ARLINGTON, Va.-After NAFCU President and CEO Fred Becker had asuccessful radio tour earlier this year, the credit union tradeassociation decided to work a similar campaign in at the end of theyear. With the help of Medialink, a global leader in news and mediaservices, according to its Web site, NAFCU has put out a 60-secondaudio news release, NAFCU Communications Manager John Zimmermanexplained, and more than 9,000 radio stations will be alerted thatit is available for air time. Additionally, Medialink's syndicatednetwork of over 400 stations in major markets will receive the bitdirectly, reaching more than 10 million listeners. Medialink alsopromised multiple drive-time satellite transmissions through ABC,CBS, NBC, CNBC, and CNN radio news feeds and audio posted onNewstream.com, which reaches more than 11,000 online news sites.The effort cost NAFCU around $5,000, according to Zimmerman. Hesaid he expected word last week after deadline as to how manystations aired the piece after the first week. It was released Dec.22. The audio news release, entitled “CREDIT UNIONS: Membership HasIts Rewards,” focused on the rising interest rate environment andhow credit unions often offer better deals than other financialservice providers. Zimmerman pointed out that it was particularlytimely given the recent rate hike by the Federal Open MarketCommittee. The release goes like an interview. “As car loan andcredit card interest rates have increased, many analysts believemortgage rates can't be too far behind. As a result, consumersshould consider credit unions because as member owned non-profitfinancial institutions, they often offer lower loan rates,” Beckerstates in response to a question on the possibility of increasinglong-term rates. At the conclusion, the announcer tells consumersto visit www.nafcu.org for more information on credit unions orrate comparisons by state. “Ultimately, the return we're lookingfor is members of credit unions in their car driving to worklistening to the message and say, `Oh yeah, I should check therates at my credit union,' ” Zimmerman explained. “ Our return isthat consumers in general, members of credit unions inparticular.that their interest is perhaps peaked with regard tointerest rates, both in short-term revolving and on longer-termmortgage loans and that credit unions are a good place to go. Soour return is simply to help out credit unions the best we can.”-

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