CUs in the News: September 2026
Whether it’s giving back, awarding scholarships, creating community, providing innovative solutions, or fostering financial literacy (and so much more), here’s how Wisconsin’s credit unions supported their members and communities in September!
Giving Back
WESTconsin Credit Union Gives Back to Local Families with Shop with Fin Lee Fox
As part of WESTconsin Credit Union’s Kindness Counts initiative, four WESTconsin offices gave back to their communities during this summer’s Shop with Fin Lee Fox events. The credit union’s mascot, Fin Lee Fox, leads the community-wide kindness campaign. Fin Lee visited local grocery stores throughout WESTconsin’s service area, including River Falls, Amery, Baldwin, and Hudson, surprising shoppers with gift cards to help cover the cost of their grocery purchases. (WESTconsin Credit Union, 9/9)
Marine Credit Union donates $12,500 to United Way Fox Cities for tornado relief
Marine Credit Union presented a $12,500 donation to United Way Fox Cities on Monday to support tornado relief and recovery efforts across the Fox Cities area. Representatives from Marine Credit Union and United Way Fox Cities gathered at United Way Fox Cities headquarters in Menasha for the check presentation. (Marine Credit Union, 9/21)
Benefit concert to support Literacy Chippewa Valley’s 40th year
Literacy Chippewa Valley will hold a benefit concert on Sept. 25, with half of every ticket sold going directly to the organization’s programs.The concert also marks the nonprofit’s 40th year of service. Literacy Chippewa Valley has offered free adult literacy services across the Chippewa Valley since 1986, including one-on-one tutoring, English language classes, GED and HSED attainment programs, family literacy services, senior digital literacy instruction and education programs inside county jails. (Royal Credit Union, 9/20)
Fox Cities Marathon runners embrace tornado victims with ‘We Run With You’ shirts
New features of this year’s Fox Cities Marathon includes support for tornado victims. This weekend, thousands will participate in the 35th Fox Cities Marathon through the Fox Cities. And organizers say it’s more than just another race; it’s a community experience. (Community First Credit Union, 9/18)
Marine Credit Union hosts Oktoberfest event supporting local nonprofits
Marine Credit Union hosted an Oktoberfest community partner event, bringing together 12 local nonprofits focused on youth development, housing support and food security. Attendees received free brats, hot dogs and nonalcoholic beverages at the credit union’s West Avenue location. “It’s a good event to get some recognition of all the good things our nonprofit partners do,” said Tom Knothe, Marine Credit Union’s president and CEO. (Marine Credit Union, 9/25)
Stock the Shelves returns to help fight food insecurity in eastern Wisconsin
Last year’s Stock the Shelves, an annual fundraising campaign by USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin newspapers addressing food insecurity, launched with the catastrophic August 2025 flooding in Milwaukee fresh in the minds of reporters and donors alike. This year, the natural disasters occupying our attention include the Appleton-Menasha tornado in July, the April flooding in northern Outagamie County and April tornado in Marathon County. In all these cases, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin was there, lending a hand on day one. (Greater Fox Cities Chapter of Credit Unions, 9/30)
Creating Community
Milwaukee’s Best Fall Block Party, Beet Street, Returns Oct 3, 2026 You’re invited!
Less than two weeks out! Beet Street Fall Festival will celebrate live music and community building. There will be memorable performances, seasonal drinks, local food, a punk rock rummage sale, interactive art tables and 25+ community orgs sharing how you can get involved. (Marine Credit Union, Educators Credit Union, 9/23)
Awarding Scholarships
Mahone Foundation Essay Contest Offers 8th Graders $500 Scholarships
Twenty eighth graders in the Kenosha and Racine school districts will each get a $500 head start on college savings through a new Mahone Foundation essay contest. The contest opened Monday, Sept. 21 and closes Monday, Oct. 5. The scholarships come from a partnership between the Mary Lou & Arthur F. Mahone Foundation and Edvest 529, Wisconsin’s state college savings program. The money goes straight into an Edvest 529 account in the student’s name. (Educators Credit Union, 9/26)
Supporting Financial Literacy
Credit unions are teaching the personal finance courses most states now require
UW Credit Union is doing it by buying students a college course outright. Its Dual Credit, Zero Debt program covers the full cost of a three-credit personal finance class at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay for a limited number of high school members in spring 2027, a $600 value arriving as Wisconsin’s requirement reaches this year’s juniors. (UW Credit Union, 9/8)
Fostering Excellence
UnitedOne ranks No. 1 nationally in ‘Best Credit Unions to Work For’
The No. 1 ranking marks UnitedOne’s fourth consecutive year in the publication’s Top 10, following a No. 2 ranking in 2025, No. 6 in 2024, and No. 7 in 2023. (United One Credit Union, 9/1)
Former Corporate Central President/CEO Mark Schroeder honored as Unsung Hero of the Credit Union Movement
Corporate Central is proud to celebrate former President/CEO Mark Schroeder’s recognition as an Unsung Hero of the Credit Union Movement by America’s Credit Union Museum, honoring a career defined by principled leadership, member-focused service and lasting impact across the credit union movement. (Corporate Central Credit Union, 9/22)