My questions is, "where is national credit union campaign targeting these banking system refugees?" This is no doubt a man-up moment for the national and local credit union leagues and associations. Lobbying, hill-hikes, and the like are much-appreciated activities, but isn't it time for a credit union show of force on the national advertising stage targeted to potential members?
Let's face reality here. Membership in credit unions is growing very slowly, if at all (I believe much of our growth is in existing credit union members expanding the number of credit unions to which they belong rather than in people new to the credit union movement). What better time than now to introduce the great value, and sensible business practices, of the nation's credit union community to disaffected bank customers?
I think it is time for CUNA, NAFCU, and the various leagues to pool resources for a broad awareness campaign. How about testimonials of how credit union's are helping the financially downtrodden? How about stories of credit union's helping the underserved and/or forgotten? How about video of iPhone-sized lines of people waiting to open their credit union accounts.
We can do this. I know many say a national campaign won't work, but I beg to differ. It will, but only if we have the will to make it happen in the first place.
