In conjunction with the debut of a new national creative platform to help move consumers from awareness to action, one of the easiest ways contributing credit unions can connect their marketing efforts to the Your Money Further™ program is by using the social media packs. These assets are available on Contributor HQ for all participants to use in their organic social media channels. Check out the social media packs, which include options for co-branding both graphics and videos.

Make sure to also customize your listing and continue the consumer journey from YourMoneyFurther.com to your credit union’s website. The new YourMoneyFurther.com includes an improved CU Finder and a brand-new CU Matcher to connect consumers.

MnCUN is also rolling out the new creative this quarter in our digital advertising channels; and watch for new Out of Home Marketing and events coming this summer. The ongoing investment Minnesota Credit Unions have made to boost consumer awareness is paying benefits in growth and knowledge of consumers across the state. Minnesota was the first state to launch the national Credit Union Consumer Awareness Initiative in 2019 and since then, has seen both increased average membership growth and consumer familiarity of credit unions.

With questions, please contact Andrea Molnau, VP Communications & Engagement, by email or 651-288-5527.

Christopher Lorence, Executive Director of CU Awareness, joined Accelerate 22 to  provide an update on exciting new enhancements to the national consumer consideration initiative. 

YourMoneyFurther.com is LIVE! 
After over a year of research and development, CU Awareness just relaunched YourMoneyFurther.com! This consumer website not only serves as the destination for paid ads but also connects consumers with more content about the benefits of joining a credit union. Additionally, we highlight Participating credit unions encouraging consumers to "Join Now." Check out the website at YourMoneyFurther.com. Contributing credit unions received an outreach from CU Awareness directly to update their locator listing and to take advantage of the new benefits.

New Customizable Organic Social Media Assets 
To match the aesthetic of the new website, a variety of new customizable campaign creative assets were just released that participating credit unions can use in their organic digital channels. These assets are available on Contributor HQ. 

National Program Update  
If you missed the update at Accelerate 22, CU Awareness will host a national program update on Monday, May 2nd at 1 pm EST. During this webinar, the Q1 2022 national program performance will be reviewed, program learnings and insights shared, and more information about the transition to the next stage of the program discussed.

​The ongoing investment Minnesota Credit Unions have made to boost consumer awareness is paying benefits in growth and knowledge of consumers across the state. Minnesota was the first state to launch the national Credit Union Consumer Awareness Initiative in 2019 and since then, has seen both increased average membership growth and consumer familiarity of credit unions.

With questions, please contact Andrea Molnau, VP Communications & Engagement, by email or 651-288-5527.

​The Minnesota Credit Union Network again worked with Fluence Media and American Strategies to conduct our biennial public opinion poll. The poll is designed to better understand Minnesota consumers’ perceptions of financial institutions and gauge their attitudes and knowledge of credit unions. The study tested attitudinal trends, public affairs opinions, and several aspects of the consumer awareness and consideration efforts. A survey of over 600 Minnesotans was conducted February 8 - 10, 2022. 

Key findings include: 

• ​Interest in joining a credit union has ticked up during the pandemic. Two-fifths (41 percent) of non-credit union customers say they are likely to join a credit union in the future, up from 35 percent in 2019. After learning more about credit unions, that number jumps to half of non-credit union customers who say they are likely to join a credit union in the future.
• Minnesotans overwhelmingly, broadly, and consistently support credit unions maintaining their tax-exempt status.
• Credit unions are thought of more as a positive force in the community than banks. A majority of people say that investing more in the community, being honest and trustworthy, offering low-interest rate loans, and making it easier for low-income people to get a loan more closely describes credit unions than banks.

A webinar was held April 6th to share the results, and a recording is available in our Member Portal. The full 2022 Consumer Poll Results are also posted online. Please note a MnCUN log in is required.
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With questions, please contact Vice President Communications and Engagement, Andrea Molnau, via email. 

MnCUN and CU Awareness are pleased to share the new YourMoneyFurther.com website, and credit union locator are now live! Check them out at www.yourmoneyfurther.com. Enhancements including the following: 

•  ​ A new look and feel,
•   More content and financial resources, including a credit union locator and matcher,
•   New ways to highlight Participating credit unions,
•   Robust consumer tracking and data collection,
•  And SO much more!

Contributing credit unions will receive an outreach from CU Awareness directly to update their locator listing and to take advantage of the new benefits.

The ongoing investment Minnesota Credit Unions have made to boost consumer awareness is paying benefits in growth and knowledge of consumers across the state. Minnesota was the first state to launch the national Credit Union Consumer Awareness Initiative in 2019 and since then, has seen both increased average membership growth and consumer familiarity of credit unions.

We are pleased to welcome Christopher Lorence, Executive Director of CU Awareness, to Accelerate 22, who will provide an update on additional enhancements to the national initiative.

With questions, please contact Andrea Molnau, VP Communications & Engagement, by email or 651-288-5527.

Minnesota was the first state to launch the national Credit Union Consumer Awareness Initiative in 2019 and since then, has seen both increased average membership growth and consumer familiarity of credit unions. The campaign’s digital-first strategy positions research-proven messages to put credit unions at the center of consumer consideration when needing a financial service. 

