MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- After years of hard work and dedication within the community, Navy Federal Credit Union's Parris Island member service center was recently named the Department of the Navy's "Credit Union of the Year."
The Parris Island branch, which has been nominated for the past seven years in a row, competed among 26 other member service centers to receive top honors at the 41st Annual Defense Credit Union Council Conference in Las Vegas Aug. 17.
Bill Knepp, manager of the Parris Island member service center, was on hand to receive the prestigious award.
"We won because of the staff I have here," he said. "Managers don't win awards ... they just accept them for what their team members have done. This award was not focused on an individual. We received the honor because of the employee team I have here and the services they provide to the command and its members."
The Depot's former Commanding General, Brig. Gen. Joseph McMenamin, submitted this year's nomination, in which he highlighted the more than 265 presentations and classes and over 500 hours of command and community involvement performed by the credit union's staff.
"Our Marines, sailors and their families all benefit from the spirit of partnership that exists between Navy Federal's Parris Island member service center and the Depot," said Brig. Gen. McMenamin in the nomination memorandum.
Within the member service center this year alone, employees closed a record number of 900 mortgages, which exceeded $110 million, and also processed over 239,000 personal financial transactions with a service rating of excellent to outstanding. But the award also highlights their participation and involvement within the Beaufort and Tri-Command community.
Aside from their normal duties with the credit union, employees also participated in community events, such as the Beaufort County Cancer Relay for Life, in which they collected donations of over $3,700. They also made donations or participated in the March of Dimes, Toys for Tots program, Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society and Tri-Command Marine Corps Community Services Youth Sports programs, which are a just a few of the dozens of worthy causes the employees aboard the Depot have volunteered for in the past year.
"When the president of Navy Federal called me, my first thought was that it was either good news or I was in trouble," said Knepp. "But when he told me we had received the award, I yelled and three of my employees came into my office to see what was wrong. They were all very pleased when they learned of the good news ... they were gratified that their hard work and efforts were acknowledged."
According to a Navy Federal Credit Union press release, the organization is the world's largest credit union, with over $22 billion in assets and more than 2.4 million members. It has 105 member service centers and 286 automated teller machines worldwide.