Brand experience company and clients recognized for excellence in credit union brand and marketing
Tuesday, September 22, 2026 – From rebrands to branch merchandising, Adrenaline is proud to celebrate three client wins in the 2026 MAC Awards competition, recognizing the top credit union marketing campaigns in the country. Presented by the Marketing Association of Credit Unions, these annual awards honor outstanding brand and marketing work across a range of disciplines, with entries evaluated for results, creativity, strategy, and planning. This year’s winners include Beginnings Credit Union for brand transformation, Empeople Credit Union for branch merchandising, and Mirastar Federal Credit Union for logo design. We’re honored to spotlight the original marketing campaigns created in partnership with our clients.
Beginnings Credit Union Earns Gold for Rebrand
Adrenaline partnered with Beginnings Credit Union on a brand transformation to convey a clear and compelling story for members, employees, and the broader market. The rename and rebrand from CFCU to Beginnings was focused on developing a brand experience that honors the organization’s legacy while positioning the credit union for meaningful engagement and future growth. Beginnings Credit Union’s new name and brand platform is grounded in the idea that every financial journey starts somewhere. Paired with the positioning, “Connecting Possibilities,” the brand establishes a clear expression of purpose that honors the credit union’s legacy while creating room to grow.
Empeople Earns Gold for Branch and Point-of-Sale Merchandising
Adrenaline worked with Empeople Credit Union to translate their future-focused vision into physical spaces that could support a low- to no-transaction approach, while also addressing a network shaped by inherited conditions, legacy layouts, and varying levels of investment. For the branch, Empeople needed a model that could function differently, scale across geographies, and signal a shift in how the credit union shows up for their members and markets. The outcome was a clear, repeatable approach for branch design that brings brand continuity to a diverse network while allowing each location to reflect the local values that have made the credit union a trusted community partner for decades.
Mirastar Federal Credit Union Earns Silver for Brand Logo
Adrenaline partnered with Mirastar Federal Credit Union to design a new logo as the centerpiece of a larger rebrand and a distinctive visual expression of the credit union. The Mirastar logo was designed to speak to a broad and evolving audience while remaining authentic to the credit union’s roots. The visual language was intentionally designed to resonate across generations, cultures, and life stages. The symbol’s directional forms and central star reflect diverse journeys while reinforcing a shared destination: financial progress and community strength. This approach allowed the logo to connect emotionally with members who value personal guidance, optimism, and a people-first financial partner.
For more than 40 years, the Marketing Association of Credit Unions has brought credit union marketers together to exchange ideas, build skills, and advance marketing excellence across the industry. The MAC Awards recognize outstanding work from credit unions and their marketing partners, with entries judged on planning, creativity, and results. MAC’s marketing competition sets the industry standard for credit union brand awareness and excellence. Winners were celebrated live at the annual conference awards ceremony. Visit the MAC Awards website for the full list of this year’s honors.
To learn more about award-winning brand and marketing campaigns or to speak with one of Adrenaline’s brand experience experts, contact us today.
Adrenaline is an end-to-end brand experience company serving the financial industry. We move brands and businesses ahead by delivering on every aspect of their experience across digital and physical channels, from strategy through implementation. We create brands people love and engage audiences with story-led design and insights-driven marketing; and we design and build transformative brand experiences across branch networks, leading the construction of physical spaces that drive business advantage and make the brand experience real.