​See the update Minnesota Credit Union Network President & CEO Mark Cummins gave about Credit Union Awareness in CUInsight.
 
The initiative promotes the consideration of credit unions to consumers statewide through a cooperative advertising effort, and is an important element of MnCUN’s 50x30 goal – 50% of Minnesotans belonging to a credit union by 2030. As we enter the fourth year of the initiative, we are excited to debut a new national creative platform to help move consumers from awareness to action, and align messaging with advocacy and financial inclusion efforts.
 
Thank you to the credit unions who have committed to support this ongoing effort with a contribution to the MnCUN Awareness Fund. Contributors to the 2022 campaign will receive use of new marketing materials; plus preferred placement on the campaign’s credit union locator – www.youmoneyfurther.com. We are excited to introduce further enhancements and new features coming this spring including an enhanced locator and lead generation tools.
 
The campaign represents the true spirit of the cooperative movement to help consumers understand the advantages being a credit union member. With questions, please contact Andrea Molnau, VP Communications & Engagement, by email or 651-288-5527. We look forward to continued success in 2022!

​Minnesota’s Awareness Initiative continues to make strides in boosting consumer consideration of credit unions. At a webinar on Monday, the analytics from the 2021 campaign, December ad recall poll results, and 2022 updates were shared. ​

Our most recent, year-end, Google Poll noted ad recall of respondents in our target demographic increased from 34% in 2020 to 43% in 2021. Further, 55.2% indicated they are likely or very likely to join a credit union; an increase of over 5 points from the previous year.

2022 will bring new brand concepts, and a major upgrade and redesign of the Your Money Further website. The next phase will also shift focus from Awareness and Consideration to Consideration and Conversion.  

​Credit Unions are encouraged to continue financial support of the Minnesota Awareness Initiative for 2022. The initiative promotes credit unions to consumers statewide through a cooperative advertising effort, and is an important element of MnCUN’s 50x30 goal – 50% of Minnesotans belonging to a credit union by 2030.
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The session was recorded and MnCUN members can access both the video and the slide deck online. Please note a log in is required. With questions, please contact  Andrea Molnau, VP Communications & Engagement at amolnau@mncun.org.

​Please join us for a webinar on Monday, December 13, 2021 from 1 – 2pm, to review the analytics from the 2021 campaign, hear our most recent ad recall poll results, and learn more about what’s coming next in 2022. We will be joined by Christopher Lorence of CUNA Awareness, and Blois Olson of Fluence Media.
 
The Awareness program has achieved fantastic results, and we’re already building on that success towards an even brighter future. We look forward to a new consumer-focused website, new credit union locator, and brand-new customizable marketing materials focused on elevating the credit union difference and driving consumers to take action to join a credit union. We are excited for the next phase of this incredibly important initiative, and we THANK YOU for your continued support! 
 
The webinar is free although we ask that you please register. The session will be recorded. With questions, please contact  Andrea Molnau, VP Communications & Engagement at amolnau@mncun.org. 

​Please join us for a webinar on Monday, December 13, 2021 from 1 – 2pm, to review the analytics from the 2021 campaign, hear our most recent ad recall poll results, and learn more about what’s coming next in 2022. We will be joined by Christopher Lorence of CUNA Awareness, and Blois Olson of Fluence Media.

The Awareness program has achieved fantastic results, and we’re already building on that success towards an even brighter future. New consumer-focused website, new credit union locator, and brand new customizable marketing materials focused on elevating the credit union difference and driving consumers to take action to join a credit union. We are excited for the next phase of this incredibly important initiative, and we THANK YOU for your continued support! 

​Check out this preview video debuted at Accelerate 21.

The webinar is free although we ask that you please register. The session will be recorded. With questions, please contact  Andrea Molnau, VP Communications & Engagement at amolnau@mncun.org. 

Minnesota’s 2021 Credit Union Awareness Initiative going strong. The campaign is a research-based effort to grow awareness of credit unions as the best financial partner for consumers. Digital media ads continue to drive consumers to the YourMoneyFurther.com website to learn more about the advantages of credit unions. 

Though August 31, the campaign has garnered over 44 million digital impressions through Online Video, Banner Ads, Social Media and streaming TV ads delivered throughout the state. The Video Completion Rate for online ads is 57%, and streaming TV ads are 98%, showing consumers are continuing to watch the ads. Click through rates are meeting benchmarks and delivering consumers to the YourMoneyFurther website. 

Earlier this summer, MnCUN deployed several out of home tactics to supplement the digital efforts, including:

• Greater Minnesota Bus wraps
• Digital Trucks at regional events such as Twin Cities Pride, WeFest, Bayfront Blues Fest, TC Summer Jam
• Minnesota State Fair Bathroom ads, Bus wraps, and a Kare 11 Barn sponsorship that included digital ads and a live interview from the fair.

​A result report  through August 31, 2021 is available for credit unions to review and share with their staff and Boards. Furthermore, CUNA’s Credit Union Awareness team recently released their July 2021 bi-annual research results, showing the campaign has made significant progress nationally as well. 

The Awareness initiative represents the true spirit of the cooperative movement to help more consumers understand the advantages being a credit union member. With questions, please contact Andrea Molnau, VP Communications & Engagement, by email or 651-288-5527.