Digital Impact Awards Recognize Credit Unions Driving Growth Through AI-Powered Engagement

The 2025 Digital Impact Awards, presented by DeepTarget Inc. in partnership with Access Softek, have recognized five credit unions for their innovative use of artificial intelligence and data insights to transform digital banking engagement into measurable business growth. The awards highlight how financial institutions are leveraging intelligent digital experiences to drive member loyalty, revenue generation, and strategic growth objectives.

Lebanon Federal Credit Union earned the grand prize for its interactive loan calculator initiative, which helped members estimate monthly payments for auto loans, personal loans, mortgages, and other financial products. This data-driven approach proved remarkably effective, generating 470 new loan account openings by empowering members to make confident, informed financial decisions. The calculator initiative demonstrated how practical digital tools can translate directly into business results while strengthening member relationships.

Four additional credit unions were recognized as finalists for their creative implementation of AI-driven digital engagement strategies. Crane Credit Union was honored for its "High-Yield Checking 3.30 – Predictive Model" initiative, while Levo Credit Union received recognition for its "Mortgage – Pre-Approved" campaign. Michigan School & Government Credit Union was acknowledged for its "2025 Spring – Lending Auto" initiative, and Rio Grande Credit Union was celebrated for its "2025 Car Payment 2" program.

All recognized institutions utilized DeepTarget's Digital Experience Platform within Access Softek's digital banking environment to deliver personalized, data-driven campaigns. These credit unions, described as seasoned DeepTarget users, exemplify how intelligent personalization and data insights can elevate digital banking engagement beyond traditional transaction processing to become a strategic growth driver.

The significance of these achievements extends beyond individual institution success to demonstrate broader industry trends. As financial institutions increasingly compete on digital experience rather than just products and rates, the ability to leverage data and AI for personalized engagement becomes critical for maintaining competitiveness. The measurable results achieved by these credit unions—particularly Lebanon Federal Credit Union's 470 new loan accounts—provide concrete evidence that data-driven digital strategies can deliver substantial financial returns.

Alaina Erhgood, Vice President of Marketing at Lebanon Federal Credit Union, emphasized the member-centric approach behind their winning initiative. "Our goal is always to empower our members with the tools and knowledge they need to make sound financial decisions," she stated. "The loan calculator initiative reflects that commitment - helping members understand affordability, explore options, and move forward with confidence."

The Digital Impact Awards underscore a fundamental shift in how community financial institutions approach digital transformation. Rather than viewing digital channels as cost-saving alternatives to physical branches, forward-thinking institutions are treating them as strategic platforms for relationship building and revenue generation. The success stories highlighted in these awards demonstrate that when properly executed, digital engagement can simultaneously serve member needs while driving institutional growth.

For the broader financial services industry, these results validate the business case for investing in sophisticated digital engagement platforms. The recognition of multiple institutions achieving significant results suggests that the approach is replicable across different credit union models and member demographics. As consumer expectations for personalized digital experiences continue to rise, the methodologies demonstrated by these award winners may become standard practice for financial institutions seeking to remain competitive in an increasingly digital marketplace.