Signet FCU Turns Its Origin Story Into a Competitive Advantage—and a National Award

Signet Federal Credit Union, a community institution in Paducah, Kentucky founded in 1939, won Category's Best in Brand Awareness at the 2026 Diamond Awards for "Voices of the Vault," a video storytelling campaign featuring the credit union's past CEOs sharing its history and values. It was the credit union's first-ever national marketing award.

The campaign connected Signet's origin—railroad workers pooling coins in a suitcase to help each other through hard times—to the institution it is today, the oldest financial institution founded in Paducah still in operation. The Diamond Awards, run by America's Credit Unions Marketing, PR & Development Council, drew a record 1,481 submissions this year, with 181 organizations from 42 states recognized.

Remarkably, the entire campaign was created by a one-person marketing team. "Voices of the Vault was built to honor the people, sacrifice, and service that shaped this institution from the very beginning," said Katelynn Rowe, VP of marketing and communications at Signet and Financial Narrative member. "We wanted to tell a story that felt honest to who we are—rooted in history, built by community, and still deeply relevant today."

Full story: Signet FCU - Voices of the Vault playlist - 2026 Diamond Awards