Folsom, Calif. – (February 15, 2022) – The Credit Union National Association’s (CUNA) Credit Union Magazine has named SAFE Credit Union’s Community Impact Manager Amanda Merz as a nominee to receive its 2023 Credit Union Hero of the Year award.
Merz – a staunch advocate for improving the health and well-being of community members and veterans through SAFE’s philanthropic efforts – is one of only four credit union candidates in the country to be nominated.
SAFE Credit Union Community Impact Manager Amanda Merz
Votes to select the winner are now being accepted through Friday, March 17. The winning nominee will be announced in the publication’s spring edition and online.
The award is given each year to “unsung heroes going above and beyond to promote the credit union philosophy,” according to the article announcing this year’s award. Nominees were selected by the magazine’s readers.
“My goal every day is to connect people and projects with programs I am passionate about,” says Merz. “CUNA values the credit union cooperative principle to share profits with members through low interest rates and financial education, while demonstrating a genuine concern for communities. It is with that, that this is especially an honor to receive this recognition from my peers.”
Merz oversees the credit union’s overall philanthropic endeavors, including grants, scholarships, sponsorships, volunteerism, and donations, while fostering external and internal relationships key to actualizing positive and extensive corporate citizenship.
Of Merz, SAFE Credit Union Assistant Vice President Community Relations Rebecca Delmundo says her “dedication to the communities SAFE supports shines brightly.”
“Amanda just wants to make Sacramento better,” says Delmundo. “Whether it’s through the programs that she manages or through volunteerism, she shows up and she makes an impact every time.”
SAFE Credit Union Assistant Vice President Community Relations Rebecca Delmundo
In their article about Merz’s nomination, the organization highlights her deep ties to the Sacramento region’s nonprofit community and her willingness to dive into a project no matter the need.
In her role, Merz has grown SAFE’s Community Sustainability Grant Program to include more recipients and its scholarships program by doubling its awards to high school seniors from $1,000 to $2,000.
Merz began working with SAFE in 2014 as a financial education coordinator and quickly rose through the ranks to her current role in 2016.
Joining Merz as this year’s nominees are Michael Ray, Tahoe PAHO/WHO Federal Credit Union vice president of Development in Washington D.C.; Amanda Swan, Numerica Credit Union vice president of Community Engagement in Spokane, Wash.; Joanne Todd, Northeast Family Federal Credit Union president and CEO in Manchester, Conn.
Listen to the Credit Union Times’ interview with Merz on CUNA’s podcast.
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 $4.5 billion in assets and about 247,000 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 services 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