Trick or Treat from CU Grow

Treat- Carve your own digital pumpkin at The Worlds Online Halloween, and send it you your friends and family! Trick- Try it, and you will understand the tricky part.

Happy Halloween from CU Grow!

Join the Savings Revolution

It's an interesting dilemma...most credit unions need deposits and yet consumers are not good savers. But what if we could more deeply understand why consumers save and create more effective programs for them?  In this session, you'll learn what it takes to get your members to want to save.  What if they had a support group encouraging them to meet specific savings goals?  How thrilled would they be if you rewarded them for regular savings?  Watch this session and learn about Denise Gabel's ideas on fun ways to get your members saving.

Retention Strategies That Drive Member Satisfaction & Loyalty

With annual member growth rates below 2% and the majority of credit unions experiencing a net loss of members each year, retaining satisfied loyal members is top of mind with savvy marketers.  Why are members leaving?  What drives their satisfaction and loyalty with your credit union?  Are you offering what it takes to hold them for life?  Discover what growth-oriented credit unions are doing to stop the outflow while gaining additional, profitable business from valued members.  A marketing strategist with nearly 30 years of credit union experience, Jeanne Murphy covers essential strategies on developing lifelong relationships that retain loyal, satisfied members.

The Fear and Fall of Credit Union Social Media

 

Once again, another big shout of to Janine McBee for her thoughts about the rise and fall of social media for credit unions.  Janine states:

“For those of us who are visual and like to communicate with pictures, check out "The woulda-been coulda-been social media choke-out" and cruise on through the comments.

Sadly, the picture does reflect reality or should I say lay out challenges for creative, energetic and passionate folks to venture off on "the road not taken", bringing your world into a new and exciting reality.

Bring others along the journey by sharing how social media tools has benefited your credit union, helped you in your professional journey or just stay in touch with friends and family.”

I know a lot of credit unions are struggling with this model on a daily basis.  The question is… why?  We (in the social media world) see the benefits of how all these great Web 2.0 tools and social media applications can help credit union’s connect and build relationships with members.

We are still the early adoption phase with these principals.  I mean, some credit unions still have web sites that look like crap.  A bit harsh… yes.  However, these same credit unions would be ashamed if there members walked into a branch with paint peeling off the walls and water leaking from the roof.

One big reason for the resistance of some of these social media strategies is fear. 

• Fear of members- What will happen if we allow our members to comment on our web site?  What if they leave a negative comment. 

• Fear of change - We’ve done things one way for 50 years.  There is no need for this stuff.

• Fear of the unknown – Why do we need this stuff… it’s what kids do.

However, I see a light on the horizon showing a bright future.  The light is education.  Opening people’s eyes by educating them about the power of social media and how it can be used to help build relationships with members and even bridge generation gaps. 

Our credit union blog is dedicated to education through innovation, communication and collaboration.  We have posted and will be posting more videos from two great Texas Credit Union League conferences. Janine also recommends “Love and Learn”… got any food?

Shout back and let us know how you are educating credit union leaders to help them understand the power of Web 2.0 and social media to connect and build relationships with members.

Gen Y Marketing 2.0 - Where Innovation Meets Generation

Generation Y is moving in where the Baby Boomers are moving out  Marketing and attracting this technology-savvy group is complicated at best, and the time has never been better to learn what makes them so difficult to categorize.  This session includes some creative ideas to jumpstart your thinking.  Through the use of best practices, case studies, and interaction, you will learn from and share success stories and innovative approaches to prepare for the next generation with Trey Reeme and Kent Sugg.

Click 'play' below to check out the video and shout back at us on the ways your credit union is working to reach Gen Y.

It's "Time" to CU Grow - Credit Unions Getting Good Press

What awesome press credit unions are getting as of late. Now, an article has been published in Time.  It highlights how credit unions are the place to be right now.  I have included a few excerpts from the article below showing how credit unions are using this time to grow market share and connect with their communities.

