2008 Community Credit Union of the Year Award
Entries due August 22, 2008

How to Submit Your Entry

The Credit Union National Association Community Credit Union of the Year Award recognizes and honors a community credit union that best exemplifies the principles of the credit union movement while serving as a positive influence in its field of service.

This distinction is reserved exclusively for community credit unions: credit unions that, in all aspects, consistently excel in the advancement of the ideals of the credit union movement, are proactive in their community, and provide a wide array of services that meet the needs of their diverse communities.

The Selection Process
A panel of judges – selected by the CUNA Community Credit Union Committee – will select the Community Credit Union of the Year. Selection will be based upon the credit union’s ability to demonstrate their capacity to succeed with:

• Membership Services
• Community Impact
• Financial Services Impact

Winner Recognition
The winner will be announced at the CUNA Community Credit Union Conference, October 8-11, 2008 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, San Diego, CA. The winner will receive the following:

• The prestigious Community Credit Union of the Year Award;
• A profile in Credit Union Magazine;
• Complimentary registration to the 2009 Community Credit Union Conference; and
• The opportunity to co-present the award to next year’s winner.

Entry Procedures
If your credit union deserves consideration for this prestigious award, please submit the entry form and payment form along with the required information no later than August 22, 2008.

Credit unions may enter in one of two asset sizes – below $250 million and $250 million and greater. There is a nominal fee for submitting your entry – for those credit unions below $250 million, the fee is $95; for credit unions above $250 million in assets the fee is $125.

All nominees must be from an affiliated credit union.

The announcement of the 2008 Community Credit Union of the Year will be made at the annual conference. Therefore, all nominees should plan to attend the conference on October 8-11, 2008.

Those interested in competing for this prestigious award must submit three (3) copies of their entry no later than August 22, 2008. Entries should be placed in 3-ring binders and must contain the following information:

1. Member Impact
   
   
   1. New Product Development: New products that were created specifically for the community or a segment of the community. Please include a summary of the background and research, number of members participating, and other impact.
   2. Real Estate Services Offered: Please list all real estate services offered to the community including the number of members participating in these programs.
   3. Business Services Offered: Please list all business related services (loans and deposits) offered to the community and include the number of members participating in these programs.
   4. Other Services Offered: This would include services like financial counseling, insurance planning, brokerage service, auto buying, etc.
2. Community Impact
   
   
   1. Business Plan: How is your credit union set up to serve everyone? Please provide supporting evidence of execution.
   2. Marketing Plan: How are you reaching everyone in your community? Please provide evidence demonstrating execution and results.
   3. Date of Community Charter: How long have you been a community charter? What community(ies) are included within your charter?
   4. Board of Directors Diversification: Majority of the Board must be from your defined community. Please include the names and date each board member began their service to the credit union. List all activities in the community where members of your Board of Directors participate.
   5. Community Involvement Practices: Employee involvement in local charities, civic organizations, contributions and employee hours contributed into your community. List awards the credit union has received from your local community involvement, economic development, and any other investments in your community.
   6. Serving the Underserved: What products, programs, or innovations were used to reach this market segment?
3. Financial Impact
   
   
   1. Strength and Soundness: Please provide the last three years financial statements.
   2. Growth Rates: Provide deposits, loans, and number of members. List deposit and loan growth by consumer, business, and real estate accounts (where applicable).
4. Additional Requirements
   
   
   1. Copy of the credit union’s last annual report
   2. A copy of the credit union’s organizational chart
   3. List of donations to the community by the credit union
   4. Copy of the past year’s marketing plan
   5. One color or b/w photo (not larger than 5 x 7), which may be used for publication in the event your credit union is the award winner. (Photographs will not be sent to the judges.)
   6. References

All entries become the property of Credit Union National Association and will not be returned.

If you have questions about completing your entry, please contact Cheryl Sorenson at 800-356-9655, ext. 4393 or via e-mail to csorenson@cuna.com.