Credit Union Press Releases

Elizabeth 'Sis' Hamilton has made a lasting impact on both the state and national credit union movement in a career that spans seven decades.

Elizabeth “Sis” Hamilton won the prestigious Ronald J. Hutchins Award as the outstanding Credit Union Volunteer Person of the Year at the 77th annual meeting of the North Carolina Credit Union League (NCCUL). Hamilton received the award, one of the highest honors bestowed to credit union people in North Carolina, in a special awards ceremony held Monday evening, June 11th.

The Ronald J. Hutchins Award is given each year to a credit union professional and volunteer in order to recognize their outstanding accomplishments, time and effort given in support and promotion of the credit union ideal of people helping people. A committee made up of statewide credit union leaders selected Hamilton to receive the award.

Hamilton’s service to the credit union movement in NC and nationwide extends back to 1943 – nearly 70 years. She began her career in credit unions in 1943 and helped organize and manage many credit unions through the years. Hamilton has also been a stalwart at Summit, serving on the board of directors continuously since 1943. Today, she serves as the treasurer of the board.

Hamilton’s volunteer service to credit unions also extends to the national credit union movement. She has served on the board of the Credit Union National Association and the National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors. These key roles are two of many ways in which Hamilton has left a lasting impact on credit unions in NC and the US.

Hamilton is a past winner of Credit Union Career Person of the Year Award (1973), the Mark of Excellence Award (1985) and the Larry Johnson Order of Merit Lifetime Achievement Award (2007). The Order of Merit is the highest individual honor a credit union person may receive in NC.