"Credit unions aren't shy about having money to lend. Speed's outfit, the 126,000-member Texas Dow Employees Credit Union (TDECU), has been running TV spots since August and is doubling its ad budget for the fourth quarter. (At times, TDECU has been accused of being too aggressive: community banks, which have also been faring relatively well, and the FDIC loudly objected when one ad painted the entire banking industry as "under a dark cloud.")"

"At the 66,000-member Unitus Community Credit Union in Portland, Ore., loan volume is up this year in nearly every category — 32% in mortgages, 37% in student loans, 12% in credit cards..."

"Three weeks ago, she [Patricia Smith] hired the credit union's first work-out specialist to start pouring through loan data and making pre-emptive calls to people who might need help — the sort of down-home, we-care solution credit unions sell themselves on."

"And they do continue to sell themselves. In early October, Smith was one of nine CEOs who signed onto a newspaper ad touting the benefits of credit unions. "We are financial institutions without shareholders or Wall Street investors," the ad read."

Now is the time to step it up.  They say in times of economic trouble, marketing is the first thing to get cut.  I believe that credit unions can step up there marketing efforts and really grow.  It is so nice to see TDECU doubling there ad budget to ramp up marketing efforts and going against the traditional mentality in times like this.

However, these marketing efforts don't have to be high dollar.  Grass roots, gorilla marketing efforts can go along way at build relationships within your community.

Are you using the current economic situation to grow your credit union or are you still doing the same old thing? Shout back and let us know.  We want to hear from you.

Back in H-Town

Well... back to the real world after some very crazy, busy days in Austin.  The plane ride home was cool seeing everyone on the plane coming back to Houston. I barely made it.

TCUL's marketing conference was a blast.  From the minute the first drum beat of the opening session hit (video to come) I knew this was going to be good. 

It was a different conference for me as I did not speak at any breakout sessions this time but got to really focus on working behind the scenes capturing video and audio for our credit union blog.  While we were not able to hangout with everyone "after hours", we still enjoyed meeting new people while seeing old friends.  It was also good having Jonathan there to help out and really get into the credit union movement.

A big thanks to the marketing council for inviting me to host the Lone Star Awards.  Also, a big shout out to Jeff Noel with the Disney Institute for a great closing session and inspiring us to change the world.  Thanks Jeff for using our credit union blog as an example in the session. 

We will be working to get the video/podcast from the breakout sessions posted this week and next... we will try to do one per day.  If you were there, you can check out a session you missed or re-watch a session you attended.  You can also tell one of your co-workers about the conference and have them visit our credit union blog to watch a session or two.

Don't be shy to post your thoughts or comments from a video or session.  It's all about innovation, communication and collaboration.

Leading the Way

A big shout out to Janine McBee for pointing this out.  She is reading Seth Godin’s book “Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us”.  Pretty nice title considering the theme of the Texas Credit Union League Marketing Conference.  His subheading states “In Search of a Movement...a movement waiting to happen, a group of people just waiting to be energized and transformed.”

Janine states “A movement is thrilling. It's the work of many people, all connected, all seeking something better. I so felt like he was talking about our credit union movement.”

The book also notes that “Everyone is not just a marketer - everyone is not also a leader. The explosion in tribes, groups, covens, and circles of interest means that anyone who wants to make a difference can.”

Janine summarizes this thought with “At this point he made me think of our credit union network, how each of our contacts impacts our lives through leadership, direct or indirect, good or bad.”

Just getting back into the office from the marketing conference, this makes so much sense (more to come on conference thoughts later).  What are you doing in your daily life to empower your co-workers to help them make a difference in your member’s lives.  Shout back below and let us know.

Two Geeks in Austin for Credit Union Marketing Conference

We flew into Austin this afternoon around 3:30 PM for the Texas Credit Union League Marketing Conference.

Being the geeks we are, we have been locked up in our room right now prepping to vcast and podcast the breakout sessions on our credit union blog.

We are almost ready after experiencing some technical difficult with some of our equipment but are looking forward to getting the day kicked off bright and early tomorrow.

Many apologies to Trey (btw... love the name of your street) for not being able to make it out for dinner/drinks/football but wanted to make sure that we were good to podcast his and Kent’s session tomorrow.

Click here to check out a list of all the sessions.

