Recognition celebrates the launch of Ellafi Kind and the credit union's commitment to making a meaningful difference in Connecticut communities.
We have some exciting news to share! Ellafi Federal Credit Union is proud to announce that we've received a 2026 Momentum Award from Connecticut's Credit Unions in the Community Impact & Cooperative Values category!
The award was presented during the 2026 APEX Conference, hosted by Connecticut's Credit Unions and the Cooperative Credit Union Association. The Momentum Awards recognize credit unions and individuals making outstanding contributions to their members, communities, and the credit union movement.
For Ellafi, this recognition is especially meaningful because it celebrates something at the heart of who we are: our commitment to making a difference beyond banking.
Turning Our Mission Into Action Through Ellafi Kind
One of the driving forces behind this recognition is the launch of Ellafi Kind, our charitable nonprofit created to extend Ellafi's mission of empowering women+, strengthening financial resilience, and helping individuals achieve financial independence.
Ellafi Kind focuses on three important areas where we believe we can make a meaningful difference:
- Young Girls: Building financial confidence early through education, resources, mentorship, and opportunities.
- Housing: Supporting access to safe, stable housing and helping individuals establish a stronger foundation for their future.
- Domestic Violence Support: Helping survivors build financial independence through education, matched savings, and access to financial resources.
Since its launch, Ellafi Kind has been putting these pillars into action through hands-on financial education, charitable giving, and partnerships with organizations doing incredible work throughout Connecticut.
Making a Difference, Together
Over the past year, our team has worked alongside community partners to bring financial education and empowerment directly to those who need it.
From spending summer Fridays with young girls at Girls Inc. and helping students at Grace Academy explore saving and entrepreneurship, to bringing real-world budgeting experiences to Mercy High School, we've focused on making financial education approachable, engaging, and empowering.
Through Ellafi Kind, we've also supported local nonprofit organizations nominated by our members, helping recognize and uplift causes making a difference in our communities.
Another important initiative has been our work supporting domestic violence survivors, including developing a matched savings program in partnership with New Horizons Domestic Violence Services to help survivors build greater financial stability and independence.
More recently, our Strength in Action event brought community members, advocates, and experts together for conversations about domestic violence awareness, personal safety, financial wellness, and survivor support.
Each of these initiatives reflects our belief that financial empowerment goes beyond opening an account or offering a loan. It's about creating opportunities, building confidence, and connecting people with resources that can change lives.
A Recognition That Belongs to Our Entire Team
While this award recognizes Ellafi Kind and our community outreach efforts, it represents something much bigger.
It reflects the dedication of our employees, the generosity of our members, and the incredible relationships we've built with community organizations, nonprofits, local businesses, and supporters who believe in what we're working to accomplish.
As a credit union, our cooperative values guide everything we do. We believe in people helping people, and we're proud to see those values come to life through meaningful programs and partnerships.
Receiving this Momentum Award is a wonderful reminder of what can happen when an organization brings its mission into everyday action.
We're Just Getting Started
We're incredibly grateful to Connecticut's Credit Unions and the Cooperative Credit Union Association for this recognition and for celebrating the important work credit unions are doing throughout our state.
As Ellafi continues to grow, so will our commitment to making a positive impact. We look forward to expanding Ellafi Kind's reach, developing new partnerships, and finding even more ways to support the financial wellness and independence of those in our communities.
Because at Ellafi, being a credit union means more than banking. It means showing up, giving back, and making a difference together.
