| Ascend Federal Credit Union | |
| Type: | Credit Union |
| Foundation: | 1951 |
| Location: | Tullahoma, Tennessee, United States |
| Key People: | Matt Jernigan, President and CEO |
| Area Served: | Middle Tennessee |
| Industry: | Financial services |
| Products: | Savings |
| Assets: | $4.4B+ USD |
| Num Employees: | 625 |
| Website: | ascend.org |
Ascend Federal Credit Union (or Ascend; formerly AEDC Federal Credit Union) is a federally chartered credit union based in Tullahoma, Tennessee. Ascend is regulated and insured through the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).
Ascend has over 240,000 members and $4.4 billion USD in assets.[1] [2]
The company has locations in 21 Middle Tennessee counties.[3] [4] [5]
As of 2024, Ascend has 28 branches across Middle Tennessee.
Ascend Federal Credit Union was chartered on July 12, 1951 in order to serve employees of the Arnold Air Force Base.[6]
In 2006, the company changed its name from AEDC Federal Credit Union to Ascend Federal Credit Union.[7] [8] In 2015, Ascend signed a 10-year contract with Live Nation for the naming rights of the Ascend Amphitheater.[9]
In 2018, the firm started leveraging its LenderAssis LOS platform and DecisionAssis product.[10]
In 2019, the company was announced to turn as an Episys platform.[11] [12]
Matt Jernigan is President and CEO.[13]
In 2020, Ascend FCU made a donation of $10,000 to LLS’s Children’s Initiative.[14]
In 2021, the company supported the American Heart Association (AHA’s), raising $1,150, in order to deepen people's knowledge about women's health.[15] [16]
This year, Ascend contributed $50,000 to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.[17]
In May, 2021, the firm gave a financial support to the 6th Annual Hometown Heroes Walk for Children.[18]
2007
CUNA's Best Practices Award for Branch Design - Victory Station
CUNA Diamond Award - Branding/Corporate Identity
CUES Golden Mirror Award - Staff Programs/Brand Launch
NAFCU's Marketing Award - Best Promotional Campaign/Brand Launch
2008
CUNA Diamond Award - 2006 Annual Report: Raising Possibilities
CUES Golden Mirror Award of Merit - 2006 Annual Report: Raising Possibilities
CUNA Diamond Award - Discover, Venture, and Go! Logo
CUES Golden Mirror Award - Discover, Venture, and Go! Logo
Card Services for Credit Unions Cameo Award - Youth Marketing
Cintas Document Management Environmental Award
2009
CUNA Diamond Award of Merit - Business Development Campaign
2010
Visa Global Service Quality Award
CUNA Diamond Award of merit - Business Development Campaign
2011
Visa Global Service Quality Award
2012
Visa Global Service Quality Award
Credit Union Times Women to Watch - Caren Gabriel
2013
CUNA Diamond Award- Complete Campaign
Card Services for Credit unions Cameo Award - Overall Credit Campaign, 2nd Place
Daily News Journal Ruthies Award - Favorite Credit Union
The Murfreesboro Post "Besties" Award - Best Banking/Financial Institution
Manchester Chamber People's Choice Award - Service Category
Visa Global Service Quality Award
Nashville Business Journal Chief Marketing Officer award - Kim York
2014
Visa Global Service Quality Award
The Tullahoma News Finest Bank
Daily News Journal Ruthies Award - Favorite Credit Union
"Best Credit Union" in Maury County
CUNA Diamond Award - Category's Best
CABLE Board Walk of Fame - Caren Gabriel
American Banker - Top 50 Best Credit Unions to Work For
2015
NAFCU Federal Credit Union of the Year - Ascend FCU
CUNA Diamond Award - Annual Reports and Brand Awareness
Daily News Journal Ruthies Award - Favorite Credit Union
The Daily Herald (Columbia) - Best Credit Union
Tennessee Credit Union League Award of Appreciation - CULAC Donations
Tennessee Credit Union League Hall of Fame - Jim Ward
