MSUFCU Wins Alphonse Desjardins Financial Education Awards
October 6, 2017
EAST LANSING, Mich. – MSU Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU) believes that financial education and access to resources are two tools necessary for achieving life security and dreams. Providing financial education is part of our core purpose, and we are proud to be recognized by the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) and Michigan Credit Union League (MCUL) as first-place winners of the Desjardins Adult and Youth Financial Education Awards for $1 Billion in assets and over category. Though individuals may use money management skills every day, they do not always have an understanding of overall financial concepts or how to improve their financial standings. Because of this need, MSUFCU increased its number of seminars and events for youth and adults and engaged in various community partnerships to deliver these resources to all age groups regardless of financial standing. Through interactive programs like in-school credit unions and our new Financial Reality fair, youth and adults in our community learn financial concepts and apply what they have learned through real life examples.
“Educating our members and those in the community empowers those individuals to achieve financial self-sufficiency, stability, and happiness,” said Whitney Anderson-Harrell, MSUFCU’s Chief Community Development Officer. “The goal of our financial education program is to actively engage the community, no matter what age, in discussions about their finances and making responsible financial decisions, building stronger individuals, communities, and economies.” As a state-level CUNA Award winner, MSUFCU will go on to compete against other state league winners for a CUNA National Award. CUNA National Award winners will be announced at the CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference in February 2018.
“Part of the credit union social mission is to give back to people and communities in imaginative and generous ways,” said MCUL CEO Dave Adams. “Yet, after all these years, it still never fails to amaze just how much imagination and generosity comes out of our member credit unions. We’re very proud of Michigan’s award-winners and wish them luck in the national competition.”
MSUFCU has a national reputation for excellence and has received several top industry and workplace awards. In 2016, the Credit Union was named the #1 Top Workplace in the large employer category by the Detroit Free Press and one of Fortune magazine’s 50 Best Workplaces for New College Grads as well as ranked fifth in the nation for its financial education program by the National Youth Involvement Board. MSUFCU also was named one of West Michigan’s 101 Best and Brightest companies to Work For, receiving the Michigan Business Professional Association’s top Elite Overall – Best of the Best award. This year, MSUFCU was named Outstanding Credit Union of the Year by the Michigan Credit Union League. Founded in 1937 by MSU faculty and staff, MSUFCU has 18 branches, nearly 250,000 members, more than $3.7 billion in assets, and over 800 employees.