At the recent Credit Union National Association’s Governmental Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C., BayPort Credit Union received a national Desjardins award for its efforts in promoting adult financial literacy.

The competition, which begins at the state level, involves credit unions across the state of Virginia. First-place state-level winners are forwarded to the national competition. This is the second time BayPort has been recognized at the national level for its excellence in financial literacy.

The Desjardins Awards are named for Alphonse Desjardins, the founder of the North American credit union movement. Besides founding the first credit unions in Canada and the U.S., Desjardins pioneered youth savings clubs and in-school “banks,” known as caisses scolaires.

He established caisse populaires, cooperative savings and loan companies, to encourage the working classes to save and plan for the future and provided the credit they needed for economic recovery.

This award honors credit unions, chapters and leagues for their commitment to both youth and adult financial literacy.

Bayport President and CEO George R. Dudley Jr. accepted the award on behalf of the credit union.

“We are extremely pleased to be once again recognized for our commitment to adult financial literacy, especially during these challenging economic times,” he said. “BayPort will continue to be a leader in providing financial education tools and programs for the entire Hampton Roads community.”