Connecticut’s Credit Unions Announces 2026 Momentum Award Winners
Newly revamped awards program celebrates leadership, innovation, community impact and the people moving Connecticut’s credit union movement forward
Connecticut’s Credit Unions proudly celebrated the recipients of the 2026 Momentum Awards, recognizing outstanding credit unions, professionals, volunteers and initiatives making a difference for members and communities across the state.
Introduced alongside the organization’s rebrand to Connecticut’s Credit Unions, the revamped Momentum Awards expand upon the organization’s longstanding recognition program with new award categories designed to reflect the many ways credit unions create impact today.
From decades of volunteer service and organizational leadership to innovative marketing, community engagement and life-changing member outcomes, this year’s recipients demonstrate the strength and diversity of Connecticut’s credit union movement.
Years of Service Recognition
Connecticut’s Credit Unions recognized Andrew Klimkoski of Achieve Financial Credit Union and Annette Janovic of Alloya Corporate Federal Credit Union for their service and commitment to the organizations supporting Connecticut credit unions.
Klimkoski has provided leadership across the boards of Connecticut’s Credit Unions, cuVoyant and Credit Unions Building Financial Independence, helping guide the organizations through leadership transitions, rebrands and periods of significant change.
Janovic was recognized for her service to the Board of Credit Unions Building Financial Independence and for her longstanding support of credit unions and the cooperative movement.
Connecticut’s Credit Unions thanks both leaders for their dedication and looks forward to continuing to work alongside them in new ways.
Credit Union Anniversary Recognition
Six Connecticut credit unions were also recognized for significant organizational milestones in 2026.
Waypoint Credit Union and Tobacco Valley Federal Credit Union celebrated their 90th anniversaries; Connecticut State Employees Credit Union marked 80 years; UBI Federal Credit Union celebrated 75 years; Hartford Federal Credit Union marked its 65th anniversary; and America’s First Network Credit Union celebrated 50 years.
These milestones reflect generations of commitment to members, strong organizational leadership and an enduring belief in the cooperative model.
Marketing Excellence Awards
The Momentum Awards also introduced a revamped Marketing Excellence Awards program for 2026, reflecting the changing ways credit unions build their brands, reach consumers, engage communities and create measurable business results.
Growth & Acquisition Marketing
First Place: Dutch Point Credit Union — The Great Gas Giveaway
Dutch Point built its July auto lending campaign around America’s 250th birthday, combining a competitive auto loan offer with a $250 gas-card giveaway, digital advertising, branch experiences, social media and employee engagement.
The campaign helped drive a 31.2% increase in vehicle loan applications over the prior month, a 34.7% increase in approvals and approximately $2.7 million in funded vehicle loans — nearly 29% more than the month before.
Honorable Mention: Riverbank Federal Credit Union — Level Up Club
Riverbank’s youth savings program makes building positive financial habits fun. Young members earn punches on their Level Up card for qualifying deposits and progress through multiple levels while receiving rewards along the way.
Brand, Awareness & Storytelling
First Place: Dutch Point Credit Union — More Than a Media Buy
Rather than treating television, radio and digital partnerships as simple advertising placements, Dutch Point built a broader public voice around financial confidence and education. Its strategy included recurring financial conversations on WFSB, partnerships with KISS 95.7, FOX61, WTIC and FOX Sports 97-9, along with a statewide “Thank a Teacher” partnership with iHeartRadio.
The common thread was simple: adapt the message to the audience while remaining useful, human and unmistakably Dutch Point.
Honorable Mention: American Eagle Financial Credit Union — Bringing Financial Education to Life
American Eagle partnered with ReadyCT and Pathways Academy of Technology and Design to challenge high school students to create social media content around financial well-being. Student-created content generated more than 56,000 views and reached more than 14,000 unique accounts, while giving participating students hands-on experience in content creation, branding and financial education.
Community Impact & Cooperative Values
First Place: Connex Credit Union — Building Pathways to Financial Opportunity
Connex’s “From Outreach to Impact” strategy connects community partnerships, financial education, banking access, homeownership and volunteerism into one coordinated approach.
The effort is supported by measurable results, including more than 1,000 employee volunteer hours, more than $172,000 in charitable donations, 118 families assisted with homeownership and more than 4,450 community members participating in free financial education.
Honorable Mention: Ellafi Federal Credit Union — Ellafi Kind
Through its Ellafi Kind charitable initiative, Ellafi has extended its cooperative mission through financial education for young girls, housing support and programs helping survivors of domestic violence build financial stability.
In its first year, Ellafi Kind awarded $5,000 to 10 nonprofits, reached more than 120 young girls through its Girls Inc. partnership and developed a 1:1 matched savings program for domestic violence survivors.
Digital Experience & Innovation
First Place: American Eagle Financial Credit Union — Digital Branch Built Around the Member
American Eagle transformed its website into a true digital branch designed around the evolving needs of its more than 165,000 members. The new experience features simplified navigation, personalized content, integrated financial education, accessibility enhancements and expanded self-service capabilities.
Since launch, average session duration increased 27.8%, clicks to open an account increased 28.6% and loan application clicks increased 6.4%. Vehicle loan applications increased 107% in the month following launch.
