Good news in the “workplaces that actually get it” department: Chartway Credit Union just landed the 2026 Best Places to Work for Women Award.
The recognition comes courtesy of Best Companies Group, an independent research firm that partners with BridgeTower Media to figure out which employers are genuinely walking the walk when it comes to supporting their teams.
Rebecca Riordan, Chartway’s chief people and culture officer, kept it refreshingly real when talking about the award. “This recognition reflects the culture our team members create every day,” she said. “Receiving this award is an honor, it reinforces our commitment to fostering a workplace where people feel supported, valued, and empowered to grow.”
Here’s how the whole thing works: Companies that want in on the recognition kick off a survey process with Best Companies Group. The firm then digs through the data, comparing responses across all participating organizations with a laser focus on what women employees are actually experiencing day-to-day. Winners rise to the top based on that comparative analysis—think of it as a report card where employees grade their own workplace.
“The Best Places to Work for Women winners demonstrate leadership in equity, opportunity and retention,” explained Jaime Raul Zepeda, executive vice president of Best Companies Group and COLOR Magazine. “These workplaces excel in creating environments where women employees thrive. At Best Companies Group, we are pleased to certify this honor that recognizes employers who know, recognize and appreciate their female talent.”
And this isn’t Chartway’s first rodeo. The credit union is basically collecting workplace awards like infinity stones at this point. Through Best Companies Group programs this year alone, they’ve been named one of American Banker’s Best Credit Unions to Work For nationally for six straight years, snagged a Best Place to Work in Utah title for the third year running, and earned Virginia’s Best Places to Work honors for the second consecutive year.
The credit union currently serves more than 265,000 members across a growing network of branches in Texas, Utah, and southern Virginia—proof that you can scale up without sacrificing the culture that makes people actually want to show up to work.