Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Upcoming Holiday Hours

Christmas

Thursday December 24th - Closing at 1:00

Friday December 25th - Closed

Saturday December 26th - Closed

Monday December 28th - Closed

New Years

Thursday December 31st - Closing at 1:00

Friday January 1st - Closed

Thursday, December 3, 2009

NYLC Contest Winner

HCCU is thrilled to announce Jordan Moat’s recent win in the National Young Leader’s “Be the Voice” competition.

In early March the National Young Leaders Committee (NYLC), a Committee of Credit Union Central of Canada (Credit Union Central of Canada is the national voice and trade association for the Canadian Credit Union System) charged with developing young leaders within the Credit Union system, began a competition known as the “Be the Voice” NYLC contest. Young leaders were asked to submit their BIG IDEA that may be a successful strategy for the credit union system. The committee would pick five finalists out of the submissions, which would then be voted on by Young Leaders from across the Credit Union system.

The voting wrapped up last week and it was announced that Hamilton Community Credit Unions very own Jordan Moat emerged as the winner. In addition to the prestige of being the winning submission Jordan will receive a complimentary conference registration to the 2010 Canadian Conference for CU Executives to be held in May in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and $1,500 towards travel and accommodations to the conference.

Below is the winning submission.


Young Leaders “Be the Voice” NYLC Contest
Jordan Moat
Business Development Manager
Hamilton Community Credit Union

Set Ourselves Apart by Marketing Together

The single largest challenge faced by the credit union system in respect to marketing to a younger generation is purely getting the knowledge of what a Credit Union is in to the minds of our target market. This is especially true in the Ontario market, where the big banks rule supreme and accounts are opened by the youth with disregard for any research in to the matter.

With most credit unions possessing a limited marketing budget, simply broadcasting a message of Credit Union brand awareness will not seem cost effective. Rather individual products are pushed or particular promotions are offered. Most Credit Unions usually see other Credit Unions as their biggest competition. It is up to the entire Credit Union system to advertise their existence to begin to change the consumer’s beliefs or lack there of. This can be accomplished by outlining exactly what a credit union is, its similarity to a bank or other financial institutions, and mainly how exactly we differ with a focus on the competitive advantage to dealing with a credit union.

Here is where that advantage lies.....

The youth are jaded towards big business and their normal means of advertising and credit unions can capitalize on this through a concise message using alternative media and the local “feel good” community spirit we already possess.

With such a strong focus in today’s markets on environmentally friendly, organic and local or “green” initiatives it is my big idea that Credit Unions should position themselves as the green alternative to personal finance.

It is in this message that we can create the basis of affinity to a credit union that people would collectively identify with and want to publicize. If people think that using a Credit Union is some kind of esoteric knowledge, they'll tell their friends.

How does this work?

• It feels good to tell someone something they don't know. Being a member of a credit union gets to be someone's social currency.

• The savvy youth consumers are looking for deals - let them think that the Credit Union is their little secret and they'll share it with their friends.

• Capture what you want people to identify with in the group message.

  1. "I don't pay bank fees...I'm a member of a Credit Union."
  2. “I don’t drive a Hummer...I don’t belong to a bank”
  3. “Home Grown in your Community...Your local Credit Union”
  4. “Millions in overhead saved...Millions in rebates given”
• A delivery method through social media, youth targeted events and alternative mediums appear less like a marketing campaign and more like an awareness movement.

It is with this initiative that Credit Unions can be recognized as the smart alternative choice for banking.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Member Appreciation Day Winners

HCCU would like to congratulate all of the following winners of our Member Appreciation Day Raffle:
1st Prize - $200 Gift Card to Limeridge Mall – Kelly Deluca, Anne O’Breza

2nd Prize - $50 Gift Card to Limeridge Mall – Janice Barker, Irene Kluwak

3rd Prize – Handmade Crocheted Blanket – Samir Dakran, Bert Minchin

We thank all of you who contributed to our raffle. All of the money raised will be donated to Hamilton Food Share.

And a reminder to those who couldn’t make it in on Member Appreciation Day, there are still some calendars left at the branches. If you’d like a wall calendar or pocket planner be sure to stop in and see us before they’re all gone.