American Eagle Financial Credit Union won two awards at APEX 2023—the Credit Union League of Connecticut’s (CULCT) annual conference, showcasing two of its signature community-focused programs. The awards cap off another successful year of giving back to the community for American Eagle, which has dedicated itself to being a community-driven credit union serving more than 180,000 members in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

AEFCU was recognized by its fellow Connecticut credit unions in the following categories:

The 2023 Louise Herring Philosophy-In-Action Award

The Herring Award represents “people helping people,” and those credit unions that help improve the quality of life for members, their families and the communities where they live, work and worship. That is exactly what American Eagle’s Simple Checking product is all about. It is an account designed without minimum balances or high transaction fees to be an entry-level way for people to establish a banking relationship to help build their credit rating and avoid “fringe” alternative financial services such as check cashers and payday lenders.

“American Eagle is one of 56 of the nation’s almost 4,800 credit unions to offer this product, which carries the national “Bank On” program certification,” said President and CEO Howard Brady. “We are very proud that this program was recognized for the Louise Herring Award, as it represents putting our philosophy into action.”

 

The 2023 Dora Maxwell Award

The Maxwell Award recognizes credit unions that have excelled in community relations and are committed to ongoing charitable programs within their communities. American Eagle designed its “Cash Back to the Community” program to be collaborative and to put member-generated philanthropy into action in the communities they serve.

“Once each quarter, Cash Back to the Community devotes one percent of our credit and debit card interchange income—generated each time our members use an American Eagle credit or debit card—to three nonprofit organizations in our service area that are nominated and selected by a combination of our members and the public, Brady explained. “This member-generated, community-driven giving program has allowed us to double the amount of funds we’re giving back to help make the places our members and employees live, work and learn a better place. Since 2020, Cash Back to the Community has generated $325,000 for local nonprofit organizations.

American Eagle Financial Credit Union leadership accepting two awards at the Annual APEX Event hosted by the Credit Union League of Connecticut and the Cooperative Credit Union Association. The two Awards presented to American Eagle Financial Credit Union were the Louise Herring Philosophy-In-Action Award and the Dora Maxwell Award for outstanding community contribution.

Pictured left to right: Howard Brady, President & CEO, Teresa Knox, EVP, Chief Operating Officer and Brian Kennedy, EVP, Chief Strategy and Revenue Officer