1st University Credit Union Receives “People Helping People” Award from Finopotamus
WACO, Texas, June 24, 2025 — 1st University Credit Union is proud to announce it has received the People Helping People award from Finopotamus, a national publication covering technology innovation in the credit union industry. The honor is part of Finopotamus’ 2025 Tekkie Awards, recognizing credit unions that use technology in impactful, people-centered ways.
The “People Helping People” award celebrates initiatives that go beyond financial services to address real-world challenges. For 1st University, that meant helping members navigate the often-overwhelming process of finding and applying for government assistance programs — a need that became increasingly evident as the credit union deepened its support for low- and moderate-income communities.
“We kept hearing from members that it was hard to know what help was out there, and even harder to figure out if they qualified,” said Shelley Carlson, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Relationship Management at 1st University Credit Union. “We realized this was more than a convenience issue, it was a barrier to financial wellness.”
To address this need, the credit union partnered with Starlight, a free and private online tool that screens for eligibility across hundreds of assistance programs — federal, state, and local — in just minutes. Members can access it directly through the credit union’s website, with no tracking or data collection.
“Financial wellness isn’t just about budgeting or saving. Sometimes, it’s about reducing expenses by accessing support systems that already exist,” Carlson added. “This partnership allowed us to do just that without invading member privacy.”
Starlight joins a suite of supportive tools offered by 1st University, including GreenPath financial counseling and debt management, and Dollar For, which helps members negotiate and eliminate hospital bills.
The initiative also aligns with the credit union’s goal to become CDFI certified and its field-of-membership expansion into three Texas counties where rural communities face heightened barriers to financial resources: McLennan, Erath, and Bosque.
“This award is especially meaningful to us as a smaller credit union,” said Kevin Hood, CEO and President at 1st University Credit Union. “It validates our belief that you don’t need a massive budget or a big-city footprint to make a real difference. You just need to listen, care, and act.”
The People Helping People award is one of several categories in the Finopotamus Tekkie Awards, which drew a 35% increase in nominations this year. Winners are being featured on Finopotamus.com from June 24–27, 2025.
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About Finopotamus
Finopotamus is an online publication created by industry veterans W.B. King, John San Filippo, and Roy Urrico to bring credit unions technology news and original content not found elsewhere. The publication looks at technology best practices across multiple industries to bring credit unions the broadest range of relevant information. The publication's tagline is Fintech News for Hungry CUs. Visit Finopotamus at www.finopotamus.com.