The concept is simple. Carolina Postal CU posts the ACH payroll early and makes it available to their USPS members by 9:00 a.m. Wednesday. This is a great advantage for USPS members, especially the Letter Carriers, since their busiest and most stressful delivery day is Friday, also the standard payday.

According to CPCU Vice President of Marketing/Business Development Deb McLean, not only has Priority Payday Checking benefited current members, it has driven in new USPS members and increased checking accounts at the credit union.

After the first month, CPCU saw an increase of $1.1 million in core deposits.

"This innovative product truly sums up our internal marketing mantra at Carolina Postal–if it's good for the member, and good for the credit union, then it's good to go! We love to think outside the bank," said McLean.

Carolina Postal CU is following up the official June 1 announcement to their USPS members with a referral campaign for the USPS checking account members.

"We are using our membership as the initial campaign piece–promoting Priority Payday Checking via word-of-mouth is the most powerful, successful, and least expensive advertising we can use," said McLean.

Additional campaign plans include direct mail, branch merchandising, and gift items targeting current users/members of the product to increase word-of-mouth awareness.

The Priority Payday logo and marketing pieces were designed by Minnesota-based Pinpoint Direct Marketing, Inc. and gift items were produced by Render Ad in Georgia.