MANCHESTER– St. Mary’s Bank (www.stmarysbank.com) was honored by the Web Marketing Association (WMA) for Best Credit Union Website for 2008. Selected from a field of credit unions, from throughout the United States and International, St. Mary’s micro-site, Celebrating 100 Years of the Nation’s First Credit Union, received the highest votes and accolades from an International panel of judges.

“To be acknowledged by a distinguished panel of judges, representing 37 countries and numerous Fortune 500 Companies, is an honor and accomplishment,” said St. Mary’s Bank president and CEO, Ronald Covey. “St. Mary’s Bank was equally proud to share its’ history, heritage, culture – 100 Years in the making - via this award winning website,” added Covey. “Not only was the micro-site informative, yet it was also interactive for our members and visitors,” added Covey. “Members and visitors could enter monthly giveaway contests and were eligible for prizes ranging from iPhones to vacation stays. The $100,000 promotional giveaway we developed with WZID – Bags to Riches - resulted in a $10,000 prize for a contestant,” said Covey.

The 700 websites submitted for a WMA WebAward, which includes 96 business categories, were evaluated on: design; ease of use; copywriting; interactivity; use of technology; innovation; and content. Now in its’ 12 year, the WMA WebAward is the standards-defining competition that sets industry benchmarks for the best web sites on a global level. For more information, visit www.webaward.org.