The CUNA Marketing & Business Development Council concluded its week-long virtual Diamond Awards Friday to honor excellence in credit union marketing and business development.

The group postponed its 2020 annual conference due to the coronavirus.

This year, 68 judges reviewed 1,295 entries to determine outstanding work in 35 categories.

One highlight from Friday was the Best of Show Award, which recognized Coast360 Federal Credit Union’s Youth Banking Program.

In August 2019, the Maite, Guam-based credit union launched Kids360 and Teen360 to introduce children and teenagers to banking and to improve their financial literacy. The programs provide hands-on experience, education, and relationship-building.

“Our youth banking program brings our product suite full circle, providing us the opportunity to serve our members through every step of life, from childhood to adulthood,” according to the award entry. “Our strategy focuses on building a partnership with parents. We need them to be an example and set aside time to use the tools we provide in this program and have family conversations about the importance of financial education and smart money habits.”

“It's an honor to bring recognition to some of the best-of-the-best in credit union marketing and business development,” says Amy McGraw, Diamond Awards chair and vice president of marketing/chief experience officer at Tropical Financial Credit Union, Miramar, Fla. “Thank you for joining us to celebrate the remarkable achievements of your peers and gather ideas to elevate our profession.”

The CUNA Marketing & Business Development Council presented Excellence and Recognition awards Tuesday, June 9. Recordings of the events will be available here.

Stay tuned for profiles of some Excellence Award winners.