Continued recognition reflects commitment to members, community.
Sunward Federal Credit Union is proud to be recognized as Albuquerque’s Best Credit Union in the Albuquerque Journal Readers’ Choice Awards for the third year in a row, a reflection of continued commitment to members and communities.
Every year, thousands of Albuquerque Journal readers vote for the people, places, and organizations that stand out across the city. Sunward is honored to be voted by these readers as the Best Credit Union in the city — in 2024, 2025, and now again in 2026.
“We’re committed to 'banking made better,' an intentional focus on crafting extraordinary experiences for our members and our community,” said Steph Sherrodd, President and CEO of Sunward. “Your votes are a testament to our employees who deliver that level of service every day. It’s their deep commitment to one another, our members, and our communities that makes Sunward a special place.”
Alongside Best Credit Union recognition, Sunward was also named a Finalist in the Mortgage Lending Firm category. Sunward’s Lending team has continued to grow, delivering personalized service and building deep relationships with members throughout Albuquerque.
Sunward has significantly invested in Albuquerque over the past three years, the credit union acquired a pair of new Albuquerque branches in March 2025 and, most recently, opened a new location in the South Valley.
Sunward's growth in Albuquerque has since continued, with a pair of new local branches opening this fall — one on the city’s West Side, and another in Uptown.
Physical expansion has been matched with tangible community support. Unique initiatives like Sunpint and events like The Final Whistle Watch Party benefited local nonprofits, including Saranam and The Somos Unidos Foundation. Additionally, the annual Sunward Scholarship will support five students to pursue their educational dreams this year, the highest number of students supported yet.
These 2026 Readers’ Choice awards follow other recent recognitions of Sunward’s culture and service. Most recently, Albuquerque Business First selected Sunward as a Best Place to Work in New Mexico, a direct result of feedback from credit union employees. Sunward was also recently named as one of America’s Best Regional Credit Unions by Newsweek, alongside a pair of other local recognitions by Albuquerque the Magazine and CommunityVotes Rio Rancho.
As the credit union grows, investment in Albuquerque will continue, the heart of Sunward’s vision to drives the economic engine of the Southwest.
Sunward Federal Credit Union is one of New Mexico’s largest credit unions, serving over 175,000 members and managing more than $4.5 billion in assets. Formed in 1948 by employees of Sandia National Laboratories, Sunward’s footprint spans 16 branches across the Southwest and California.
Sunward has been named one of America’s Best Regional Credit Unions by Newsweek and recognized as a top local credit union by the Albuquerque Journal and Albuquerque Business First. Anyone can apply to open an account, and members can enjoy access to checking, savings, mortgage, auto, credit card and investment services.
Federally insured by NCUA. Equal Housing Lender. For more information, visit gosunward.org.
