2012 CMBDC Best Practices Winners

Business Development: Maps CU in Salem, Ore., for its Buy Local program. The goal of the program was to increase the credit union’s relationships with local businesses, drive additional traffic to existing businesses, and engage the community with the idea of buying local. The success of the program can be seen in the 10% increase in participating businesses in 2011, a 95% renewal rate for 2012, increased web site traffic on the Buy Local page and approximately $2,500 infused into the local business community.

Community Outreach and/or Political Advocacy: Truliant FCU, Winston-Salem, N.C., for R.E.A.L. (Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning), a program that provided participants with networking opportunities, small business education, financial literacy and counseling to build their financial strength and business skills. There have been 126 graduates from the REAL program, with 8 individuals having already opened a new business and 22 planning to open a business within the next 5 years. For their efforts, Truliant FCU was honored as a 2011 recipient of the prestigious National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) Merit Award for job creation and entrepreneurship training.

Miscellaneous: Fort Worth Community CU, Bedford, Texas, for the creation of their virtual spokeswoman “Gabby.” Through social media tools including Facebook, Twitter, a blog, Pinterest, and her own website (www.GetYourWorthOn.com), Gabby engages and interacts with a targeted female audience (women 28-55) in order to develop relationships that will lead to membership growth and increased product/service usage among current members. In addition to features and accolades from various credit union organizations, the campaign has led to an 8.4% membership growth in less than 10 months and a 17.1% increase in loan growth over the previous year.