Credit Union Marketing Consultants seem to be everywhere these days. Try Googling “credit union marketing” and you’ll get pages of organic and sponsored results for agencies and consultants and yeah, you’ll probably see us there too. But the point is how do you choose who’s right for your credit union? The answer? Blonde Ambition! That wasn’t so hard was it? Ok, in all seriousness this decision is not an easy one to make.

"The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them."

--Albert Einstein

According to our Fans, BA’s differentiator is our true “boutique” style of marketing consulting. From the very first moment, we immerse ourselves into your credit union’s culture, becoming instant team members and applying our extensive experience to any number of challenges and/or projects, producing results-driven creative, campaigns, plans and brands.

As Credit Union Marketing Consultants, we approach our clients as individuals; and although you may face similar challenges to your neighboring credit union, you still have unique goals, fields of membership and benefits. BA is not a regurgitator of templated or packaged marketing programs; we provide our credit union clients with marketing programs, campaigns, creative and brands as individual as they are. We firmly believe that if you are utilizing pre-packaged marketing campaigns (you know the ones where you just toss in your logo and call it good) you are not truly marketing your credit union, but instead you’re marketing your agency’s marketing product!

Here is a list of just some of the ways Blonde Ambition can, and has, helped credit unions truly communicate their brand and messaging:

Client Scenario:

 

"Home Loans Now"

Assets: $94M
Mbrs: 12,000

 This CU had a very small marketing department (2) and desperately needed expertise in loan acquisition, specifically home loans, as they were tasked in securing $3.5M in home loans in 90 days, a large sum per their asset size and previous results. Additionally the CU was in the midst of a brand evolution with a previous agency so they needed BA to create a temporary brand position while conducting the loan acquisition campaign.
BA Solutions We immediately immersed ourselves into the existing CU culture, history and project requirements. We created a temporary brand position based upon the existing memberships demo and psychographics. Additionally we assumed all vendor/third party management and effectively collaborated with internal lending and marketing staff. We developed and executed a media plan to promote the home loans utilizing online banner ads, streaming radio, print ads, purchased mail lists and branch signage. All creative and design elements were handled by us as well.
Results

Within the 90 day allotted campaign we exceeded our goals by taking in 35 home loan applications (exceeding the previous year’s applications combined!) which resulted in $8M in home loans and nearly 20 new member households. Due to the success of this effort BA was further retained for an auto loan acquisition campaign as well as sustained home loan acquisition efforts.

Client Scenario:

 

"Check Out Your CU's Cards"

Assets: $114M
Mbrs: 13,000

 In response to the national coverage of eroding trust and loyalty of credit cards the CU wanted to take the opportunity to reach out to their existing membership and establish a credit card relationship through a balance transfer campaign. Additionally this campaign was to be initiated within a strict timeframe so as to “strike while the iron was hot”. The CU wanted to achieve 33 new credit card members with new balances totaling $132,000.
BA Solutions We immediately utilized our design and printing expertise and brought to life the CU’s foil-treated credit card by creating a foil-treated postcard with a direct, yet approachable call-to-action. Using the CU’s MCIF system we strategically targeted those members most qualified and likely to participate with the promotion. In addition we ensured all supportive efforts/mediums were properly utilized, as well as staff education thoroughly covered. We also initiated the tracking, measuring and reporting methods.
Results

Upon campaign completion we had achieved 110 new credit card members (233% of goal) with a total of $439,734 in new balances (233% of goal). The final ROI (first year) was 452%!

Client Scenario:

 

"Need $ and Members Fast!"

Assets: $139M
Mbrs: 18,000

In order to recapture deposit turnover and meet Board expectations the CU needed to grow in new member households and deposits in 60 days. In addition the CU marketing department had limited mediums, staff and budget.

BA Solutions

We recognized several cost cutting ideas, which included a two pronged approach to attract both existing and non-members. We immediately increased underutilized internal mediums to attract existing member deposits in addition we strategically allocated the limited budget to purchase a highly defined mail list and created a visually creative and direct call-to-action postcard targeted to non-members. We also created a complimenting, non-member targeted, radio spot to be used on existing underutilized radio efforts.
Results

Within 45-days the efforts had produced 67 new member households resulting in $8.2M in deposits!  

For additional information or visual examples of our work, contact us at 206.408.7155 or info@blonde-ambition.biz.

Fees: At Blonde Ambition, we don't like to keep set fees. We believe every situation is different, and will base our fee on each client's specific needs. We like to keep things simple for our credit union clients and offer pre-negotiated project fees or monthly retainers, either way you can be assured that you’ll never be nickeled and dimed by us.  Once you’re a client of BA you’re part of our family, we don’t charge our mom’s for a phone call so why would we do that to you?

Thought ya'd like to know: Although BA tends to be a "Jack-of-all-trades,” should we feel a particular project would be best served by another credit union expert, we will recommend a preferred partner or direct you to other respected professionals.