GoWest Credit Union Association Announces MAXX Awards Finalists

GoWest Credit Union Association has announced the finalists for the 2026 MAXX Awards, recognizing credit unions that drive change, support communities, and elevate the Credit Union Movement. The awards celebrate credit unions for their inspired cooperation, community impact, member impact, workplace culture, and outstanding storytelling.

The finalists were selected by a 45-member panel of credit union leaders from across the six-state region GoWest serves.

In the Community Impact category, three credit unions stand out: - SELCO Community Credit Union (Oregon) for its "SELCO Steps Up" program, which reinvested $450,000 into Oregon communities in its first year. More than 25 employee Ambassadors across the state identify local needs, build partnerships, and help activate support in real time. - TAPCO Credit Union (Washington) for its Biz Kid$ Experience at Hilltop Heritage, where the credit union partnered with Biz Kid$ and Tacoma Public Schools to bring financial education to 95 students. Students explored goal setting, earning, saving, and long-term financial decision-making through classroom discussions and visits to six local businesses. The credit union provided up to $9,500 in grants to fund $100 initial deposits, ultimately opening accounts for 36 students and eight parents. - WECU (Washington) for its "Flood Relief Assistance Program," established when a devastating flood impacted 78,000 residents of Whatcom County. The credit union deferred loan payments and helped members explore mortgage forbearance and other options, granting low-interest rate loans to impacted local businesses. WECU employees were given paid time off to volunteer to clean up flood-damaged homes.

The Cooperation in Action category honors credit unions that collaborate to create a bigger impact: - Arizona Credit Union Week (Arizona) for a collaboration of 18 credit unions that performed special services, including supporting local retailers, cleaning up school grounds, preparing emergency food boxes, and donations to nonprofits. - Forrit Credit Union and Point West Credit Union (Oregon) for working together to host Bite of Reality Fairs at several Portland, Ore., schools. The teams volunteered more than 200 hours and helped nearly 300 students get hands-on, real-life budgeting experience. - Tucson Welcome Home (Arizona) for a collaboration by five Tucson, Ariz., credit unions and the GoWest Foundation to address housing affordability. The program offers 100% financing, no private mortgage insurance, no origination or application fees, and competitive fixed-rate interest rates. Already, 76 loans have been approved, and hundreds more are being processed.

In the Employee Experience category, credit unions are recognized for intentionally building a thriving workplace culture: - iQ Credit Union (Washington) for its work to develop the next generation of credit union professionals. The credit union's network of eight high school branches offers students the opportunity to conduct transactions and learn what it's like to work in a credit union. Nearly 160 students participate annually across the campus branches, gaining real-world experience in financial services before progressing to paid internships. - On Tap Credit Union (Colorado) for its "Policies and Brew-cedures" program, which provides new employees with personalized gift baskets and ongoing opportunities to connect with each other and leadership. The experience grounds employees in On Tap's "K.E.G. of Excellence" culture, defined by being kind, engaged, and genuine. More than 90% of the credit union's employees have engaged in the program, resulting in a thriving workplace culture and high touch member services. On Tap's process net promoter score (NPS) has increased by more than 10% as a result. - Seattle Credit Union (Washington) for its "Fixed Term Assignment" program, which focuses on hiring, onboarding, and developing talent. The program gives employees opportunities to take on three- to six-month stretch assignments while retaining their original positions. This provides hands-on development and career exploration while meeting temporary staffing needs without relying on external hires. In the last two years, their employee net promoter score (eNPS) grew from +4 to +27, and turnover decreased by 30%.

The Member Impact category celebrates credit unions that have demonstrated exceptional, measurable member impact: - Minnequa Works Credit Union (Colorado) for its "Fueling Futures" grant program, which gives small businesses and organizations across Southern Colorado early access to capital and a credit union partner who believes in them. The program awarded $45,000 in grants to 20 local businesses and organizations over the past two years, with an additional $30,000 being awarded in 2026. - Rivermark Community Credit Union (Oregon) for its Financial Wellness Capability Partners network, which recognizes that 42% of Oregon households are struggling to make ends meet. The network helps members better manage more than $800,000 in debt from January to April 2026, and in 2025, 800 people started investing. - Verity Credit Union (Washington) for hosting Community Cares events last November to help members and nonmembers navigate the financial impact of a government shutdown and reductions in federal benefits. Two hundred families participated, receiving $250 gift cards, financial check-ins, and connections to other helpful community resources.

The Storytelling With Purpose category honors credit unions for demonstrating leadership in storytelling and media engagement that raises awareness about the Credit Union Difference and highlights the distinct value of the cooperative model: - P1FCU (Idaho) for its "Making Sense of Money