Tower FCU Signs Up 2,000 Members For BillPay, E-Statements

The $1.5-billion Tower FCU said it signed up more than 2,000 members during the first month of a two-month campaign for its online billpay, electronic statements and debit cards during which it gave away stuffed black bears as a premium. Tower Fcu said its branches shifted the promotion into high gear by having a "Creative Bear" competition. For instance, tellers and service representatives at the Millersville, Md. branch used the black bears to construct displays to show members how Tower's Bill Payment pays bills automatically in "bearly" seconds, how eStatements give online access to monthly statements when members can't "bear" paper clutter, and why "bearing" a debit card is convenient and gets them cash. During January alone, more than 2,300 members signed up to receive electronic statements, making Tower members with paperless account summaries total more than 15,000. Tower reported that in 2004, members enrolled in its online bill payment service totaled more than 5,100-an increase of 50%.