TAMPA, Fla.– GTE Financial has earned two Silver honors in the 2026 Tampa Bay Times Best of the Best awards, with GTE Financial recognized in the Credit Union category and GTE Investment Group honored in the Financial Planning category.
The annual Best of the Best program is a community-driven contest recognizing top businesses, service providers and organizations across the Tampa Bay region. Following a public nomination period, community members vote for their favorites across dozens of categories, making both honors a direct reflection of support from the community GTE serves.
“This recognition is especially meaningful because it comes directly from the people and communities we serve,” said Manuel A. Aguilar SVP, Chief Experience Officer “For more than 90 years, GTE has called Tampa Bay home, and our members are at the heart of everything we do. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who took the time to vote and to our employees who work each day to provide the service and support our members deserve.”
In addition to GTE Financial’s Silver recognition in the Credit Union category, GTE Investment Group earned Silver in the Financial Planning category, highlighting the organization’s commitment to helping individuals and families throughout Tampa Bay navigate their financial goals.
Nominations for the 2026 Best of the Best awards opened in April, followed by community voting from May 13 through May 31. GTE encouraged members, employees and the broader community to participate throughout the voting period, with voting opportunities shared across its digital and social media channels.
The two Silver honors reflect GTE Financial’s longstanding commitment to serving Tampa Bay individuals, families and businesses across a range of financial needs. Chartered in 1935, GTE has grown to serve more than 230,000 individuals and businesses while remaining headquartered and locally operated in the Tampa Bay area.
