Holy Rosary Credit Union Shares First-Place Honors for the 2026 Tekkie Award for People Helping People

By W.B. King

True to the credit union mission, the Finopotamus Tekkie Award for People Helping People recognizes an initiative, program, or team effort that significantly improved the lives of members or the community in 2025.

In the spirit of this category, which supports the ethos of the credit union movement, the judges determined that the first-place designation should be shared by all six nominees: Addition Financial Credit Union, Advia Credit Union, Holy Rosary Credit Union, NET Credit Union, St. Louis Community Credit Union, TruStage Ventures Discovery Fund, and United Consumers Credit Union. Presented in no particular order, Holy Rosary Credit Union is spotlighted next.

Dedicated to Underserved Communities

Based in Kansas City, Mo., the $47 million Holy Rosary Credit Union supports more than 7,000 members. Since its inception, it has been dedicated to serving low-income and underserved communities, including immigrant populations and individuals with limited access to traditional financial services, explained President Carole Wight.

“Holy Rosary Credit Union was founded on a simple but powerful mission: Serve those who are often overlooked by traditional financial institutions,” she added. The challenges community members face are real—from unstable housing to limited access to credit, Wight explained.

“The credit union recognized that fulfilling the ‘people helping people’ philosophy requires more than products – it requires commitment, relationships and a willingness to meet members where they are,” she continued. “Their work goes beyond innovation or efficiency. It reflects a deeper purpose: ensuring that financial services are accessible, equitable and empowering for everyone.”

Data-Driven Personalization

To better support the mission, Holy Rosary CU built a deeply integrated, member-first approach that combines financial services, community partnerships and personalized support. At the core of their strategy is a “belief that financial institutions must go beyond transactions and become partners in their members’ lives,” Wight said.

The credit union also leveraged the Huntsville, Ala.-based DeepTarget’s data-driven personalization. “By delivering relevant, individualized messages within digital banking, the credit union ensures that even its digital interactions reflect the same care, empathy and intentionality as its in-person service,” said DeepTarget’s Vice President of Customer Services Helen Triplett. “This allows Holy Rosary to meet members where they are - whether in the branch or online - while continuing to provide guidance that is timely, relevant and aligned with each member’s financial journey.”

Deepening Trust

Among Holy Rosary Credit Union outreach programs designed to improve financial well-being are Wealth Builder CDs, Dream Builder and Better Choice Loans. "By aligning messaging with the everyday challenges members face, Holy Rosary delivers not just offers but guidance that supports long-term financial stability,” Triplett noted.

These altruistic efforts not only caught the attention of Finopotamus judges but also the U.S. Treasury. Holy Rosary CU was named one of the top 25 financial institutions in the country serving low-income populations (2025). This designation was given, in part, to the credit union’s lending record: 96% of loans serve low-income borrowers. “A level of focus that far exceeds industry norms,” Wight said.

Members have also transitioned from financial instability to homeownership, rebuilt credit history and started business, which has deepened trust within the community. “These outcomes demonstrate that Holy Rosary is not simply providing financial services—it is changing financial trajectories,” Wight shared. “This impact is further amplified through personalized digital engagement, ensuring members receive the right message at the right time—helping guide decisions and improve financial outcomes.”