FOLSOM, Calif. – (April 16, 2021) – SAFE Credit Union received two prestigious awards in a credit union industry competition for its financial education video series and pandemic response.
The Marketing and Business Development Council of CUNA Councils awarded SAFE this week the Category Best award for a series of financial education videos and a Diamond Award in the Crisis Management category.
“These awards reflect on the high quality of talent of our employees and exceptional service that we provide to our members at SAFE,” says SAFE Credit Union Vice President of Marketing and Communications Amber DiBernardo. “SAFE truly puts our members first, and it’s such a good feeling to know our efforts are recognized by our peers.”
The annual Diamond Awards by the Credit Union National Association showcase the best marketing and business development efforts of credit unions across the nation. This year, SAFE received a Category Best – equivalent to a first-place award – for its quirky financial video series created by and starring SAFE Financial Educators Jason Fonseca and Gina Richardson, and Senior UI Designer Steve Joves. The team wrote, acted, shot, and edited the short videos that provided useful financial tips with ties to SAFE products and services.
“We’re so excited that our hard work was recognized by CUNA,” says Fonseca. “We had a fun time making these videos, and our members loved them. We all needed a boost in 2020, and I’m glad our team was able to bring a smile to our members.”
New to the CUNA awards this year was the Crisis Management category to recognize the services credit unions provided to their members in response to the pandemic. In early 2020, SAFE quickly pivoted to provide emergency financial services to its members, including loan forbearance and payment deferrals; no- and low-interest loans; free financial education webinars; expanded appointment services; and enhanced digital banking services. SAFE also helped the community by partnering with local stakeholders to promote a shop-local campaign to support small businesses and providing $60,000 in emergency grants to support nonprofits who saw increased need during the pandemic.
“These awards are a testament to all those at SAFE who serve to increase our members’ financial well-being and help our community thrive,” DiBernardo said.
For more information on SAFE’s Diamond Awards, contact Micah Grant, AVP of communications/public relations, at (323) 868-9067 or at [email protected].
About SAFE
SAFE Credit Union has made members an integral part of its vision since 1940. Over the years the credit union has kept the focus on what really matters, putting members first, a formula that has seen SAFE grow into a leading financial institution in Northern California with $4 billion in assets and about 240,000 members. SAFE crafts every cutting-edge product and sterling service with members’ needs foremost in mind. In addition to banking services conveniently available through online, chat, mobile, or phone options, SAFE offers in-person care for members and small businesses at service centers across the Greater Sacramento region. SAFE is a not-for-profit, state-chartered credit union with membership open to businesses and individuals living or working in Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, El Dorado, Sutter, Butte, Nevada, Solano, San Joaquin, Contra Costa, Yuba, Amador, and Alameda counties. Insured by NCUA. www.safecu.org