Growth strategies

LOS ANGELES – Six months after introducing a program it calls “Member Benefits,” which is designed to “reward those members most invested in the success of their credit union, while asking those who are not engaged to help pay their fair share,” Los Angeles Police FCU said it has seen increased profitability and changed member behavior.

Nutmeg State FCU has launched a new "Banking Awesome" campaign.

ERIE, Penn. – Widget Financial, known until recently as Erie General Electric CU, launched its new Widget Kidz Zone at the Millcreek Mall with several “super heroes” on hand and a meet and greet with Nathan Kress, best known as Freddie Benson from Nickelodeon’s iCarly.

SHELTON, Wash. – Peninsula Community CU has partnered with CUSO Financial Services, L.P. to provide wealth management services to its members.

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – ORNL FCU said it is promoting local businesses this month with a Cash Mob campaign.

NEW YORK – Credit unions can increase non-interest income by building deeper relationships with members, especially the growing multitude of new members added over the past 18 months, according to one expert speaking at America’s CU Conference Tuesday.

OGDEN, Utah – Goldenwest CU said this morning it has agreed to combine with Logan-based USU Charter CU to create a credit union with almost $1 billion in assets serving 105,000 members.

VIENNA, Va. – Navy Federal Credit Union announced a three-year marketing and sponsorship contract with the Army Athletic Association and Army Sports Properties, its multimedia rights holder.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Valley Co-op CU and Preferred FCU completed their combination yesterday and have applied to Michigan regulators for a broad community field of membership encompassing 28 counties and 2.5 million people in the western part of the state, from Traverse City to Lansing to the Indiana border.

NEW YORK – What does the future hold for credit unions? If the overflow attendance at one session during CUNA’s America’s Credit Union Conference here is any indication, plenty of people would like to know.

NEW YORK – Best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell told attendees of CUNA’s America’s CU Conference a little guy may enter a fight as an underdog, but the underdog can overcome with constant pressure, what is known in basketball as a “full-court press.”

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. – CO-OP Financial Services is beginning the first phase of what it says is a comprehensive marketing initiative to rebrand and promote credit union shared branching.

There are five steps credit unions can take to offset the regulatory pressures affecting fee income in two areas, according to a pair of analysts.

NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana CU League has launched an eight-week advertising campaign that will include TV, radio, billboard and online ads.

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State University FCU has signed an expanded financial deal with Oakland University that will provide grants and scholarships, on-campus ATMs and branches, and marketing deals.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Piedmont Advantage CU will be giving away free $20 gas cards to the first 100 people who visit the credit union’s recently opened Wilmington branch Friday morning.

SAN ANGELO, Texas – The home of Angelo State University’s Rams will be renamed after 1st Community FCU after the credit union made a contribution to the school to make help finance the remodeling.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – 121 Financial CU used the latest video technology in the form of a helicopter drone to identify and record the location and facilities of each of its Jacksonville branches for a series of online videos and television commercials.

Any credit union can make an impression with its marketing and branding. But as one person stressed during Credit Union Journal's Grow Show, a CU must repeatedly hammer away at the same message while also giving people a reason to take notice.

Plenty of credit unions sponsor events, but one CU that has had particular success backing a local concert series reminded that it's important the branding promotion not get lost in the potential for cross sales.