Honorable Mention: Mutual Security Credit Union — From Click to Funded
Mutual Security was recognized for developing a measurable digital growth engine that connects search, its website, social media and digital campaigns with real business outcomes. During the first four months of 2026 alone, the credit union attributed more than $472,000 in funded consumer loans to marketing channels.
Wild Card
First Place: Connex Credit Union — Short-Form Content Engine
Connex transformed its social media approach by building an in-house short-form video operation designed specifically for platforms such as Instagram Reels and TikTok.
More than 30 employees participated in content creation, helping the credit union produce more than 60 videos in 10 months. The result included nearly 164,000 short-form video views, a 92.5% increase in Instagram reach and approximately 106% Instagram follower growth.
Honorable Mention: Mutual Security Credit Union — Fin the Finance Pup
Mutual Security introduced Fin the Finance Pup as a financial wellness ambassador designed to make financial education more approachable for children and families.
Fin now appears at community events, financial education programs and online through “FIT Fridays with Fin,” giving Mutual Security an engaging and recognizable way to introduce families to financial wellness. As the credit union summarized it: children meet Fin, parents meet MSCU, and communities remember both.
Charitable Champion Award
Meg Martellotta, Chief Growth Officer, Waypoint Credit Union
Meg Martellotta was named the 2026 Charitable Champion for making community service an integral part of her leadership.
Martellotta has brought financial education to hundreds of students through workshops and Financial Reality Fairs, supported backpack drives providing school supplies to children throughout Eastern Connecticut and contributed her time and leadership to Connecticut’s Credit Unions, cuVoyant and Credit Unions Building Financial Independence.
Her service extends beyond the credit union movement through leadership roles with UCFS Healthcare and the Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce.
Credit Union Volunteer Leadership Award
James Finch, Board Treasurer, Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union
For more than 30 years, James “Jim” Finch has demonstrated the financial stewardship, governance and servant leadership at the heart of the cooperative model.
His credit union service began with Wepawaug Flagg Federal Credit Union and continued through mergers with CrossPoint Federal Credit Union and ultimately Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union. Along the way, he has served as Treasurer, Vice Chairman and Chairman, providing continuity and perspective through periods of significant organizational change.
Finch’s leadership is also informed by nearly 28 years as Finance Director for the Town of Branford and a career built around collaboration, long-term thinking and responsible financial stewardship.
Emerging Credit Union Leader Award
LeAndre “Lee” Dupree, Assistant Vice President of Community Development, Connex Credit Union
LeAndre Dupree entered the credit union movement in 2022 following a career in human services, bringing with him a philosophy of meeting people where they are, understanding barriers and connecting individuals with the resources they need to move forward.
In just over four years, Dupree has earned both his FiCEP and CUDE credentials and helped shape a comprehensive community development strategy at Connex encompassing community lending, financial literacy, partnerships and employee volunteerism.
Under that work, Connex has funded more than $15 million in Community Development Loans, expanded financial education to thousands of individuals annually and grown its Community Network to more than 45 partner organizations.
Outstanding Credit Union Executive Award
Charlyn Tanner, President and CEO, Dutch Point Credit Union
Charlyn Tanner received the 2026 Outstanding Credit Union Executive Award for leadership that has strengthened Dutch Point Credit Union while preparing the organization for its next chapter.
Under Tanner’s leadership, Dutch Point has invested significantly in its physical and digital member experience, including a new flagship Wethersfield branch, 24/7 Express Banking Hubs, expanded digital capabilities and plans for continued growth.
Her leadership has also emphasized employee development, collaboration and culture, while expanding Dutch Point’s community partnerships, financial education efforts and visibility throughout Connecticut.
Tanner’s impact reflects a belief that sustainable growth requires more than financial strength — it requires strong people, meaningful community relationships and the confidence to evolve without losing sight of the cooperative purpose.
Member Impact Award
Mutual Security Credit Union and member Brandon
The new Member Impact Award was created to recognize perhaps the most important measure of credit union success: a meaningful improvement in a member’s financial life.
Its inaugural recipients, Mutual Security Credit Union and member Brandon, demonstrate exactly what that can look like.
Brandon originally came to Mutual Security carrying an auto loan with a 24% interest rate. Instead of viewing his credit challenges as the end of the conversation, the credit union helped him develop a path forward through its Financial Independence Training Program.
After approximately six months of education and guidance, Mutual Security was able to refinance his vehicle, saving his family several hundred dollars each month. Brandon then followed the credit union’s recommendation to redirect those savings automatically into a savings account.
Those savings eventually became the down payment on his family’s first home, with Mutual Security providing the mortgage.
And Brandon’s story has continued.
Most recently, Mutual Security provided his family with a small-business loan, helping them take another major step forward as entrepreneurs. Today, Brandon and his family operate Cousins Cafe & Deli in Wallingford.
From a 24% auto loan, to financial education, to savings, to first-time homeownership and now business ownership, Brandon’s journey captures the purpose behind the Member Impact Award — and the lasting power of a credit union relationship.
Celebrating Connecticut’s Credit Union Momentum
The 2026 Momentum Award recipients represent organizations of different sizes, professionals at different stages of their careers and initiatives addressing very different needs.
What connects them is progress.
They are helping members build better financial lives, developing the next generation of leaders, strengthening communities, modernizing the member experience, finding new ways to tell the credit union story and demonstrating every day why the cooperative model continues to matter.
Congratulations to all of the 2026 Connecticut’s Credit Unions Momentum Award recipients.