Navy Federal Credit Union again wins national recognition for workplace culture

By Allison Stevens

Navy Federal Credit Union has once again been named one of Fortune’s Best Companies to Work For®, marking its 15th consecutive year and 16th overall earning this distinction. The recognition is based almost entirely on employee feedback, making it a powerful reflection of how team members experience the organization every day. We sat down with Chief Human Resources Officer Holly Kortright to talk about what makes Navy Federal a great place to work—and how trust, purpose and people continue to drive that success. 

Learn more about this prestigious award and hear from team members in their own words about what makes Navy Federal a unique and special place to work. 

Navy Federal: What does being named a Fortune 100 Best Company to Work For® mean to you and the organization? 

Holly Kortright: What makes this recognition so meaningful is that it comes directly from our employees. The Great-Place-to-Work model is rooted in trust—how people experience leadership, whether they feel respected and treated fairly, and how connected they feel to one another. When our employees consistently tell us they feel supported, valued and proud to work here, that’s a powerful affirmation of our Mission-First, People-Always culture. 

Earning this recognition year after year matters because it shows we’re not just doing the right things in the moment—we’re sustaining them. Being named a Fortune Great Place to Work For® for the 15th consecutive year and 16th year overall reflects our long term commitment to our people and to building a culture where trust isn’t just something we talk about, but something our employees experience every day. 

The feedback behind this recognition measures how consistently we create a positive employee experience across all backgrounds, roles and identities. While that consistency is something we’re proud of, we know it can only be maintained by continuously monitoring and adapting to meet the evolving needs of our diverse workforce.  

NF: What are the most pressing challenges HR leaders are navigating today? 

HK: One of the biggest challenges is building a future-ready organization at a pace we’ve never experienced before. Technology—especially AI—is evolving quickly, so our focus is on being thoughtful and proactive: testing carefully, weighing benefits and risks, and continuing to do what’s in the best interest of our members and employees as we move forward. Our core values guide every decision we make around responsible AI use. 

AI has incredible potential to enhance the employee experience, but how we introduce it matters. Trust is built when people understand why a tool is being used and how it supports—not replaces them. We’re intentional about using technology to streamline work, improve service and free employees to focus on higher value, more in-person interactions. Innovation should strengthen connection not weaken it. 

NF: Navy Federal has earned this recognition for 15 years in a row. What’s enabled that consistency? 

HK: Consistency comes from staying true to who we are while continuing to evolve. Our mission—to serve the military community and their families—creates a deep sense of pride and purpose for our employees, and that will never change. What does change is how we listen, how we support our people and how we respond to their needs. 

We take employee feedback seriously and use it to strengthen leadership practices, invest in well-being and foster inclusion. Through our enterprise survey conducted every 18 months, a short, condensed survey between, and Anytime Feedback available year round, employees have multiple ways to share input as our workplace evolves. 

Anytime Feedback is a powerful complement to our surveys—and a gift to both employees and leaders—enabling real-time recognition, coaching and growth conversations when the work happens. Aligned with our Do. Learn. Grow. mindset, it reinforces that feedback is not reserved for formal milestones but is part of how we learn continuously, improve together and build trust over time. 

We also support our employees through meaningful benefits and partnerships—from education and well-being resources to programs that connect those with military ties to training and career opportunities. 

NF: What leadership lessons have shaped how you approach culture and people strategy? 

HK: One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that purpose, people and performance are inseparable. Strong leaders care deeply about results, but they care just as much—if not more—about their teams and the members we serve. Leadership is also deeply relational—it’s about building trust, collaborating across the organization and creating space for innovation. During times of change, optimism and transparency matter more than ever. 

NF: What separates the strongest leaders and teams from the rest? 

HK: Great leaders are great coaches. They focus on developing talent and lead with empathy and trust while also thinking strategically and remaining agile. The strongest teams work across boundaries—not in silos—creating feedback loops that invite ideas, encourage open listening and enable teams to solve problems together. 

That sense of shared ownership is a powerful driver of trust and performance. 

With more than 25,000 employees worldwide and over 15 million members, leadership has a direct impact on our culture. Sustaining a great place to work starts with hiring and developing leaders who embody our culture and values by building trust, fostering learning and prioritizing employee well-being. 

NF: What role does our mission play in creating pride at Navy Federal? 

HK: Whether serving members on phones or in our branches or supporting teams from our back office, our shared mission is a powerful source of pride for our employees. We serve all branches of the military—Active Duty, Veterans, civilians, contractors and their families—and that mission is deeply personal for many of our employees. Nearly half of our branch workforce has direct military ties, and Veterans and military spouses make up a significant portion of our new hires. That connection creates a strong sense of purpose and belonging, which is foundational to a great workplace.