We were going to broadcast the sessions live over the web but the connection here sucks during the day and wireless card is iffy.

Still trying some workarounds for that. Never the less, we are stoked about being here and look forward to good times found only in Austin.

Click here to grab the RSS feed and stay up to date when we post the breakout sessions.

Happy International Credit Union Day!

Wow, what collaboration I have seen and experienced with the events and aftermath of Ike. It is amazing to me how the credit union community has come together in time of need. Dick Ensweiler from the Texas Credit Union League sent out a message to the credit union community today that summarizes what credit unions are all about. Below is a portion of the message.

On behalf of all of us here at the Texas Credit Union League (TCUL), I wish you a happy International Credit Union Day! I always enjoy the opportunity to celebrate the credit union difference, but this year’s International Credit Union Day has even greater significance to me.

Over the last several weeks, I have visited with our credit unions in Southeast Texas who had the misfortunate of being in the path of Hurricane Ike. Knowing the magnitude of this hurricane, I expected to see damage, but I was not prepared for what I saw in community after community - total devastation.

Seeing homes gutted and all their personal property scattered about their yard; entire shopping centers demolished with signage being the only evidence that a thriving business once occupied that space; barges flung onto the roadways where cars once traveled, and cadaver dogs sniffing the shoreline for the unfortunate ones who may have been caught in the fury of the storm, I was overcome with despair, and concern for how those living in these communities, including our credit unions and the dedicated employees and volunteers who serve them, could even begin to rebuild their lives.

What I quickly discovered is that, in the face of adversity, there was sheer determination to persevere. Communities pulled together to restore some degree of normalcy. Friends and neighbors worked side by side to clear away debris. And credit unions collaborated to quickly restore financial service to hurricane victims.

On my numerous visits to the hardest hit areas, I witnessed firsthand what it really means to be a part of a cooperative system. In a time of tragedy, the credit union community has once again proven that ‘people helping people’ isn’t just a catchy cliché, but rather it is the core of who we are. It is our foundation.

“It Belongs to Me” is not just the theme of this year’s International Credit Union Day, but rather it the way of life for credit unions. Though the credit union movement has evolved over the decades, one thing remains consistent: not-for-profit credit unions exist solely to serve and help their members -- people from all types of backgrounds and means.

I believe our credit unions in Southeast Texas are a strong testament to this commitment. I met with countless credit union employees on my tour of this area and I cannot tell you how impressed I was with them. Many did not even have homes to return to in the evening and yet day after day they were in their credit unions serving and consoling their members.

It is gratifying to see that in the darkest hour, our credit unions in the affected area are not alone. The credit union movement was quick to respond with support on various levels, from donations into the Texas Credit Union Foundation’s Disaster Relief Fund; contributions of furniture and other desperately needed office supplies and space, and to simple words of encouragement...

Each and every day, we have a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate that there is real value in our cooperative structure. And I believe that as long as we adhere to our basic principle, “people helping people,” the credit union community will continue to persevere.

Happy International Credit Union Day!

Shout back about what you have seen or experienced in this last year that makes this year's International Credit Union Day significant and a reason to celebrate.

U Rock the Vote 2008 – Vote for Credit Unions Video

Neches FCU (disclaimer… they are a client) just launched a social media membership drive campaign built around the election.  U Rock the Vote emphasizes the safety and security of credit unions while not attacking the banks.

The goals of the campaign include to connect and educate the community about credit unions, drive membership and referrals, and reinforce the importance to vote in 2008. The campaign is comprised multiple channels to communicate the U Rock the Vote 2008 message. 

In addition, a simple “campaign video” was created to tell the credit union story and reinforce the credit unions brand of “Friends, Family, Community”. 

Sabine Chapter Dinner - Dick Ensweiler

Richard L. (Dick) Ensweiler is the President and CEO of the Texas Credit Union League and its affiliates. Dick is a dedicated credit union enthusiast who has spent his entire professional career in the credit union movement.  He spoke at the Sabine Chapter dinner on the financial crisis and how credit unions will thrive during this time. 

