgage as Their Home Loan Partner
Corporate One Federal Credit Union Marks More Than 70 New Connections to Immediate Payment Rails in 2025
BCU WEALTH ADVISORS, LLC HONORED AT KEHRER GROUP’S 2025 TOP DIRECTORS AWARDS
Corporate Central Welcomes Vikram Israni to Board as Jay Magulski Retires
Coastal Credit Union Foundation Awards Nearly $1 Million in Community Grants
Vizo Financial’s February 2026 Education Calendar
Coastal Credit Union Surpasses $6 Billion in Assets
13 families celebrate the new year in new homes thanks to RCU Community Fund’s Down Payment Assistance program
Vizo Financial Recaps Successful Year of Credit Union Education in 2025
Newsweek Names SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union One of America’s Best Regional Banks & Credit Unions in 2026
Elan Charitable Giving Celebrates 5 Years with $250,000 in Donations