This recognizes one employee within the ICUL movement. It honors the unsung heroes — credit union staff — who take extraordinary efforts to exemplify “people helping people” in their everyday lives.

Honors an individual whose career reflects lasting impact and leadership within Illinois’ credit union movement. This award recognizes lifetime contributions at the chapter, state, and/or national level from those who have helped shape and strengthen the industry over time.

Eligibility: Current or former credit union leaders, as well as professionals and regulatory partners from affiliated organizations, with a minimum of 10 years of experience.

Click here to view the Hall of Fame Leadership Award Scorecard.

Honors a rising professional who has shown exceptional dedication to the credit union movement. This award recognizes a young leader making a meaningful impact through innovation, volunteerism, and forward-thinking leadership—demonstrating a strong commitment to growth, collaboration, and the future of the industry.

Eligibility: Credit union employees ages 18–40.

Click here to view the Emerging Leader of the Year Award Scorecard.

Recognizes a credit union that has demonstrated exceptional commitment to advancing the credit union movement at the local, chapter, and statewide levels over the past year. This award honors organizations that excel in advocacy, performance, and community service—showcasing a strong and sustained dedication to creating meaningful, positive impact across the industry and the communities they serve.

Up to four winners will be selected based on asset size categories.

• Under $49.9 million
• $50-$250 million
• $250-$999 million
• $1 billion & above

Eligibility: ICUL member credit unions.

Click here to view the Outstanding Credit Union of the Year Award Scorecard.

To ensure a fair, consistent, and meaningful selection process, all nominations must follow the established guidelines. These “rules of the road” help maintain the integrity of the awards, ensure transparency, and allow every nominee to be evaluated on equal footing. They also support a clear and structured review process so that recognition reflects true impact and achievement across the credit union movement.

Nomination Rules:

• Individuals may not nominate themselves for individual awards
• ICUL employees may not be nominated
• Nominees will be recognized at the Annual Convention during the Chairperson’s Reception on Friday evening, October 23, 2026
• All nominations should be submitted using the official scorecards for each award category

Following these guidelines helps ensure each nomination is thoughtfully considered and that award recipients truly reflect the excellence and spirit of the credit union movement.

This year, the Illinois Credit Union League has refreshed and consolidated its awards program to better reflect the evolving priorities and collaborative spirit of today’s credit union movement.

Following the merger of America’s Credit Unions and the sunset of the national recognition structure for former Desjardins, Louise Herring, and Dora Maxwell awards, ICUL took the opportunity to thoughtfully redesign its awards program at the state level. 

The new four-award structure incorporates the cooperative principles and values that were central to both the former national awards and ICUL’s longstanding recognition programs, creating a more unified and meaningful way to celebrate the innovation, impact, and leadership of Illinois credit unions and professionals.