Innovation Awards Entry & Guidelines

How To Enter

  1. Complete your application online between February 4, 2019 and March 1, 2019.
  2. Provide two high-resolution photos of your product, service, materials, or process.

Entry Rules and Qualifications

Contact us for any questions about your submission eligibility. 
  • Applications are due through the online entry form by March 1, 2019.
  • Must be a NAFCU Services Preferred Partner to enter.
  • Entries may include technology, products, services, media campaigns, processes, marketing campaigns, educational content, and/or any combination thereof.
  • Partners may enter multiple applications within their exclusive partner solution category.
  • Entries must have been introduced, revised, or re-launched between January 1, 2018 and February 1, 2019. This includes software updates, significant feature enhancements, and new versions of existing products.

    Judging Criteria

    Entries will be judged by a committee of industry trade journalists and credit union executives. Nominated solutions are evaluated on:

    • Novelty of approach: what is unprecedented or progressive about this entry?
    • Impact: What impact does this entry have on credit union success? (Qualities may include: revenue enhancement, cost reduction, time to payback of any required investment; operational enhancement; membership and growth retention; digital engagement; security enhancements. Metrics are advantageous.)

    Competition Timeline

    • February 4: Application process opens
    • March 1: Application process closes
    • March - April: Judging period
    • May: Finalists announced
    • June 18 - 21:  Innovation Award Winners presented at NAFCU's Annual Conference in New Orleans, LA

    Finalists Benefits

    • Industry-wide recognition and media attention through a NAFCU press release announcing all finalists. 
    • Promotion through various social media channels.
    • Recognition on the NAFCU website.
    • Strategic advertisement in the NAFCU Annual Conference Experience Guide given to all attendees.

    Award Winner Benefits

    • Industry-wide recognition and media attention through a NAFCU press release announcing all winners. 
    • Extensive promotion through various social media channels and ads in NAFCU's daily e-newsletter, NAFCU Today. 
    • A comprehensive media/press packet for your company's use. 
    • Company feature on NAFCU.org website. 
    • Widespread recognition through announcements and VIP Reception during the NAFCU Annual Conference. 
    • A crystal 2019 Preferred Partners Innovation Award to display in your conference booth and in your company's trophy case. 
    • 2019 Preferred Partner Innovation Award logo for use on product packaging and advertising materials. 
    • Listing in the July/August 2019 issue of the NAFCU Journal, NAFCU's flagship publication distributed to over 5,000 credit union executives. 
    • Innovation Award logo next to your company listing in the NAFCU Journal and on the NAFCU website.
    • Innovation Recognition Banner for your Annual Conference exhibit table (a gift to your organization that can be reused at future conferences/exhibits). 
    • Interview opportunity with CUbroadcast’s Mike Lawson. 
    • Acknowledgment in NAFCU webcast advertisements. 
    • Recognition at NAFCU Conferences.