DOCO Credit Union has been honored with the 2014 Desjardins Financial Education Award. The award, sponsored by Georgia Credit Union Affiliates and the Credit Union National Association (CUNA), recognizes leadership within the credit union movement on behalf of youth financial literacy.

This year, DOCO Credit Union accepts the Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award for Georgia credit unions in the $150 - $500 million-asset category for financial literacy initiatives.  These initiatives include multiple free financial programs for youth and reaching more than 1,120 students in the past year.   DOCO Credit Union’s mission is “To provide the highest level of excellence in financial services and education aimed at improving our members’ financial well-beings.”  Their primary focus is to provide financial products and services to their membership, but they also recognize the importance of promoting financial literacy.  "DOCO CU places a particularly strong emphasis on educating youth – the future of our credit union and community.  We believe a strong financial foundation is the key to a solid and successful future," said Barry O. Heape, President/CEO DOCO Credit Union.

DOCO’s winning entry will advance to the national competition, where it will compete with financial education projects from credit unions in other states.

The award is named in honor of Alphonse Desjardins, the founder of the North American credit union movement, who established the first “caisse populaire” (people’s bank) in Quebec in 1900, and helped establish the first American credit union in New Hampshire in 1909. Desjardins was an ardent believer in the value of teaching children to save, and he promoted the idea of in-school savings programs (caisses scolaires).