MAPLE GROVE, Minn., Oct. 12, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TopLine Federal Credit Union, a Twin Cities-based member-owned financial services cooperative, has been honored with a 2016 Louise Herring Philosophy-in-Action Member Service Award. The award, sponsored by the Minnesota Credit Union Network (MnCUN) and the Credit Union National Association (CUNA), recognizes credit unions that demonstrate the credit union philosophy, and who create services that benefit their members.
TopLine’s statewide award achievement was for the credit union’s partnership with a local non-profit credit counseling agency, LSS Financial Counseling (LSS), that provides access to certified credit counselors and financial education services to help people better control their personal finances.
Money and financial worries continue to be the leading cause of stress for many Americans. With the right help and expertise, developing an approach to stay on top of personal finances can be less overwhelming, and that’s why TopLine established its partnership with LSS Financial Counseling over eight years ago to help members better handle their finances, pay down debt and successfully achieve financial freedom.
Through the partnership, TopLine offers members a safe and confidential way to take charge of managing their debt and improving their financial awareness, with the primary purpose being to relieve some of the stress related to money management.
Each TopLine Federal Credit Union member and family is eligible for up to six sessions a year of free, confidential financial counseling from LSS Financial Counseling. Each year TopLine also offers a spring and fall workshop series called, Taking Control of Your Finances. These sessions offer assistance on topics such as budgeting, credit scores, managing student loan debt, retirement planning, identity theft prevention and more.
“With the challenging economy over the last several years, many people, including TopLine members, have fallen on difficult financial times and occasionally need a bit of help and TopLine’s partnership with LSS has been an unique resource for members to use,” says Tom Smith, TopLine President and CEO. “Together, we’ve been able to offer members a real solution to help ease their debt burden and are proud to have assisted TopLine members pay off over $2.3 million in debt.”
TopLine’s winning entry now heads to the national competition, where it will compete with statewide award recipients across the country. Entries that place in the national competition will be displayed during the 2017 Governmental Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C.
The award is named in honor of Louise Herring, an active supporter, organizer and champion of credit unions. She was the Ohio delegate to the 1934 national credit union conference in Estes Park, Colorado, where she signed the original constitution for a national credit union association. Herring believed that credit unions should work in a practical manner to better people’s lives. She saw the credit union as more than just a financial institution. In her own words, “The purpose of the credit union is to reform the financial system, so that everyone can have his place in the sun.”
LSS Financial Counseling (LSS), is a non-profit, full-service credit counseling agency, accredited by the Council on Accreditation, and is a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. For more information, visit http://www.lssmn.org/debt.
TopLine Federal Credit Union, a Twin Cities-based credit union, is Minnesota’s 13th largest, with assets of more than $385 million. Established in 1935, the not-for-profit cooperative offers a complete line of financial services, as well as auto and home insurance, from its five branch locations — in Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove, Plymouth and in St. Paul’s Como Park — as well as by phone, mobile app and online at www.TopLinecu.com. Membership is available to anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school or volunteers in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott or Washington Counties and their immediate family members. Visit us on our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TopLineFederalCreditUnion. To learn more about TopLine’s financial counseling services, visit https://www.toplinecu.com/financial-education/financial-counseling.