GTE Financial observes 80th anniversary with “Home Free” contest

One of Florida's largest credit unions, GTE Financial, is poised to celebrate eight decades of service to Tampa’s residents and businesses with yearlong anniversary specials culminating in an October contest giveaway, the company announced Tuesday.

"Home Free with GTE" will award one lucky winner 80 months of mortgage or rental payments in an amount up to $160,000, as well as a 36-month equivalent prize to one GTE employee in an amount up to $72,000. The contest has drawn over 1,700 member entries since its June 30 inception.

"We want to highlight our 80th anniversary celebration by thanking our members for their loyalty and trust throughout the years with a giveaway that can truly change someone's life," Joe Brancucci, GTE Financial president and CEO, said. "We also want to recognize the dedication of our employees who deliver the GTE member experience every day and put our members and community first. Our Home Free contest emphasizes our belief in home ownership and the spirit of giving back."

The Home Free contest is accepting entries through Friday, Aug. 14, for both members and employees. Ten member finalists and 20 employee finalists will be chosen by GTE’s executive management team; in a novel approach, the selection process will be partially influenced by public voting via Facebook.

Contest entrants are asked to write about how winning would change their lives. Winners will be announced at a company event planned for Oct. 24 in Tampa.

GTE was established in downtown Tampa as Peninsula Telephone Employees and Credit Union in 1935, just one year after the Federal Credit Union Act was enacted into law. The union was listed as the Tampa Bay area’s fourth largest credit union as of June 2014, with over 234,000 members.