Suncoast pledges $500,000 to Bethune-Cookman.
The Tampa-based credit union is extending a partnership inherited through its merger with Launch Credit Union while expanding its broader investment in Florida education.
Suncoast Credit Union is putting another $500,000 into higher education in Florida, committing $50,000 a year for the next decade to Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach while carrying forward a charitable partnership that came through its recent merger with Launch Credit Union.
The commitment includes an immediate $50,000 donation to Bethune-Cookman, supporting homecoming activities as well as programs intended to help students succeed inside and outside the classroom. Suncoast presented the donation during the university’s 2026 Homecoming on Sept. 19.
The long-term pledge is designed to continue Launch Credit Union’s previous support for students in Brevard and Volusia counties. Suncoast said the commitment will help preserve that investment while expanding opportunities for students at the private historically Black university.
“Together, the immediate gift and long-term commitment reflect Suncoast's dedication to higher education, student achievement and strong communities across Florida,” said Kevin Johnson, president and chief executive of Suncoast Credit Union.
Suncoast is one of the country’s largest credit unions, with $20.8 billion in assets and 1.4 million members. It earned $90.4 million in the first six months of 2026, down from $101.9 million in the same period a year earlier, according to NCUA call report data.
The Bethune-Cookman commitment is part of a much larger education effort. Suncoast and the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation plan to invest approximately $3.75 million this year in schools, scholarships and educational programs across Florida.
The Foundation, established in 1990, has provided more than $68 million to organizations across the state. Its grants are limited to tax-exempt organizations in Suncoast’s service area that demonstrate measurable impact on the education, health and emotional well-being of children.
Story continued below…
FREE PAMPHLET
Bringing AI-native deep intelligence to Tyfone’s AI-first solution.
Most credit unions and community banks don’t have an AI strategy yet, and account holders aren’t waiting. They’re already comparing every digital experience, banking included, to ChatGPT. Stand still and get left behind.
Fathom is the AI layer woven throughout Tyfone’s digital banking ecosystem, combining account holder financial data, institutional knowledge, and native banking experiences into a single intelligence layer.
The foundation’s funding is tied in part to a program called Pennies Add Up. Suncoast contributes four cents each time a member uses a Suncoast debit or credit card, with the resulting funds directed to schools and organizations serving children in members’ communities.
That structure gives the credit union’s charitable giving a direct connection to member activity. Every card transaction contributes a small amount to the foundation’s pool of funds, which is then distributed through grants.
Suncoast’s relationship with Bethune-Cookman also extends beyond financial contributions. Its employees participate in career fairs and job-shadowing panels, conduct financial education workshops and create internship and hiring opportunities for students.
The credit union said its employees have engaged with more than 800 Bethune-Cookman students on financial well-being to date.
Johnson said the partnership reflects a longer-term commitment to students and educators.
“Our partnership with Bethune-Cookman University is built on a shared commitment to student success, and we look forward to helping students and educators succeed for years to come,” he said.
For Bethune-Cookman, the Suncoast funding supports both the university’s immediate programming and a longer relationship with a large financial institution in the state.
For Suncoast, the commitment is another example of how the credit union is using its scale to support education throughout Florida. The organization was founded by educators in 1934 and says education remains a central part of its community work.
The $500,000 Bethune-Cookman pledge also illustrates how a merger can carry charitable commitments from one institution into another. Suncoast said it will continue Launch Credit Union’s legacy of support in Brevard and Volusia counties even as the combined organization operates under the Suncoast name.
The result is a partnership that extends well beyond a single check. Over the next 10 years, the credit union expects to maintain annual funding while continuing to place employees on campus, engage students through financial education and create pathways into internships and jobs.
For Suncoast, the investment is part of a broader effort to use its financial resources and member relationships to support educational opportunities across Florida — from classroom programs and scholarships to the next generation of workers entering the state’s communities.
“Our partnership with Bethune-Cookman University is built on a shared commitment to student success, and we look forward to helping students and educators succeed for years to come.”
Kevin Johnson
President and CEO
Suncoast Credit Union
Ken McCarthy is manager of marketing communications at Tyfone, where he monitors the credit union industry and contributes to conversations shaping its future. He previously covered credit unions and community banking for American Banker and S&P Global Market Intelligence. He holds a journalism degree from Point Park University and has more than 15 years of experience covering financial services. He is also the author of three literary fiction novels.
