121 Financial proudly announces Tillery Durbin, 121 Financial’s director of business services, as the recipient of three prestigious awards during September 2020.

The awards, which collectively recognize and honor Durbin’s significant contributions toward improving the financial health and wellbeing of the credit union’s business members, include:

• 2020 Credit Union Rock Star by the Credit Union National Association (CUNA)
• 2020 U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) North Florida District Small Business Advocate of the Year
• 2020 Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Volunteer of the Year for UNF Region

CUNA’s Credit Union Rock Stars program recognizes outstanding credit union professionals and volunteers who use their unique strengths to advance the mission of their credit unions. Durbin was selected because of her exceptional creativity, innovation, and passion, and is featured on Credit Union Magazine, a website published by CUNA.

Every year, the SBA celebrates National Small Business Week through its awards program that recognizes the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. As the COVID-19 pandemic created significant challenges for small business owners, Durbin proactively facilitated nearly $30 million in Paycheck Protection Program loans, helping save more than 4,100 jobs in Northeast Florida. Durbin went beyond 121 Financial’s own membership to help as many local businesses as possible, earning her the prestigious recognition as North Florida’s Small Business Advocate of the Year.

The Florida SBDC Network, the state’s principal provider of business assistance, recognizes top personnel, volunteers and partners for their contributions to the network’s mission of helping small businesses grow and succeed during the 2020 Performance Excellence Awards. Durbin, who won the Volunteer of the Year award for her service during 2019, was recognized for her ongoing volunteer support of numerous FSBDC events, generating financial support for the FSBDC, and helping maintain the FSBDC at UNF’s office in Clay County, which provides Clay County businesses access to the organization’s services.

For more information, visit www.121fcu.org.