FAIRHAVEN, Mass. — Less than five months after its product debut, First Citizens' Federal Credit Union said this week it has donated more than $22,000 to local veterans' organizations resulting from success of its “Hero Account.”

Under the program, the $425 million First Citizens' donates $50 to one of several military organizations designated by a member who opens one of the accounts offering rate cuts and reduced loan and checking fees. The account is being promoted by First Citizens' as a way of saying “thank you” to those serving in the military.

“This has been very well received and we even had a local banker say, 'we're sorry we didn't think of this,'” said Peter J. Muise, executive vice president/chief operating officer.

Launched in November 2007, the Hero Account includes what First Citizens' calls a “comprehensive package of banking services offering advantageous checking and savings rates, discounted personal, auto and home equity loan rates, reduced closing fees on mortgages” to any person currently serving or having served in any branch of the United States military.

Both local and national vets groups are beneficiaries of the donations with many “delighted to receive the kind of exposure they could never get without this extra plug,” said Muise. Among the groups receiving contributions is Homes for Our Troops, the Taunton, Mass-based group currently hooked up with CUNA to erect homes for wounded Iraqi and Afghanistan soldiers during this summer's Democratic and Republican national conventions.