Credit unions make a positive social impact in their communities and several Georgia credit unions were recently recognized nationally for their efforts.

Two Georgia credit unions earned first-place awards on the national level. Associated Credit Union earned first place in Credit Union National Association's national competition for the Louise Herring Award for credit unions in the $1 Billion+ asset category with its Rate Reward credit-building loan program. DOCO Credit Union also placed first nationally for its submission in the Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award, in the $250 million - $1 billion asset category.
 
The credit unions first won in the annual statewide awards program conducted by Georgia Credit Union Affiliates.  Georgia credit unions submitted entries to four separate categories in the statewide competition, the Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award Program, the Louise Herring Philosophy-in-Action Member Service Award, the Desjardins Youth Financial Education and the Desjardins Adult Financial Education Awards. The winning submissions were then entered in the national awards program administered by CUNA.
 
"Our Rate Reward Auto Loan was born from the Great Recession and is based on a simple desire to find a way to serve all of our members," said Lin Hodges, president of ACU. "Many of our members were negatively affected by circumstances largely out of their control. This product helped those members gain back some control, and in doing so, literally helped change their lives."
 
DOCO Credit Union, which is a repeat winner at the state level for its financial literacy efforts, won its first national recognition in the Desjardins Financial Education Award category.
 
"DOCO Credit Union is humbled to receive this special award," Director of Marketing Becky Belcher said. "We believe in the importance of youth financial literacy. It is the foundation for building a successful future for one's financial life."
 
Additionally, Georgia United Credit Union earned an Honorable Mention for its School Crashers program in the $1 billion+ asset category for the Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Award. The School Crashers program offers local schools the opportunity to apply for a facility makeover. Last year, Georgia United earned first place in CUNA's national competition for the program. Southeastern Credit Union also earned an Honorable Mention for the Dora Maxwell Award in the $50 - $250 million asset category for its Fill-a-Truck-for-Hunger food drive. The Fill-a-Truck-for-Hunger program challenges the community to fill a tractor-trailer with food. Southeastern matches the donations in an effort to raise awareness about the issue of hunger. The credit union then gives the donations to local food banks.