Archive for Credit Unions
Can Credit Unions Afford a National Campaign?
The subject of a national campaign for credit unions has been widely debated over the years. Some argue about whether it should be a brand campaign or an awareness campaign. Others dispute what such a
The Biggest Credit Union Social Media Study Ever
There is little doubt that social media is here to stay. As the list of organizations jumping on the bandwagon grows every second, the same business questions continue to arise: How do we execute it
The Weirdest Credit Union Videos on YouTube
[Note: This is a companion piece with today's other story, "Credit unions on YouTube: 2008 vs. 2009."] Meet David Jimenez Are Hispanic robots common at credit unions? Banks Suck Literally… as in a vacuum sucking
Credit Union Core Values: Any Different Than Banks?
The Financial Brand first looked at the core values of 50 banks. Now, we’re repeating the exercise, but this time we’re looking at credit unions’ core values. How are they different? How are they similar?
Dividends: A Huge Differentiator for Credit Unions
Filene recently released an excellent report that tackled this question: “What is ‘the credit union brand’ good for?” It’s a fair question. In the war for retail financial services, the battle line between banks and
Credit Unions, Welcome to the TARP Bailout…
“Credit unions have joined the long line of bailout recipients.” – NPR’s Marketplace For the past few months, the mainstream media had been heaping mounds and mounds of glowing press on credit unions. But last
Meltdown Marketing: 3 Things Credit Unions Must Do
No matter how the financial rescue plan unfolds, the financial industry as a whole will not go back to the way it was. This challenging economic climate provides a historic opportunity for the credit union
Credit unions glow in media spotlight (Part IV)
Back in September, as the economy began disintegrating, an unusual trend began to emerge. The media — who had been ignoring credit unions for decades — all of a sudden started talking about these member-owned
When will the media’s infatuation with credit unions end?
Before September 2008, you would almost never see a story about credit unions anywhere in the news. For decades, the mainstream media essentially ignored this sleepy sector of the financial industry. But these days, the
‘Banking’ Isn’t the B-Word Credit Unions Struggle With
People still argue about whether credit unions should use the word “banking” or not. The concern is that if credit unions use the B-word, they make themselves more like banks. If legislators can’t see any
The 7 Deadly Branding Sins
Here’s a webinar titled “The 7 Deadly Branding Sins.” These are the 7 biggest strategic errors financial institutions make. They are broad generalized observations based on my first-hand experience evaluating 75 financial brands over an
As if credit unions need another reminder…
Need more proof that existing market conditions are creating an optimal environment for credit unions to flourish? Here it is. “As banks struggle, credit unions get rush of new customers.” — The News Tribune “Credit
Check these stories out
Here are recent stories of interest from around the web. Click on the hotlinks to read the full story. Taking the Initiative: Credit unions don’t wait for leagues to run ‘soundness’ ads Wanton Wants: Americans’
The media falls in love with credit unions
Here are over a dozen references to credit unions in the mainstream media in recent weeks. Most of them stop shy of outright endorsements, but many of them unabashedly urge people to make the switch.
Wrap up of recent financial name changes
Orange County Teachers becomes SchoolsFirst (April) “After years of research,” the nation’s largest credit union for school employees picks a new name that is more geographically representative and inclusive of all school employees, not just
Branding briefs for August 29, 2008
How To: Avoid legal cow pies when rebranding Text for Tix: Chase gives away US Open tickets via texting promo Cash Cow Gets Plugged: Banks put stopper in home equity spigot DeNovo: Investors pick strange
The “Convenience” Paradox
Filene just released an interesting study called “Who’s Joining Credit Unions.” Of particular interest is data that suggests a paradox between how people feel about branches and how they actually use them. While credit union
First Half of 2008 Shows Growth for Credit Unions
Member Growth: +1.3% to 88 million Savings: +7.0% to $676.9 billion Loans: +3.7% to $546.4 billion Investments: +17.3% to $167.0 billion Assets: +6.5% to $802.5 billion Net Worth: +5.62% to $88.6 billion First Mortgage Loans:
The Top 50 Most Distinctive Credit Union Names
Names selected for this list were based on their uniqueness within the credit union industry. Other criteria included: Each reflects something phonetically interesting and/or thematically evocative. Each name is memorable, and lends itself to a
The 11 Cs of Breakthrough Financial Brands
This is a fairly visual presentation, so not everything will make sense, but you should get the general idea without hearing the script. Also, check out the critical 9-point branding self-exam you can take over
