EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – Royal Credit Union (Royal) was among 181 credit unions nationwide named as winners of the prestigious Diamond Awards, America’s Credit Unions Marketing, PR & Development Council’s annual competition recognizing excellence in credit union marketing.
The first award celebrates Royal’s 2025 Hunger Action Month efforts, a multifaceted effort demonstrating a strong commitment to addressing food insecurity. Team members volunteered at local food banks, and $19,500 was donated to support their missions. Through coordinated volunteer efforts and multimedia storytelling, the campaign highlighted partnerships with area food banks, inspired community involvement, and amplified the impact of these essential programs. The initiative reflected Royal’s core purpose of creating a positive impact in the lives they touch and embodied the credit union philosophy of people helping people.
The second award recognizes Royal’s social short-form video campaign in partnership with Team Hebert Curling. This initiative combined financial education with the excitement of Olympic-level curling. Using reels, behind-the-scenes content, and athlete testimonials, the campaign connected curling’s principles of strategy, precision, and teamwork with smart money management. The campaign engaged audiences across social platforms, elevated brand awareness, highlighted key Royal products, and reinforced Royal’s commitment to creative, community-focused financial education.
“This honor reflects Royal’s ongoing commitment to serving our Members and strengthening the communities we’re proud to be part of,” Melissa Koontz, VP of Marketing and Communications at Royal.
This year’s Diamond Awards competition drew a record of 1,481 submissions. In total, 330 awards were distributed, reflecting the exceptional quality of work produced by credit unions nationwide.
“We are proud to recognize Royal and this year’s Diamond Award winners for their entries that deliver both creativity and results,” said Lorrell Bellotti, Diamond Awards Co-chair and Chief Marketing Officer at Western Vista FCU in Cheyenne, Wyoming. “These entries demonstrate an understanding of the people we serve and strategic execution that delivers measurable impact.”
