PSB Integrated Marketing President Mark DeBellis has hit theroad in a wrapped van on long summer trek.

DeBellis kicked off his credit union road trip on April 13 witha simple goal-drive 8,000 miles in the western U.S for 100 days andmeet with credit unions and consumers to help ?build credit unionvisibility while learning what consumers really want from theirfin-?ancial institutions.

“The financial climate is continually changing. It's importantto understand firsthand the key issues and opportunities within ourcredit union markets,” said DeBellis. “As president I realized thatI spend too much time in the office. So why not get out there andtalk to people to better understand the real challenges faced bycredit unions and what's really going on with consumers? We wantedto do something different and contribute to being part of thesolution.”

DeBellis said the trip would be a cross between “Ice RoadTruckers” and “Survivor Man.”

DeBellis added that the trip serves as an opportunity to promotethe benefits of credit union membership directly to consumers in afun, informative and nontraditional manner.

His trip began in Sacramento at the California 2010 GovernmentAffairs Rally. DeBellis said there will be a few breaks in betweenfor family commitments. For the CU road trip, he said he does hisbest to visit up to three local credit unions each day in additionto random stops at local community events in each city. In additionto tweeting about the experience throughout his trip, he blogsabout what credit unions are doing to stand out, and posts updateson where he's headed next on a microsite,www.destinationcreditunion.com. The site also offers financialtips, budget worksheets, music downloads and a link to CUNA's CULocator to find a local credit union.

“I've been having a great time talking to people. And what Ikeep hearing is that no one was prepared for what they areexperiencing in this economy and the biggest help credit unions canprovide future generations is to help them really understand thebasics of economics and how to manage their own consumption,” saidDeBellis. “California has been hit particularly hard so it's beengreat to see how credit unions have been so proactive in coming upwith creative solutions to help people get through these toughtimes.”

In addition to financial education opportunities, DeBellis saidconversations with teens and young adults revealed that many arestill unaware what a credit union is let alone that there is acredit union difference. He said there's a lot of work to be donein building awareness.

“This is all unscientific, of course, but who knows-maybe theanecdotal feedback from this road trip might spark other ideas onways beyond wrapping a van and driving 8,000 miles to help creditunions be more visible,” said DeBellis. “I'm having a great timeand I'm looking forward to getting out in more communities and tomore credit unions to learn more.”

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