Achieve Credit Union Wins 2025 People-First Award
Achieve Credit Union is People-First
Some awards perfectly sum up your core identity.
The People-First Award, presented on October 29 at the 2025 Deda Pulse Conference in Dallas, is definitely one of them.
This award confirmed that putting people at the center of everything we do isn’t just the right thing. It’s both the foundation and the future of financial services.
What the People-First Award Really Means
Each year, Deda Sphere, a leading credit union technology partner, recognizes a select few credit unions across the country. Their standard? Not just innovation, but innovation rooted in empathy.
That’s why the People-First Award exists.
And that’s why Achieve Credit Union was honored to receive it this year.
We didn’t earn it by launching the flashiest new tech or expanding the fastest.
We earned it by transforming how we serve our members and support our employees from the inside out.
“This award affirms we’re doing what’s right.”
- Bret Fisher, President & CEO, Achieve Credit Union
It Starts With a Mission That Matters
At Achieve, we start every conversation, decision, and innovation with one goal:
Help our members learn, dream, and achieve their financial goals.
It’s more than a slogan. It’s the heartbeat of our credit union.
We believe that financial wellness starts with being seen, heard, and helped. That’s why our team has the expertise to ask the right questions and offer solutions after listening with care.
That’s how trust is built. And it’s why this award matters so much to us.
Leadership With Heart
Following the award presentation in Dallas, Achieve President & CEO Bret Fisher summed it up best:
“When you talk passionately about your plan—and the actions you’ve put in place to exceed your members’ expectations—it’s incredibly moving when peers in your industry take notice.”
This award wasn’t about Achieve making a splash.
It was about the consistent work to build a credit union culture where both members and employees feel valued.
That’s our kind of success.
A Track Record of Trust
The People-First Award joins a growing list of recognition for Achieve.
Just last year, Achieve was named Best Credit Union in The Morning Journal’s Best of the Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
But this journey didn’t start yesterday.
Since rebranding in 2020 from School Employees Lorain County Credit Union (SELCCU) to Achieve Credit Union, we’ve both embraced a broader mission and deepened our local roots.
We’ve expanded membership to include anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in Lorain, Cuyahoga, Erie, or Medina Counties. And we’ve done it with a consistent focus on affordability, trust, and community.
And when you put people first, success will naturally follow.
This Isn’t the Finish Line. It’s the Fuel.
Winning the People-First Award isn’t the end of something.
As Bret Fisher said after the award ceremony:
This award affirms that we’re doing what’s right: making Achieve not only the best place to bank, but also the best place to work. I’m deeply grateful for our team and their commitment to delivering superior service while inspiring others to do the same.
That’s why we’re committed to:
More valuable conversations with members about their goals.
More support for our staff to thrive and lead with empathy.
More ways to serve Lorain County with excellence and integrity.:
We don’t show up to chase recognition.
We show up because that’s what community-focused banking looks like. And we’ll keep doing that in the years ahead—awards or no awards.
Take The Next Step.
Visit A BranchStop by your local branch, and we’ll be happy to help you!SEE LOCATIONS |
Talk With UsCall (440) 324-3400 to speak with our Member Services team.CALL US |
Become a MemberIt’s easy to join Achieve CU and open your account.JOIN US |
About the Author
Scott Nelson
Scott Nelson has served as Achieve Credit Union’s Marketing Director since 2022. Scott’s a big fan of credit unions and the positive impact they have on the local communities they serve.
Fun fact: You may see Scott at your local high school baseball games - as an umpire.