United Teletech Financial has scored well above its goal to savemembers $1 million.

The credit union’s campaign, the “Million Dollar CommunityChallenge,” started at the beginning of the summer and challengedmembers to unite to save a million dollars in interest. The goalwas surpassed as members saved more than $1.8 million thissummer.

“Community members not only accepted the challenge, but farsurpassed our expectations for how much they saved,” Leo R. Ardine,CEO of the Tinton Falls, N.J.-based credit union, said. “We’re truly pleased that by participating,they not only helped themselves but the community as well.”

Besides helping individuals, the challenge also benefited fivecharities–Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Monmouth & Middlesexcounties, Clean Ocean Action, FoodBank of Monmouth and Oceancounties, Monmouth County SPCA and The Salvation Army-Red BankCorps. Each charity was awarded $1,000 for participating.

“This campaign has been about more than just saving money oninterest rates. The challenge has created an educationalopportunity for people to become informed on making sound financialdecisions,” Ardine said.