SEATTLE – Resident were lining up around the corner of Seattle Metropolitan CU’s downtown branch yesterday morning, even before the credit union began videotaping locals as part of a campaign that asked how they would use $10 to help someone else.
The credit union had invited the public to become YouTube stars in the videotaped event by sharing how they would use the funds to help others. Seattle Met had limited participation in the promotion to the first 200 people to share a story beginning at 10 a.m., and by the time the Credit Union Journal visited the line ran out the front door and around the corner.
Jill Vicente, chief of marketing for the $540 million credit union, said she was not surprised at the strong turnout even as the event was not yet an hour old. "We’ve been planning this for half a year," Vicente told The Credit Union Journal. "and I think the timing and the (economic) environment are lending themselves to it."
Participants were invited to step before a camera and answer how they would put the money to use. All of the videotaped responses will be placed on Seattle Met’s’s website at www.7principles.coop.
All Seattle Met employees were wearing orange t-shirts emblazoned with www.7principles.coop. The seven principles are the basis for credit unions and cooperatives, noted Vicente, and the video promotion and the site are designed to connect the credit union with its community. Vicente said several people had asked about the seven principles.
At least one person said he planned to join Seattle Met as a result of the principles he heard about. "I also intend to join as the result of the fact many of my friends have said this credit union has an outstanding reputation," said Brian Bozeman.
The public is being invited to watch the videos from Oct. 14 to Oct. 19 and vote for the top seven winners. Each of those winners will receive $1,000 to give to a favorite cause or person as highlighted in their video.
"There has been a lot of genuine interest. People are getting to see the difference between a bank and a credit union, getting to see that we are a co-op," explained Vicente, adding the credit union "could have just written a check or made a donation," but the $10 giveaway tied to charity was a more effective means of reinforcing the credit union’s message.
When credit union representatives heard a particularly appealing or touching story about how the $10 were used, they handed the person a total of $100. Vicente said it was all about the "inherent spirit" of giving and of connecting the credit union’s mission with members.
