LAFCU recognized for innovation, executive team member named Young Professional of the Year

by Michigan Credit Union League LAFCU’s innovation acknowledged for fifth time in eight years

Courtesy of Publicom

LAFCU was recognized at the Michigan Credit Union League’s annual conference with the Innovation Award for its internal cybersecurity awareness campaign. MCUL bestows this award on one organization annually, and this marks the fifth time in eight years that LAFCU has been honored for its innovative thinking, action, and community involvement.

LAFCU’s Ryan Larson was named the MCUL Young Professional of the Year and was recognized for his dedication and leadership to LAFCU, where he serves as the credit union’s government affairs representative and leads its professional services department. Larson was also acknowledged for his work to create positive change in the credit union industry by serving on a variety of boards and committees, including the Capital Area Chapter of Credit Unions, MCUL Political Action Committee, Mid-Michigan Treatment Courts Foundation, and South Lansing/Holt Rotary.

“While I will always be a work in progress, being recognized for this achievement means the world to me,” said Larson. “I wouldn’t be standing here today if it weren’t for my LAFCU family and their support of my journey as a leader in our organization.”

The federal government's Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency inspired LAFCU’s award-winning Shields Up! campaign. The 12-week campaign included weekly educational and engaging videos and eblasts featuring LAFCU team members, notably two of its IT professionals, who addressed what to look out for regarding cybercrime and how to keep the credit union and its members safe from cyberthreats. The campaign was developed in partnership with Publicom, a full-service marketing communications firm in Okemos.

Other LAFCU programs earning MCUL Innovation Awards in the past eight years include:

• LAFCU Love & Equality Art Initiative: A graphic depiction of 10 healing words by Michigan artists, reaching 1.5 million people in 2021. The initiative was shared through billboards and digital channels, with support from Eaton Theatre in Charlotte. The initiative reflected LAFCU's commitment to community involvement and enriched lives for residents.

• LAFCU Incredibles: An employee group that became internal cheerleaders as LAFCU pushed the envelope in providing superior member service.

• LAFCU-Perry community partnership: A financial literacy program in the schools that led to, among other things, locating an interactive teller machine (ITM) in a grocery store to fill a financial service need.

• “Down to the Letter” marketing campaign: Advertisements that used the visual of a team constructing 6-foot-tall promotional letters to represent LAFCU’s 80-year history of building strength and integrity.

About LAFCU Chartered in 1936, LAFCU is a not-for-profit financial cooperative open for membership to anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Michigan and to businesses and other entities located in Michigan. The credit union serves more than 74,000 members and holds over $1 billion in assets. It was named a Best Credit Union to Work For in 2020.

LAFCU offers a comprehensive range of financial products and services as well as an expanding complement of financial technology solutions. Members enjoy benefits such as low fees, low-interest rates on loans, high yields on savings, discounts, knowledgeable employees and nationwide access to fee-free ATMs. A recipient of the national Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award for credit unions, LAFCU enriches the communities it serves by supporting many organizations and causes. To learn more about LAFCU, call 800.748.0228 or visit www.lafcu.com.