Bryan-College Station, April 29, 2026 - Aggieland Credit Union has been recognized for excellence in credit union marketing, taking home two Diamond Awards at America’s Credit Unions Marketing, PR & Development Council’s annual competition. The credit union was honored for its "Reinventing Engagement: the Howdy Hunt VR Experience," a cutting-edge campaign designed to welcome Texas A&M students to campus.
The Diamond Awards are prestigious credit union marketing honors. This year’s competition drew a record 1,481 submissions, with only 181 organizations selected as winners. Aggieland Credit Union secured top honors in the Cutting Edge category, which recognizes marketing ideas that break through the clutter by incorporating new technologies. It also won in the Community Partnerships and Endorsements category, which highlights compelling promotional tie-ins with local organizations and influencers.
“As an Aggie mom and a long-time member of this community, I know how special it is to be a part of the Texas A&M family,” said Tina Muth, Vice President and Market President for Aggieland Credit Union. “The Howdy Hunt was our way of welcoming students and their families with something truly unique that celebrates our shared traditions. Winning these Diamond Awards is an incredible honor, but the real reward was seeing the excitement on campus and knowing we’ve built a lasting connection with the next generation of Aggies.”
According to America's Credit Unions, the Diamond Awards recognize the best in credit union marketing across the country. “We are proud to recognize Aggieland Credit Union and this year’s Diamond Award winners for their entries that deliver both creativity and results,” said Lorrell Bellotti, Diamond Awards co-chair and chief marketing officer at Western Vista FCU. “These entries demonstrate an understanding of the people we serve and strategic execution that delivers measurable impact.”
The Howdy Hunt was an immersive virtual reality scavenger hunt that turned the Texas A&M campus into a digital playground. Using the Marbleverse app, students and families navigated campus to find 12 virtual “marbles.” Each marble represented a specific Aggieland Credit Union
debit card design and, when found, revealed a piece of Aggie history along with rewards from local businesses or entries into a grand prize sweepstakes for Ray-Ban Meta AI sunglasses and cash prizes.
By launching the first VR scavenger hunt on campus during New Student Conferences, Aggieland Credit Union bypassed traditional marketing noise to connect deeply with Gen Z. The campaign used influencer partnerships, extensive social media advertising, and on-campus outreach to engage thousands of students, positioning the credit union as a tech-forward leader in the financial industry.
