New York Ad Campaign: Credit Unions For You

NEW YORK – Millions of commuters to Manhattan and upstate will be greeted by a new credit union pitch this fall, to coincide with International Credit Union Week. As part of a three-week ad campaign run, TV and radio spots will be airing in Albany, Buffalo, Syracuse and Long Island, and billboards will be placed in communities surrounding New York City to tout the credit union difference, "Open to You, True to You." The ads, coordinated by the New York CU League, were designed by Oklahoma-based Third Degree Advertising, which has created media campaigns for Tinker FCU, Mission FCU, Allegiance FCU and Delta Community CU, as well as the Oklahoma CU League. Bonnie Sklar, spokesperson for the New York League, said the focus of the campaign is to educate consumers about credit unions and eligibility to join. The visual cornerstone of the campaign is a blue marker, with which consumers will be challenged to ‘make their mark’ to control their finances. The League is passing out tens of thousands of blue markers with the website, CreditUnionsFORYOU.com, where consumers can find a CU near them. The league also will be making supplementary materials available to credit unions, including four-color posters, web banners and buttons, branded markers, and the use of radio spots, two in English and one in Spanish. “This is the first time we have done ads targeting consumers and the general public," said Sklar, noting a recent ad campaign targeted state lawmakers.