Four credit unions members of the League of Southeastern Credit Unions recently won national awards from the Credit Union National Association, honoring the ways they help people afford life each day.

VyStar Credit Union, based in Jacksonville, Fla., won the first place Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award among credit unions with more than $1 billion in assets.

The Desjardins Youth award recognizes credit unions that display excellent leadership in financial literacy initiatives targeted toward children and teens. VyStar won this prestigious award with its High School Branch program, a unique network of real credit union branches run entirely by high school students.

The program includes 16 high school branches with approximately $3.82 million in deposits and more than 6,800 members – but member and deposit growth aren’t the point, according to VyStar’s application for the award.

 “Through these programs, we are helping students with one of life’s most formidable concepts – money,” according to the award application. “Students running these branches develop and benefit from the skills needed to enter the professional arena right out of high school. Many are able to secure part-time and/or full-time employment after graduation and while attending college.”

The credit union itself has even employed several students who have participated in the High School Branch program.

“Our program was designed with three clear objectives in mind: financial education, leadership development and community services,” said Michael Rathjen, vice president of VyStar’s High School Program. “The goal is to equip our youth with the financial and leadership skills they need to avoid financial hardship later in life.”

Another LSCU affiliated credit union – Delta Community Credit Union, based in Atlanta, Ga. – took the second place Desjardins Youth award in the more than $1 billion in assets category with its collection of constantly evolving programs aimed at youth education.

Those programs include Cool Cash Camps, a camp teaching financial literacy. Last year, the program expanded its focus from elementary students to both elementary- and middle-school students. In 2018, Delta Community also incorporated financial literacy into its scholarship program and expanded its community partnerships to reach a broader student base.

Associated Credit Union, based in Norcross, Ga., won the second place Louise Herring Philosophy in Action Award among credit unions with more than $1 billion in assets.

The Louise Herring awards honor credit unions that are making exceptional efforts to include the credit union philosophy into daily operations. Associated placed second with an innovative take on auto loans.

The credit union’s Rate Reward Auto Loan Program offers applicants with a credit score below 670 the opportunity to lower their interest rate by 3%, if the make on-time consecutive payments over the course of 36 months. The program has been helping members improve their footing by their risk of overdrafts and unpaid bills.