Sabine Chapter Dinner - Congressman Poe

Congressman Ted Poe spoke for a few minutes at the Sabine Chapter meeting on the financial bailout. 

Check out the video below and shout back at us with any of the ways your credit union is working towards a strong financial future.

Boxed In – Competitive Threats To Credit Union Industry From Banks

Assets are the name of the game in financial services, and credit unions are under increased pressure as financial service firms and now retailers are leveraging their existing distribution "footprints" to grab more of the pie.  Find out how credit unions can compete with the overwhelming distribution and resources of the mega-corporations in this presentation by Ron Galloway, author of "Wal-o-nomics" and director of the upcoming film "Wal-Mart Wars."

Check out the video and feel free to shout back and share about how your credit union is working to compete with mega-corporations.

Dream Big, Be Bold, Turn Members Into Advocates - A Wake Up Call

I recently attended the Texas Credit Union League's annual convention and heard a powerful keynote by Barbara Sanfilippo that is a wake up call for all credit unions.  In the video below, she mentions that in a study of 3,000 credit union members and bank customers only 24% were advocates, 39% were apathetic and 37% were actually antagonistic.  Many disengaged members view their credit union as a transaction destination and not genuinely interested in their future well being.  Given the current economic climate, Barbara strongly suggests we have an opportunity to turn our members and staff into loyal advocates. 

Live from the 2008 Partnership Symposium for Credit Unions

Check out the live feed below from the 2008 Partnership Symposium provided by Open Source CU.

Online TV Shows by Ustream

Day One – Oct 1

9:00 am – 9:15 am Welcome & A Look Forward – Ron Shevlin, Event Host

9:15 am – 10:00 am Young & Free – Attracting New, Young Members
Tim McAlpine, President & Chief Strategist, Currency Marketing
We all want new members, especially those with many years of borrowing, depositing, and investing ahead of them. Tim McAlpine will share the grass-roots approach one credit union is using to engage the youth market. He’ll share the process, phases, and results of Common Wealth CU’s Young & Free Program, as well as provide insight into how they have solved some unforeseen issues that have come up during the campaign. Learn from Tim’s experiences with the Young & Free Program how to better attract younger members to your credit union.

10:00 am – 10:45 am Brand Positioning: Cascade Community Credit Union
Jeff Stephens, CEO & Brand Director, Creative Brand Communications
In this look at Cascade Community Credit Union, Jeff illustrates positioning through advanced branding tactics, why trying to be “different” is more effective than trying to be “better,” and how to avoid differentiating yourself on the same attributes as everyone else.

11:00 am – 12:00 pm Debit, Credit, & More – Remaining Relevant to Your Member’s Payment Habits
Jeff Russell, Executive Vice President, The Members Group
Radical changes are taking place in the payments industry. The door is open for an entity to become the center of your members’ payment and financial management world. Who will that “entity” be? Learn from Jeff about trends in financial payments and how you can best position your credit union to remain relevant in your members’ payment habits.

1:00 pm – 1:30 pm “Fire Your Trainers” and More Advice to Make Symposium Stuff Stick
Andy Janning, AVP Training & Quality Service, FORUM Credit Union
You’ll leave the Symposium with new ideas and innovations for your credit union and members. Your first stop back home may be to your Training department, where you may request, “Make a class that teaches everyone about this fabulous new idea!” Ironically, this approach could be the kiss of death for your innovative brainchild. We’ll examine the short, focused list of questions that will radically transform the way in which training supports organizational innovation and delivers member-focused results.

1:30 pm – 2:15 pm Top 5 Success Practices for Building an Online Community
Morriss Partee, Chief Experience Officer, EverythingCU.com
EverythingCU.com started in the year 2000 as an idea, and has since blossomed into an active online community of 5,863 credit union professionals, with a focus on marketing and business development. In this session, Morriss will share the top 5 success strategies that make an online community thrive (as well as be profitable). Credit unions inherently have every one of these success factors available to them, only they currently lie dormant. We’ll examine how you can apply each of these practices to revitalize your CU’s web presence.