Training Magazine's Top 125 - Training Department
Visa Global Service Quality Award
American Banker - Top 50 Best Credit Unions to Work for
2016
Credit Union Journal - Best Credit Unions to Work For
Visa Global Service Quality Award
Credit Union Magazine's Credit Union Rock Starts - Peggy Gray
Nashville Business Journal Women of Influence - Caren Gabriel
NAFCU's professional of the Year - Kim York
CUNA Diamond Award - Annual Reports & Electronic Marketing
Tennessee Credit Union Award of Appreciation - CULAC
Daily News Journal Ruthies Award - Favorite Credit Union
"Best Credit Union" in Maury County
The Tullahoma News - "Tullahoma's Finest Bank"
My. Juliet Chamber of Commerce "Business of the Year"
Best of the 'Boro Besties Award for "Best Bank to Stash your Cash"
Training Magazine's Top 125 - Training Development
Credit Union Times Most Innovative Credit Unions- 4th Place
American Banker - Top 50 Best Credit Unions to Work For
2017
Nashville Business Journal Best in Business Award
CULAC Circle of Excellence
Credit Union Journal - Best Credit Unions to Work For
Training Magazine's Top 125 - Training Department
Visa Service Quality Performance Award
Tennessee Credit Union League Award of Appreciation - CULAC
Daily News Journal Ruthies Award - Favorite Credit Union
Best Credit Unions in Maury County
The Nature Conservancy Partners in Conservation Award
Tennessee Credit Union Hall of Fame - Robert H. Burt (posthumously)
Tullahoma Chamber Women Impacting the Community Business Award - Caren Gabriel
MTSU Jennings A. Jones Champion of Free Enterprise Award - Caren Gabriel
American Banker - Top 50 Best Credit Unions to Work For
2018
CULAC Circle of Excellence
CUNA Diamond Awards - Billboard, Radio, Complete Branch Campaign, Print Ads
Training Magazine's Top 125 - Training Department
Credit Union Journal - Best Credit Unions to Work For
Nashville Scene best of Nashville Financial Provider - 3rd Place
Daily News Journal Ruthies Award - Favorite Credit Union
Rutherford County Main Street Award - Best Credit Union
American Banker - Top 50 Best Credit Unions to Work For
2019
CULAC Circle of Excellence
Credit Union Journal's Top 125 - Training Department
Daily News Journal Ruthies Award - Favorite Credit Union
Rutherford County Main Street Award - Best Credit Union
American Banker - Top 50 Best Credit Unions to Work For
2020
Credit Union Journal - Best Credit Unions to Work For
Training Magazine's Top 125 - Training Department
CULAC Circle of Excellence
APEX Training Awards
Tullahoma - Voted Finest Bank
Rutherford County Main Street Award - Best Bank & Best Credit Union
Nashville - Voted Best Credit Union and 2nd Best Bank (including all big banks)
Daily News Journal Ruthies Award - Favorite Credit Union
American Banker - Top 50 Best Credit Unions to Work For
2021
Credit Union Journal - Best Credit Unions to Work For
Tennessee Credit Union League Hall of Fame - Pat Eagon
NAFCU Volunteer Award - Anthony Taylor
CUNA Diamond Award - Marketing & Business Development
CULAC Circle of Excellence
APEX Training Awards
Rutherford County Main Street Award - Best Credit Union
Daily News Journal Ruthies Award - Favorite Credit Union
American Banker - Top 50 Best Credit Unions to Work For
2022
Nashville Post inChase Spring Issue CEOs of the Year - Caren Gabriel
CUNA Diamond Award - Marketing & Business Development
Credit Union Journal - Best Credit Unions to Work For
APEX Training Awards
Daily News Journal Ruthies Award - Favorite Credit Union
Rutherford County Main Street Award - Best Credit Union
The Table - Corporate Member of the Year
American Banker - Top 50 Best Credit Unions to Work For
2023
CUNA Diamond Award - Marketing & Business Development - Branch Campaign
Apex Training Awards