Awards

Alternatives Federal Credit Union is proud of the many awards we've received locally and nationally in recognition of our achievements.

2008
Alternatives was able to upgrade the Alternatives VISA Debit Card software in 2008.  This purchase has been made possible, in part, by a grant from the New York Credit Union Foundation.

2007
Hall of Fame Award and Pinnacle Award, New York State Credit Union League
Awarded to Bill Myers, CEO. Pinnacle Marketing Awards recognize outstanding marketing efforts by credit unions across the state during the past year.

Corinne Galvin Award, Tompkins County Human Rights Association
Awarded to Alternatives CEO Bill Myers, “for an individual’s work on a human rights issue.”

Community Service Award, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority

2006
Golden Mirror, CU Executives Society
For Alternatives' annual report.

Diamond Award, CUNA
First Place and Best Use of Art for annual report.

CU Lender of the Year, SBA Southern Tier Region

Best Bank in Ithaca, Ithaca Times
Readers' Annual Vote

Dora Maxwell Award, NYS Credit Union League
For the Living Wage Study.

Pinnacle Marketing Award, NYS Credit Union League
Best in Show for Annual Report.

Top Federal Credit Union Lender in the Southern Tier, SBA Awards

ELLY Award of Merit winner, CUNA Center for Professional Development
For the Credit Path Seminar.

Serving the Underserved Scholarship to NYIB

Volunteer of the Year Award, Education Credit Union Development Educators
Awarded to Bill Myers, CEO

2005
Credit Union National Association Diamond Award
First Place-National Level, for exceptional creativity, design and content for 2003 Annual Report

Dora Maxwell Award
First Place-New York State, for Social Responsibility for the West End Mural

 

2004
Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award
First Place, for The Student Credit Union, in recognition of its leadership in youth financial education, given by the New York State Credit Union League & Affiliates.

Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award
First Place - National Level, for The Student Credit Union, in recognition of its leadership in youth financial education, given by the Credit Union National Association.

Louise Herring Award for Philosophy in Action
First Place, for the Alternatives Credit Path®, awarded by the New York State Credit Union League.

Louise Herring Award for Philosophy in Action
Second Place - National Level, for the Alternatives Credit Path®, awarded by the Credit Union National Association.

Recognition from the Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service
for Alternatives Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA), for outstanding effort, dedication and contribution in building stronger communities.

Wachovia Community Development Financial Institution Award of Excellence
to Alternatives, for excellent in innovation, given by the National Community Capital Association.

Annie Vamper Helping Hands Award
Received by Bill Myers, CEO. The highest recognition given by the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions for his deep commitment to the DCDU movement throughout his professional career, promoting the ideals of cooperation and voluntary service both domestically and internationally.

Pride of Ownership Award
to Alternatives for the Mural of the West End circa 1900, given by the City of Ithaca and the Ithaca Rotary Club.

2003
Dora Maxell Award for Excellence in Community Involvement
First Place, for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, from the New York State Credit Union League.

Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award
First Place, for The Student Credit Union, in recognition of its leadership in youth financial education, given by the New York State Credit Union League.

Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award
Honorable Mention - National Level, for The Student Credit Union, in recognition of its leadership in youth financial education, given by the Credit Union National Association.

The Ithaca Times Best of Ithaca Award
for “Best Bank to do Business At.”

Educator of the Year Award
Received by Bill Myers, CEO for contributing significantly to the New York State Credit Union Foundation’s goal of educating consumers and credit union staff, given by New York State Credit Union League.

New York State Credit Union League Award
Received by Bill Myers, CEO, for 25 years service, in recognition of outstanding service and dedication to the credit union mission.

2002
Pride of Ownership Award
for Alternatives’ new building, presented by the City of Ithaca and Ithaca Rotary Club.

2001
The Diamond Award for Excellence
the highest award given from the Credit Union National Association, for Alternatives 1998 Annual Report

Ithaca Housing Authority Recognition
to Mary Zeigler, Community Partnership Lennding, in appreciation for Alternatives’contribution to the Three Pillars Foundation Program.

2000
The Renaissance Commission Award
to Bill Myers, CEO, in recognition and appreciation of distinguished service on Credit Union National Association Renaissance Commission.

National Community Capital Association Recognition
to Bill Myers, CEO, in grateful appreciation for service on the Board of Directors(1997-2000.)

1999
Louise Herring Award
First Place, for exemplifying “philosophy in action” for Alternatives’ Individual Development Account Program.

1998
The Ithaca Times Best of Ithaca Award
for “The best place to trust the clerk’s opinon” You know you’re in Ithaca when you can ask a teller for financial advice. Be honest and you’ll get honesty in return, at least there. You man not make a million, but will be in very good company…”

1997
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Diversity Leadership Award
for the Credit Union’s efforts and success in employing a staff that reflects the community it serves.

Louise Herring Award
for our Community Partnership Lending program, a perfect example of the philosophy of people helping people, promoted by Louise Herring herself, awarded by the New York State Credit Union League.

1996
Louise Herring Award
for excellence in incorporating the “people helping people” philosophy for our Student Credit Union.

Community Change Agents Project
accepted our manager, Bill Myers, to the project sponsored by the Center for Community Change. The project is a year-long, rigorous learning experience in management and leadership development for directors of community based organizations.

Green Business Pledge
awarded by Co-op America, to businesses that pledge to “conduct business according to standards that reach beyond contemporary practices in addressing the needs of consumers, employees, the community and the environment.”

1995
Bridge Award
Honorable Mention, from NYS Credit Union League, awarded for Alternative Currents, our monthly member newsletter, for “Excellence in Member Education Communications.”

1994
Tompkins County Human Rights Award
for achieving a priority goal of diversifying our staff.

Friends of Labor Award
for being a friend to labor, awarded by the Tompkins Cortland Labor Coalition, for diversifying our staff, and for our livable wage study.

Louise Herring Philosophy in Action Award
for our diversification of staff. “Your Credit Union’s commitment to the community and your membership is something of which the whole movement can be proud.”

1992
Dora Maxwell Award
for our Round Off program, where members can easily donate “spare change” to the non-profit organization of the month, awarded by New York State Credit Union League.