If you measured a financial institution’s popularity by the number of Occupy Burlington protesters loitering outside, Citizens Bank would surely take the cake. But in this year’s Daysies — after years of lingering in the runner-up slot — New England Federal Credit Union heisted the top honor from Merchants Bank. 

Of course, given the state’s recent ruling that credit unions can’t use the word “bank” or “banking” in their advertising, we’re a little puzzled about what to call that thing we do when we deposit — or, more likely — withdraw our cash from New England Federal. So we put the question to the bank’s, ahem, credit union’s senior marketing executive, Cindy Morgan.

SEVEN DAYS: If I can’t use the word “banking,” what one word should I be using?

CINDY MORGAN: You’re conducting financial transactions. I can’t use one word, though.

SD: Where do you do your banking?

CM: I conduct my financial business at New England Federal Credit Union.

—Paul Heintz