As a cornerstone of its longstanding dedication to community progress and educational advancement, Nexa Credit Union has officially distributed its annual Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment (CPEA) grant awards, extending tangible financial support to member families of top-performing primary school graduates across Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. The 2026 grant distribution ceremony was hosted on 18 August at the credit union’s St. George’s headquarters, bringing together a diverse group of qualifying recipients to mark the occasion.
This year, 135 eligible students secured the one-time education grant, designed to offset the often heavy financial burden of back-to-school preparations for transitioning secondary students. In remarks delivered during the ceremony, Nexa Credit Union General Manager Retesha Smith-Boyd emphasized the initiative’s core mission. “At Nexa Credit Union, we take great pride in standing alongside our members and their families, while celebrating the dedication and academic excellence of the young people who have worked so hard to earn this achievement,” Smith-Boyd said. “This program is more than a financial award—it is a reflection of our ongoing promise to invest in education and empower the next generation, no matter what path they choose to pursue.”
To qualify for the CPEA grant, applicants must meet clear eligibility requirements that align the program with Nexa’s focus on responsible financial stewardship: student’s parents or guardians must be active Nexa members in good financial standing, holding a minimum of $300 in fully paid-up shares. This structure ensures the initiative simultaneously rewards sound financial habits among members and opens pathways for educational progress.
Each grant carries a total value of $300, split into two purpose-driven allocations. The first $250 is deposited directly into the qualifying member’s main account, earmarked for essential back-to-school needs including school uniforms, textbooks, notebooks and other classroom supplies that make up a large share of back-to-school costs for families. The remaining $50 is issued as a Smart Saver voucher, which is either credited to the student’s existing youth savings account or used to open a new account. This split structure is intentional, designed to foster a lifelong habit of saving and smart financial decision-making from childhood.
Nexa’s Smart Saver program, the youth-focused savings product that underpins the grant’s savings component, has recently been updated to further incentivize academic success. Under the revised terms, secondary students who maintain an A average on their term report cards now qualify for periodic cash bonuses, deposited directly into their Smart Saver accounts at the end of each academic term.
In a new enhancement to the 2026 CPEA grant program, Nexa has partnered with local business Cathwills Stationery Services to offer all grant recipients an extra 15% discount on all purchases storewide. The collaboration amplifies support for families, stretching education dollars further to cover necessary school supplies as students prepare to begin the new academic year.
The CPEA grant initiative is one of Nexa Credit Union’s longest-running community programs, rooted in the cooperative’s core mission of lifting up members and investing in Grenada’s future through youth empowerment. On behalf of Nexa’s Board of Directors, senior leadership team and all staff, congratulations were extended to every 2026 grant recipient, with well wishes for continued academic and personal success in their upcoming secondary education and future endeavors.
For full details on the 2026 CPEA grant distribution, additional program information and application details for future cycles, interested parties can visit the official Nexa Credit Union website at nexacreditunion.com, or follow the credit union’s official Facebook and Instagram pages for updates.