Credit unions around the country use mascots to create a fun,entertaining presence at events such as branch grand openings,community events and even parades. Many credit unions have createdmascots to support their kids clubs, while others just want tobring a little excitement into their credit union.

For decades mascots such as the Michelin Man (1898) and thePillsbury Dough Boy (1960s) have become familiar mascots brandingtheir respective products, so it's no surprise that credit unionshave added mascots to their portfolios.

There are hundreds of mascots that represent credit unionsaround the country that involve employees dressing up in specialcostumes, while other mascots are animated, and some are stuffed orhave wet noses.

Here is a sample of nine from around the land.

Next Page: A Rite of Passage

Above, Moola Moola is a popular attraction at artcontests for Philadelphia school children.

Philadelphia Federal CreditUnion

Philadelphia Federal Credit Union, with $885 million in assets,has a magical monster from the make-believe land of Lotta Loot asits representative.PhiladelphiaFederal Credit Union

Say what?

“Moola Moola is the mascot for Savings Club for Kids, asavings account for children 12 years old and under,” said KarenEavis, communications specialist at Philadelphia FCU. “Moola Moolateaches our youngest members the value of saving while attendingcommunity events and visiting elementary school classrooms with ourfinancial educator.”

Through the years, many employees of the credit union havevolunteered to play the role of Moola Moola, Eavis said. “It's arite of passage.”

Moola Moola recently attended a grand opening eventcelebrating the credit union's new branch in the Fishtownsection of Philadelphia and youngsters lined up around the block tomeet him.

“He's a local celebrity,” Eavis confirmed.

Next Page: The Logix of Robix

Logix Federal Credit Union

The former Lockheed Credit Union in Los Angeles is now known asLogix Federal Credit Union and has a cool caricature mascotthat mirrors the hip new brand – a friendly and inquisitiverobot named Robix.

Robix supports the $3.6 billionLogix FCU and stands out from other financial institutions' mascotsin that he is an orange and white flying robot.

Robix gives members and the community another way to interactwith the brand through unique premium items including robot airfresheners, bobble heads, social media and contests.

He also adds an element of fun to functional applications likeonline chat.

“We've found the character resonates well with the youngergeneration, which was one of four primary objectives of last year'sname change,” said Andrea Carpenter, senior vice president ofmarketing and strategy.

“We're still fine-tuning exactly when the robot character shouldtake center stage and when he should play a supporting role,”Carpenter said, “but are excited about the prospects and believe hewill serve us well over the long term.”

Next Page: And a Pelican Shall Lead Them All

Pelican State Credit Union

More than eight years ago, the marketing department of the $218million Pelican State Credit Union in Baton Rouge, La., purchased thecredit union's first pelican mascot costume and Petey thePelican was born.

From tailgating at football games to riding on the creditunion's Christmas floats, Petey the Pelican represents PelicanState CU and their “corporate cool” culture.

Petey is fun, supportive and always willing to lend a helpinghand at community events, said Chelsea Gstohl, marketing specialistfor Pelican State CU.

“Over the last eight years, he has become a local celebrity inthe credit union's 10 branch communities across the state,” Gstohlsaid. “Parents wait in line to have their youngsters take photoswith Petey and he puts a smile on everyone's face wherever hegoes.”

And he's no bird brain. Petey the Pelican is an advocate foryouth financial education and Pelican State CU's Youth SavingsAccounts. He attends community events, especially those gearedtoward children. He is also the star of the credit union's owncoloring book, which teaches children the importance of savingmoney and responsible spending.

“Petey boosts morale at Pelican State CU employee eventsand is always greeted with hugs and high fives,” Gstohl continued.“Petey the Pelican is a special part of our Pelican family.”

Next Page: A Trio of CU Troubadours

Above, Scuba Sammy mans the informationtable.

First Capital Federal Credit Union

The $154 million First Capital Federal Credit Union in York,Pa., has not one, not two, but three mascots. Scuba Sammy andStarry Starfish represent the Deep Sea Savers account which is forthose up to and including age 13.

At age 14, they move to the Rock Star Super Savers club and RoxyRockstar is the mascot for that program. Scuba Sammy and RoxyRockstar are played by credit union employees. Scuba Sammywears a scuba costume, snorkel and flippers. Roxy has asparkly purple shirt, leather jacket, purple wig and coolsunglasses and carries a guitar.

The credit union came up with the mascots because it wantedsomething relatable for the children and teens. It wanted theprograms to be a takeoff of its branding, not just a cannedprogram.

First Capital Federal Credit Union utilizes a star in its logo,but it didn't want to go with a traditional “star” as their mascot,so the two other mascots carry the plush-toy star wherever theygo.

“The children are really excited when they see Scuba Sammy andRoxy Rockstar at events,” said Tara Houser, vice president ofmarketing. “They ask for hugs and pictures. It's reallycute. We're so glad they can relate to them.”

At times the mascots have stopped traffic with their antics andRoxy Rockstar rocked her purple pants when she was nine monthspregnant.

Next Page: Them Old Bones

Michigan First Credit Union

Dinosaur mascot Max came to the$650 million Michigan First in Detroit on a mission: to instill moneymanagement and saving habits among children ages 12 and under aspart of the MoneyKids program. Since joining the Michigan Firstfamily, Max has been quite successful in this campaign.

