Credit union members can now nominate their favorite local nonprofits to receive a Common Cents award from Cooperative Federal.

Common Cents is a special feature of Cooperative Federal's VISA Check Card. The purchases made with our VISA Check Cards generate “small change” (interchange income) for the credit union. Part of this interchange income is shared with nonprofit community organizations through the Common Cents program.

Members nominate and vote for their favorite nonprofit community organizations to receive these awards. Any credit union member can nominate an organization for Common Cents. To be eligible, an organization must have a 501(c)(3) designation or a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor.

All eligible groups nominated now through February 29, 2012 will be placed on the Common Cents ballot. Voting begins at the Annual Meeting, coming up on Sunday, March 11 (mark your calendars!), and lasts til the end of May.

Look for nomination forms at any Cooperative Federal lobby. You can also download a PDF of the common Cents nomination form and mail, fax (315-476-0567), or email to info@coopfed.org . And, don't forget to come vote at the Annual Meeting!