Tekkie Nominations Are Open!
Nominations for the 2026 Tekkie Awards for technologies deployed in 2025 are open through April 17, 2026. Nominations can be accepted from credit unions, vendors or PR agencies.
For 2026, we've revised the slate of awards to by more reflective of the current state of credit union technology. However, we held the entry cost to $199 per entry, except for the People Helping People category, which remains free to enter.
Credit Union Awards
The Data-Driven Impact Award
This award recognizes credit unions that have moved beyond data storage to data activation. The nominee must demonstrate how they successfully utilized member or operational data in 2025 to drive a specific, measurable result. Examples include (but are not limited to) personalized marketing campaigns that increased loan volume, predictive modeling that reduced member churn, or data-led improvements to operational efficiency.
The Core Innovation Award
This award recognizes credit unions that have successfully undertaken the complex task of updating their primary core processing platform. Eligibility includes credit unions that completed a full core conversion in 2025, as well as those that successfully implemented middleware, "sidecar" or “speedboat” cores, or cloud-native layers to modernize legacy systems. Nominees must demonstrate how this modernization has improved institutional agility, enabled faster integration of third-party tools, or enhanced the digital experience for members.
The Applied AI Award
This award recognizes credit unions that have successfully moved artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) from the "experimentation" phase into production. Eligibility includes any use of AI and ML—from generative tools and chatbots to predictive analytics for underwriting or fraud detection—that was active during 2025. Nominees must provide evidence of how the implementation has improved operational efficiency, reduced risk, or enhanced the member experience.
The Fintech Integration Award
This award recognizes credit unions that have successfully integrated one or more third-party fintech solutions into their existing technology stack. Eligibility is based on projects that went live in 2025, with a focus on how the credit union navigated the technical and operational challenges of the integration. Nominees must demonstrate how the deployment of this new technology solved a specific business problem, improved internal workflows, or added a valuable new service for members.
The Transformative Member Experience Award
This award recognizes credit unions that delivered a significant upgrade to the member’s digital or physical journey in 2025. Eligibility includes any technology-driven initiative—such as a mobile banking overhaul, a streamlined digital account opening process, or enhanced self-service capabilities—that demonstrably reduced friction and improved overall member satisfaction. Nominees must provide evidence of the positive impact this deployment had on the member journey.
The People Helping People Award
True to the credit union mission, this award recognizes an initiative, program, or team effort that significantly improved the lives of members or the community in 2025. Unlike other Tekkie categories, nominations for this award do not need to be technology focused. We are looking for the best examples of the "People Helping People" philosophy in action—whether through financial literacy programs, community outreach, or exceptional member support during times of need.
The Tech Visionary Award
Eligibility is open to any credit union tech professional who has actively worked to advance technology for the credit union movement in 2025. This award recognizes leaders who share their knowledge through CUSO involvement, industry speaking engagements, participation in industry conferences, collaborative research, or by spearheading open-source initiatives. The winner will be a technologist who understands that when one credit union innovates, the whole movement succeeds.
Tech Partner Awards
The Rising Star Fintech Award
This award recognizes fintech companies founded on or after January 1, 2021, that are bringing fresh solutions to the credit union space. To be eligible, the startup must have at least one live, verifiable deployment or a documented pilot program with a North American credit union and be at a Series A funding stage or earlier. We are looking for high-potential innovators who demonstrate a clear understanding of the credit union mission and a scalable model for the future.
The Industry Game Changer Award
This award recognizes established technology providers whose solutions have fundamentally shifted how credit unions operate or serve members. Unlike the startup category, this award is for proven technology with a minimum of three live, successful deployments within the credit union space. We are looking for solutions that have the potential to move for the needle for the entire industry.
The Tech CUSO of the Year Award
This award recognizes CUSOs that delivered outstanding technological value to their owners and clients in 2025. The winner must demonstrate how its collaborative structure allows it to solve complex technical problems, reduce costs, or provide scale that individual credit unions could not achieve independently.