“As a credit union founded by educators, Michigan First's teamknew it was important to find a fun and enjoyable way to not onlyintroduce kids to financial topics, but to truly connect withthem,” said Linda Douglas, vice president of marketing.

“As the face of our MoneyKids program, Max travels to localschools and brings smiles out of students everywhere he goes,forming a bond and encouraging habits that we believe will stickwith them for years to come.”

Traveling to dozens of local schools around metro Detroit, Maxworks with the students to ensure that they have a fun, positiveimpression from the credit union's student-run branch and financialeducation programs.

Whether he's encouraging healthy savings habits or high-fivingstudents for their enthusiasm, Max makes learning about financesfun and memorable.

Next Page: Reddy Stands Tall

Redwood Credit Union

The redwood became California's official state tree in 1937 andin 2004, Reddy the Redwood became the mascot for the $2.2billion Redwood Credit Union in Santa Rosa, Calif., inconjunction with the rollout of a youth accounts program.

Inspired by a local dairy whose mascot (a cartoon cow) iswell-known and beloved in the community, credit union staffers felthaving a mascot for RCU would be a fun way to promote financialliteracy to kids, as well as delight people in their communities atthe many non-profit and community events they support throughoutthe year.

Custom plush Reddy toys that young savers earn upon reaching a$100 milestone in their Jr. Ranger savings account are given outand Reddy has his own column (“Reddy Says”) in the quarterly kids'newsletter, the Jr. Ranger Review.

“Employees love volunteering to be Reddy at our events, so wehave a rotating pool of employees who don the suit for our variousevents,” said Robin McKenzie, senior vice president of marketingand communications.

“Many local parades and events have themes, so our employeeshave even created costumes for Reddy to wear, such as an old westsheriff, a farmer, a hula dancer, a 50s greaser, and a holidayReddy with a Santa hat,” McKenzie said.

When Reddy isn't teaching financial literacy, buildingmoral and pumping up the employees or dancing the hula, he can befound hanging out with other local mascots at community events.

Next Page: He's Greeeat!

Above, Dollar Dog mans the wheel at a communityevent that included showing off a local firetruck.

Kellogg Community Federal CreditUnion

The $422 million Kellogg Community Credit Union in Battle Creek, Mich.,purchased the Dollar Dog mascot in the 2003-2004 timeframe when itstarted its Dollar Dog kids program.

The Dollar Dog kids program is a program provided by MarketingPartners Inc. The superhero mascot helps to promote the kidsprogram to the community.

“There is no greater visibility at events and schools than amascot,” said Rori Ross, marketing analytics managerat Kellogg Community FCU “Typically we have two to threepeople who usually volunteer to wear the suit and they have a lotof fun with it.”

Wearing the suit is no easy task. Dollar Dog never goes anywherewithout a spotter or guide to help because the feet are so bigthere is limited vision with the head on.

“You can't see down and the peripheral vision is limited as wellso you have to be careful on steps, uneven pavement, and littlekids that are below your line of sight,” Ross said. “Dollar Dog isnot allowed to speak so when the spotter asks him a question, weget close to his face and nearly every time the person wearing itwill turn their head towards you and because they can't see youthey end up head butting you with Dollar Dog's nose, which the kidsthink is hilarious.”

Next Page: Wisdom of Widgets

Widget Financial

When the $255 million, 31,428-member Erie General Electric Credit Union in Erie, Pa., changed itsname to Widget Financial, it also acquired two uber-hipmascots named Widgey and Sprock.

When the name change came down, Trenton Mason, chiefmarketing officer for Widget FCU did a lot of research intofinancial brands throughout USA and Europe and saw that as a trend,many of the European FIs used caricature-centric advertising.

“I told my committee that we should consider putting our mascotright in the logo, but this seemed a little too “out there” forsome,” Mason said. “Later on, we had solidified our new name andwere in the logo design stage and I tended to give creativepreference to any logo that could potentially have a mascot init.

“In a final option of what would eventually become our logo, Idrew little eyes and arms on the “G” gear in Widget and then sentmy hand drawing to a local cartoonist. The cartoonist really justtook off with it.”

Widgey and Sprock are used for the majority of the advertising,and the credit union finds that they seem to transcend race, age,gender.

“Widgey and Sprock let us keep things playful, whilemaintaining a professional look and feel,” Mason added. “Wefrequently get compliments from consumers throughout a very widecontinuum and I personally have had children and grandparents aliketell me that they love our new look and these characters.”

Next Page: Gone to the Dogs

CanDo Credit Union

This $9.5 million credit union in Walbridge, Ohio, has only onelocation, but it has two mascots.

“We have two dogs that come tothe credit union almost every day,” said Sue Kirk, an employeespokesperson for CanDo. “Cami is my dog. She is a 4½-year-old blonde cockapoo and Zoey is Mark's (CEOMark Sommer) dog and she is a 2 ½-year-old,white-and-black Shih Tzu.”

Kirk and Sommer had both lost older dogs and they needed a puppyto fill the void. As puppies, Sommer gave the OK to bringthem to work. Both puppies were just a little over two poundswhen they started their mascot duties. Now members areattached to both dogs and they bring them treats when they come into manage their finances.

“Our dogs remember exactly which members bring them treats,”Kirk said. “They share a toy box in the back offices and the kidsknow this. They come back and get balls to throw for the dogsand they play tug-o-war with them. The dogs love theattention.”

And no one has to dress up in a mascot suit.