News & Events

Capitol Credit Union is proud to announce that Pierre Cardenas and the entire CCU team have been recognized with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) Commissioner's Award of Excellence for their unwavering commitment to foster youth through our involvement with the Preparing for Adult Living (PAL) program.

This prestigious award highlights CCU’s role as a champion of innovation and service, specifically for our efforts in creating financial inclusion opportunities for youth in the foster care system. Over the past two and a half years, Capitol Credit Union has worked closely with DFPS to provide foster youth with mobile banking accessibility with embedded financial education, along with financial mentorship support from the CCUTX Team. Once the program went live in mid-2024 nearly 100 bank accounts have been opened for foster youth - a critical step in helping them transition into financial independence.

Being part of the Texas Foster Youth PAL initiative has required collaboration from our dedicated team members, and this recognition is a powerful testament to their passion and perseverance. The Commissioner’s Award of Excellence reflects not only the work we’ve done, but the impact we continue to make in the lives of Texas foster youth.

I am honored to work alongside Pierre and his team at Capitol Credit Union for the common goal of helping youth to prepare for their successful transition from foster care to adult living by opening a bank account and learning important financial literacy skills.

-Gaye Vopat

Team Lead-Transitional Living Services
Child Protective Services

We are incredibly honored to receive this award and even more proud of the momentum we’re building. Congratulations to the entire Capitol Credit Union team - your dedication is helping to shape a brighter future for young people across our state.

Let’s continue to lead with purpose, compassion, and community at the heart of everything we do.

Learn more about our PAL program below

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