Great Lakes Credit Union (GLCU) is having a moment.
The credit union just snagged not one, but two prestigious national workplace awards for 2026: American Banker’s “Best Credit Unions to Work For” and Best Companies Group’s “Best Workplaces for Women.” Think of these as the Oscars of employee satisfaction—except way harder to fake your way through.
Here’s the thing about these awards: they’re not just some plaque-and-a-press-release situation. Both programs put organizations through a pretty intense two-part vetting process managed by Best Companies Group. Translation? You can’t just sweet-talk your way to a win.
The first phase digs deep into the nuts and bolts of how a company actually operates—workplace policies, benefits, company culture, demographics, and overall philosophy. It’s basically an organizational X-ray that reveals whether you walk the walk or just talk the talk.
GLCU President and CEO Steve Bugg gets why this recognition hits different. “Being selected as an employer of choice is deeply meaningful for GLCU because it reflects the heart of the organization: its people, its culture, and the way team members show up for one another each and every day,” he explains. The credit union’s strategy is straightforward: if you want to hit ambitious goals, you need to build a workplace where people actually want to show up and do great work.
Phase two is where things get real. Employees take a comprehensive, anonymous survey covering everything from leadership effectiveness to career development opportunities to workplace trust. No PR spin, no corporate filtering—just honest feedback about what it’s actually like to work there. The fact that GLCU came out on top speaks volumes about their workplace culture.
The numbers from American Banker’s survey tell an impressive story. At winning credit unions across the country, 87% of employees gave leadership and planning a thumbs up, 89% felt good about their work environment, and a whopping 91% rated their relationships with supervisors positively. GLCU stood out even among this elite group, earning recognition for its shared sense of purpose, competitive benefits package, and clear pathways for career advancement.
Barbara Castleton, Vice President of Executive Administration at GLCU, puts it simply: “Our employees are the foundation of everything we do, and these simultaneous recognitions reflect our ongoing effort to cultivate an inclusive, supportive, and empowering workplace.” She notes that winning both awards validates what GLCU has been working toward—creating an environment where every team member has the resources, voice, and opportunities they need to genuinely thrive.
In other words, GLCU is proving that putting people first isn’t just good ethics—it’s good business.