Bannockburn, IL (April 3, 2026)— Great Lakes Credit Union (GLCU) is proud to announce that it was among 181 credit unions nationwide named as winners of the Diamond Awards, America’s Credit Unions Marketing, PR & Development Council’s annual competition recognizing excellence in credit union marketing.
GLCU received the following awards:
- Brand Storytelling & Purpose Video: Tahnikah’s Story
- Ongoing Event: Give Back
Tahnikah’s Story covers her journey to homeownership. Over the course of two years, she worked with a GLCU Foundation Housing Counselor to map out her journey to homeownership. The video chronicles the challenges Tahnikah faced along the way like rising expenses, inconsistent income, and family matters. Through it all, Tahnikah persevered, raised her credit score by more than 150 points, and became the owner of her very own 2-flat.
The Great Lakes Credit Union Give Back campaign started in 2023 as a replacement for its annual Toy Drive collection. Originally, the credit union asked its members to donate toys to people in need. During a toy pickup, a member asked how they could receive toys through the drive.
As a low-income designated credit union, it was then that GLCU realized that it needed to think about ways to give back to its members during the holidays. From November 10 through December 5, 2025, members could share what an extra $250 would mean to them during the holidays, which would enter them to win the $250 prize.
This year’s Diamond Awards competition drew a record 1,481 submissions, with 181 organizations from 42 states elected as winners. In total, 330 awards were distributed, reflecting the exceptional quality of work produced by credit unions nationwide.
“We are proud to recognize GLCU and this year’s Diamond Award winners for their entries that deliver both creativity and results,” said Lorrell Bellotti, Diamond Awards Co-chair and Chief Marketing Officer at Western Vista FCU in Cheyenne, Wyoming. “These entries demonstrate an understanding of the people we serve and strategic execution that delivers measurable impact.”
About GLCU
Founded in 1938 and headquartered in Northern Illinois, Great Lakes Credit Union is banking for a greater good. As a not-for-profit financial cooperative with more than $1.4 billion in assets, GLCU is proud to serve 110,000 members in Chicagoland and surrounding areas, and to give back to its members and communities through education, volunteerism, and partnerships. Learn more about GLCU’s accounts, educational initiatives, and community development programs at www.glcu.org.
About America’s Credit Unions
America’s Credit Unions is the unified voice for not-for-profit credit unions, representing more than 95% of the industry’s assets and their more than 145 million members nationwide. America’s Credit Unions provides strong advocacy, resources and services to advance, empower, and protect credit unions and the people and communities they serve. For more information about America’s Credit Unions, visit AmericasCreditUnions.org.
About Councils:
Councils is a member-led, collaborative community of credit union leaders providing vibrant peer interaction, new ideas and innovation to foster professional development while advocating for the overall success of the credit union movement. There are eight Councils with a network of more than 7,000 credit union professionals. For more information, visit americascreditunions.org/councils.