Scott Credit Union Recognized for Social Responsibility
February 4, 2015
Scott Credit Union has garnered awards in two categories of the Illinois Credit Union Leagues annual state-wide awards competition.�
The local credit union won the top prize in a category focused on social responsibility and garnered an honorable mention for youth financial education.
�
Scott Credit Union won the first place award in the $500 million to $1 billion asset categories for its effort to raise $86,000 as the host and presenting sponsor for the ACS Mardi Gras Ball fund raiser event held at Lewis and Clark in Godfrey in March of 2014.
�
The annual Mardi Gras Ball event featured an elegant dinner, live and silent auctions, and entertainment.
�
"We were extremely proud and honored to have been asked to help support this event," said SCU Community Relations Supervisor Jennifer Hess. "Its exciting for us to get this award and the recognition for this effort with the American Cancer Society."
�
"Our team of employees at Scott Credit Union is incredible," Hess added. "About 60 of our employees worked really hard to make this event successful. We are honored to receive this state-wide award to recognize all of that hard work."
�
Scott Credit Union also received an honorable mention award for its partnership with the Edwardsville Childrens Museum to create a financial institution exhibit to help teach children about money.
�
The exhibit, which looks like a Scott Credit Union location, features an interactive story that asks children to choose what to do with the money that SCU mascot Scotty the Dog made at a doggy treat back sale. They can choose to spend, share or save the money.
�
The exhibit also features a coin identification activity, an ATM with play money, checks and a checkbook ledger, a vault where children can deposit money, and an iPad with financial education activities.
�
"We are very proud of the work we have done to give back to the community at the childrens museum. One of our goals is to provide financial education and this project was the perfect way to do that," Hess said. "It is nice to be recognized with the awards, but the real happiness comes with knowing that we are able to help people. These awards really showcase our dedication to that effort."
�
Representatives from Scott Credit Union will be recognized at the keynote and awards program during the Credit Union Leagues Annual Convention this spring in Schaumburg, Ill.
�
Scott Credit Union has made giving back to its communities a major priority. The local credit union contributed more than $330,000 and its employees volunteered more than 2,700 hours to a variety of local civic efforts throughout the region in 2014.
�
The credit union has contributed approximately $1.4 million and its employees have volunteered nearly 13,000 hours to a variety of local civic efforts and financial education throughout the region in past six years.
�
"We realize that without our members and the communities in which we serve, we would not exist as a financial alternative," Hess said. "That is why it is so important for us to give back and support the communities in which we have locations."
�
The credit union has increased its community involvement in the past few years while also increasing its efforts to educate consumers of the value of doing their financial business with a not-for-profit credit union.
�
"Conducting financial business with a credit union saves the consumer real money," Hess added. "Many credit unions, like Scott Credit Union, offer similar products and services to what the conventional financial institutions have, but we do so with our members best interest in mind. Plus, we really care about the community and we are committed to supporting local efforts through contributions and volunteerism."
�
Scott Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative that is member owned. The credit union gave about $1.8 million back to members at the end of 2014 through a bonus dividend and loan interest rebate.
�
Scott Credit Union is open to anyone who lives or works in a 17 county area, including Madison, St. Clair, Monroe, Randolph, Perry, Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Clinton, Marion, Bond, Macoupin, Montgomery, Fayette, Effingham, Williamson, and Jackson counties. Anyone who lives or works in St. Louis County, Missouri also can open accounts at SCU. Additionally, anyone active or retired military also can have accounts with Scott Credit Union.
�
Scott Credit Union currently has 15 area locations: Scott Air Force Base, East Belleville, Fairview Heights, Collinsville, OFallon, Edwardsville, Waterloo, Highland, Caseyville, West Belleville, Millstadt, Mascoutah, Troy, Wood River and its Home Office in Edwardsville.
�
For details on opening accounts at Scott Credit Union, visit www.scu.org, call 1-800-888-4728, or stop by any of the credit unions branches.
�
PHOTO CAPTION SCU WINS STATE AWARDS - Scott Credit Union garnered awards in two categories of the Illinois Credit Union Leagues annual state-wide awards competition. The local credit union won the top prize in a category focused on social responsibility and garnered an honorable mention for youth financial education. Scott Credit Union won the first place award for its effort to raise $86,000 as the host and presenting sponsor for the ACS Mardi Gras Ball fund raiser. Pat Voss, left, of the Illinois Credit Union System, recently presented the awards to Scott Credit Unions Chief Marketing Officer Adam Koishor.
