On-Site Coverage: 'Hannah Montana' Generation May Make, Break Industry

HOUSTON — The urgency to court Generation Y continues to reach a high pitch among credit unions. However, nontraditional outlets such as music and concerts may be another way to help woo this group of 30 million.

That was the message from keynote speaker Jason Dias, president of Eloquent Online, a marketing firm, who spoke at the African American Credit Union Coalition’s conference yesterday evening on how creative credit unions should be in attracting those born between 1983 and 1997.

With a lively presentation peppered with music from all genres, Dias implored attendees to consider taking their credit union message online with live streams, revamping their branches so that they appeal to a younger audience and setting up profiles on MySpace and Facebook. In addition to establishing financial literacy connections with local schools, Dias suggested credit unions holding concerts there to create brand awareness. In three years, one out of four Gen Yers will be old enough to drive, he pointed out.