INVERCARGILL, New Zealand – Southland Credit Union (SCU) has been presented the People Helping People Award by the New Zealand Association of Credit Unions (NZACU). The annual award goes to a credit union that made a definable difference in the lives of one or more members. This is the second time SCU has won the award. SCU was selected because of its Credit Union Loan Challenge started in April 2005 to help members save on loan products by rates that were more than competitive with non-bank lenders. In SCU's case loans were priced almost 50% cheaper. SCU is managed by Andrew Leys, one of the first winners of the World Council of Credit Union's (WOCCU) Young People's awards. When Leys joined SCU in the 1990s he was new to the job market. The credit union was on the verge of disintegrating. Leys and his staff were able to turn the credit union around. Since then the credit union has expanded both its services and membership Neil McDonald, NZACU's chairman and WOCCU board member, presented the award. Leys credited his staff for the work that made the program successful. [email protected]