Greenville, South Carolina  The Carolinas Credit Union Foundation has awarded Greenville Federal Credit Union first place for the Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award ($250 million - $1 billion in assets category).

Credit unions from across the Carolinas submitted their applications over the summer. These nominations were then reviewed by a volunteer committee, with statewide winners selected and announced in late summer. 

Greenville Federal Credit Union’s submission detailed a unique program the credit union established for the Greenville County Schools work-based learning Career Centers, which included customized financial education programming for their students and access to our Student Account program for all participants.  Led by the Director of Community Engagement, Sarah Bell, the credit union’s staff delivered 50+ hours of financial education over 22 sessions, educating approximately 1000 students across Greenville County Schools’ four work-based learning Career Centers. The submission also outlined the expansion of the credit union’s Student Accounts program to all Greenville County Schools high school students.

In expanding the Student Accounts program, any student at a Greenville County Schools high school can become a member of Greenville Federal Credit Union. This decision stemmed from the credit union recognizing the importance of providing a safe place for teenagers’ funds as their social lives grow and they get their first jobs. It also serves as a way for them to practice what they learn in the credit union’s financial education programs.

“I am very proud of our work in the schools,” said Paul Hughes, credit union President and CEO. “We were founded by a group of educators, and so being able to serve the school district and the community this way really speaks to the core of what we do here at Greenville Federal Credit Union.”

This is the second time the credit union has been recognized by the Foundation for its financial education programming. 

All statewide nominees and winners will be honored at the Foundation’s Awards Gala, which is held in conjunction with the Carolinas Credit Union League’s LAUNCH Conference in early 2026.