Check Out CUNA’s 2013 Credit Union Marketing Award Winners

This year, CUNA Diamond Award judges reviewed entries with a slightly different focus than in the past. In addition to identifying entries that deserved a Diamond Award, judges were asked to select the best in each category. Playing off the four C’s of diamond quality, CUNA also recognized credit union marketing campaigns that exhibited a brilliant use of art (“Color”), the most edgy (“Cut”), the greatest impact (“Carat”), and the most sentimental (“Clarity”).

Awards were given in 33 categories ranging from brand awareness and logo design to email marketing and social media. Award winners were recognized at the council`s 20th annual conference held March
24-27 in Anaheim, California.

The Financial Brand pulled together a sample with some of this year’s standouts. To view the entire list of winners, go to the CUNA Marketing Council website.

Best of Show – First Entertainment CU

First Entertainment Credit Union – Brand Awareness
Actor Curtis Armstrong performed a series of skits for First Entertainment, a credit union targeting the Hollywood crowd. Armstrong, who is perhaps best known for a line in Risky Business (“Sometimes Joel, you just have to say WTF?”), uses a real live goat as a metaphor for pointless bank fees. This series was also honored with the Best Use of Humor award.

( Editorial Note: All three of these videos are no longer available on YouTube.

Branding – Fort Campbell FCU

A powerful TV spot from Fort Campbell FCU that’s so professionally produced, you’d swear it’s something you’d see from a bank with $10 billion in assets, not a credit union with $446 million.

Direct Mail

Alliant CU – LIVE, SAVE, DRIVE

Neighbors FCU – Q3 Direct Mail Series

Arizona State CU – Matrix Direct Mail Postcards

Annual Report – First Entertainment CU

Complete Campaign – Listerhill CU

Brilliant Use of Art – Operating Engineers FCU

Most Edgy – University of Kentucky FCU

2013 Excellence in Marketing – Business Development

Winner: Foothill Federal Credit Union, Arcadia, CA
The credit union’s “teacher break room makeover” contest/campaign gained the credit union exposure to its school SEGs. The goal of the staff lounge makeover project was to also gain additional exposure in the community and demonstrate the service aspect of what credit unions do. The credit union advertised directly through the schools and district office, asking schools to submit a written explanation of why their school needed the lounge makeover, and encouraged them to submit pictures of the room for consideration. For the unveiling of the new room completed by local contracts, Foothill FCU invited the district superintendent, local media, and local senator and congressmen office representatives to attend.

2013 Excellence in Marketing – Community Outreach

Winner: Pelican State Credit Union, Baton Rouge, LA
The credit union developed the HELP Program (Helping Employer Louisiana’s Poor), which is a comprehensive development services and lending program designed to improve the financial lives of the asset-poor. The specific goal of the HELP Program was to provide at least 11,111 low and very low-income consumers a lifeline to affordable credit in conjunction with financial counseling that leads from debt reduction to credit and asset building. Pelican leveraged $500,000 in loan loss reserves to deploy almost $4 million in extremely high-risk, unsecured loans and credit building, second-chance credit cards.

2013 Excellence in Marketing – Miscellaneous

Fibre Federal Credit Union, Longview, WA
In this small business recognition program, the credit union recognized and promoted many local businesses and organizations. Using testimonials in its advertising helped spur growth in Fibre Business Services, including 283 new business members with shares of $329,257; 241 business checking accounts with new balances of $2.3 million; and 70 new business loans with balances of $13.2 million.

2013 Marketing Professional of the Year
Lisa Nicholas, VP/Marketing
Amplify Federal Credit Union
Austin, TX

2013 Business Development Professional of the Year
Andy Reed, Manager/Business Development
American Airlines FCU
Fort Worth, TX

2013 Hall of Fame Inductee
Lesley Carrell, SVP/Marketing
Fibre FCU
Longview, WA