WASHINGTON -- The Department of Treasury recently honored twocredit unions for the "exceptional" results with the agency's "GoDirect" campaign.

The Go Direct campaign supports the agency's longstandingefforts to shift from paper payments to direct deposit.

At a July 24 ceremony, $29 million Interstate Unlimited FCU and$510 million Utilities Employees CU were named "Champions" in thesmall tier category. In addition to the nine winners, 58 otherparticipating financial institutions also performed better than theindustry average in their respective tiers, according toTreasury.

A total of 133 financial institutions representing more than25,000 branches nationwide participated in the Go Direct Championsprogram, which tracked their increases in Social Security andSupplemental Security Income ACH payments over a six-month periodending June 30. Participating banks and credit unions were groupedin three tiers according to size--small, medium and large--and thetop three performers in each of the tiers are being recognized asChampions.

More than 700 financial institutions are involved in the overallGo Direct campaign to inform federal benefit recipients about theadvantages of direct deposit and to help them sign up for it.

The Go Direct Champions are:

Large Tier Champions

First Place -- Washington Mutual, Seattle

Second Place -- Citibank, New York

Third Place -- Chase, New York

Medium Tier Champions

First Place -- Woodforest National Bank, The Woodlands,Texas

Second Place -- Commerce Bank National Association, Cherry Hill,N.J.

Third Place -- First National Bank Texas, Killeen, Texas

Small Tier Champions

First Place: Interstate Unlimited Federal Credit Union, Jesup,Ga.

Second Place: Utilities Employees Credit Union, Sinking Spring,Pa.

Third Place: Guaranty Bank, Milwaukee, Wis.

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