2:30pm – 4:00 pm Idea eXchange – led by participants
This time is for attendees to discuss solutions that have worked for them, present problems for others to offer ideas, and generally collaborate with your peers. Attendees can sign up for a topic/issue they wish to present.

Day Two – Oct 2

8:45 am – 9:45 am Engaging with the Social Economy
William Azaroff, Interactive Marketing & Channel Manager, Vancity Credit Union
A growing segment of the economy is driven by social decision-making. Credit unions play a natural key role in this shift, both as community-focused organizations and as holders of significant consumer assets. This presentation will include examples of the emerging social economy, as well as a case study of ChangeEverything.ca, a social network created by Vancity, which speaks to the values shared by the largest credit union in Canada and the community it serves.

9:45 am – 10:15 am The Hyperlocal Credit Union – A Vision
Matt Dean, CEO, Trabian
The Internet connects people across the world, but it also brings together people within a community. Just as hyperlocal media has revolutionized journalism, the hyperlocal credit union can transform the way their members interact with local merchants, with each other, and with their financial institution. Matt will share a snapshot view of a credit union that uses its local focus as more than a “we’re from your hometown!” warm and fuzzy feeling to bring tangible value to its members.

10:30 am – 11:15 am Serving the Mobile Member
Gene Blishen, General Manager, Mount Lehman Credit Union
Still not sure how to best tackle mobile banking or are you looking for alternatives to enhance your current offering? Gene will share valuable member and product information his credit union has gained over the past three years, discuss various aspects of mobile banking and service options, and talk about different approaches for implementing mobile banking (do-it-yourself, vendors, partnering, etc.). Gene concludes with thoughts about “harnessing the wisdom of crowds” and the concept of innovation coming from multiple outside sources and how to ensure your credit union is receptive to these sources.

11:15 am – 12:00 pm Thrift: The Rise of the Credit Union Warrior
Matt Davis, Director of Public Relations, Members Credit Union
As the guest speaker contest winner, Matt will reintroduce the concept of promoting thrift for credit unions. He will discuss some of the ways that credit unions across the country are promoting thrift, not only amongst their members, but also amongst the general community. Finally, Matt will introduce some exciting ways that your credit unions can recapture public goodwill with this concept.

1:00 pm – 1:45 pm Turning Business Problems into Business Opportunities
Robbie Wright, General Manager, fi-linx
How do you turn an obstacle or problem into a potential business opportunity? In this session, Robbie from fi-linx, a CUSO of MaPS Credit Union, will discuss how the CU has taken challenges and turned them into new CUSO ventures and partnerships. He will review the CUSO industry and discuss past and present CUSO ventures, the role that credit union employees play in the formation of new a CUSO, and what the CUSO landscape may look like in the not too distant future.

1:45 pm – 2:30 pm Improve CU Reputation & Build Loyalty
Michelle Bloedorn, Executive Director, Member Loyalty Group
Diana Dykstra, CEO, San Francisco Fire Credit Union
Six credit unions, including San Francisco Fire CU, have come together to form the Member Loyalty Group CUSO. This CUSO has the goal of spreading the use of the Net Promoter Score among credit unions and making it affordable for institutions of all sizes. Hear about how San Francisco Fire CU has incorporated NPS and social media techniques to engage members and create true loyalty.

2:45 pm – 3:15 pm Using Video to Engage Your Target Market
Jon DiGregory, Founding Partner, Cantaloupe
New ideas for using video to engage your market.

3:15 pm – 3:45 pm The Credit Union Difference?
CU Skeptic, Unveiled
“At their current state, credit unions as a whole are no different than banks to the end user.” Since his arrival in the CU blogosphere, the CU Skeptic has been stirring the pot with articles, comments, and interviews based around this central theme. Discover why he thinks “the credit union difference” is largely unapparent in today’s (US) market and what he thinks are the keys to turning the tide of irrelevance. For the first time ever, the CU Skeptic will reveal his true identity and is prepared for an extended Q&A session.

3:45 pm – 4:00 pm Symposium Rewind
So, what did we learn at this event, anyway? Let’s bring it all together and make sure we’re all leaving with new ideas and strategies that will help us better serve our members and engage them in new, relevant ways.