Why It's Now Easy-And Smart-Being Green

MADISON, Wis. - With environmental issues making headlines, anything credit unions can do to show they are committed to keeping their small part of the world green makes good business sense.

"The key is that a lot of people are thinking about environmental issues, there's a lot of awareness of this, so when the credit union does something along these lines, it's received well," said CUNA's Mike Schenk. "It seems like there are a lot of things you could do-simple, cheap things-that you can brag about."

Some credit unions are doing just that, offering a variety of special auto loan rates for hybrids, often referred to as "green auto loans." Others are looking at offering special rates on home equity loans for home improvement projects that will make a house more environmentally friendly.

Even without offering special rates and incentives, a credit union can promote a variety of their products and services with a "green twist" to them, Schenk said.

Of course, any improvement a credit union makes at its own facilities that make it more ecologically correct is call for boasting, he added.