The Awareness and Consideration campaign's presence at the Minnesota State Fair netted 44 million impressions and 450,000 consumer engagements with the digital ads, building a strong momentum heading into the last part of the calendar year. 

​Last Thursday, Sept. 1, 17 credit unions from across the state helped Minnesota Credit Unions host the life-sized board game, "Go Big or Go Broke®" at a day-long event in Dan Patch Park in partnership with UCare.  Over 140 fairgoers participated in the game, and hundreds more stopped by the watch.

The event was supported by mobile and out of home ads throughout the State Fair and a 12-day feature with iHeart media. Both Saturday’s of the Fair, MnCUN staff hosted a live Go Big or Go Broke trivia game at the K102 booth.

Thanks to all who assisted in making the event a success!​

​​​Tomorrow, at the Great Minnesota Get Together, credit unions from across the state will host the life-sized board game, "Go Big or Go Broke®" at a day-long event in Dan Patch Park in partnership with UCare. 

​Go Big or Go Broke, the game where BIG stands for Behaviors Impact Goals and players learn how their choices can impact their financial future, is designed to provide financial education in a fun and engaging way. The game has been donated and offered in partnership by Royal Credit Union. 

​This event is part of the Awareness and Consideration campaign and is supported by mobile and out of home ads throughout the State Fair and a 12-day feature with iHeart media. Both Saturday’s of the Fair, MnCUN staff will host a live Go Big or Go Broke trivia game at 2:00 p.m. at the K102 booth.

Thank you to the Minnesota Credit Unions who provided staff and prizes for the initiative!

Accentra Credit Union
City & County Credit Union
First Alliance Credit Union
FIRST PACE Credit Union
Hiway Credit Union
Ideal Credit Union
Magnifi Financial Credit Union
Members Cooperative Credit Union
Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union
Minnesota Valley Federal Credit Union
North Memorial Credit Union
Northern Communities Credit Union
Royal Credit Union
SouthPoint Financial Credit Union
SouthPoint Financial Credit Union
SPIRE Credit Union
TopLine Financial Credit Union

If you are at the Fair - stop by and join in the fun!

Once again, as part of the Awareness and Consideration campaign, Minnesota Credit Unions will have a presence at the State Fair. Our results over the years have shown strong presence and visibility at the Fair builds a strong engagement in the final part of the calendar year for the overall campaign. This year at the Great Minnesota Get Together, we will share the credit union difference in a fun and engaging way that focuses on financial education. This is a unique opportunity to have a collaborative, in-person presence at the fair with options for earned media to take advantage of the broad audience the State Fair attracts.

​Minnesota Credit Unions will host a live Go Big or Go Broke game at the UCare Day-Long Event in Dan Patch Park on September 1st, supported by a 12-day feature with iHeart media. The game has been donated and offered in partnership by Royal Credit Union. In addition, we will support the event with mobile and out of home ads throughout the State Fair.
​
Credit Union Awareness Fund Contributors can participate in the event by providing staff volunteers and/or branded swag for prizes. With questions about these opportunities, please reach out to Andrea Molnau or Julia Miller. We are looking forward to highlighting Minnesota Credit Unions at the Fair!

​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 and include options to co-brand graphics and videos. If you need assistance accessing the Contributor Headquarters please reach out to Andrea Molnau, VP Communications & Engagement.
​
​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. More information is available on MnCUN’s Awareness page. 

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.
​
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!