With a new Facebook ad entitled “VCU in the Final Four,” the $2billion Virginia Credit Union of Richmond wasted little time Mondayin joining in the celebration of the underdog Virginia CommonwealthUniversity Rams basketball team winning a “Final Four” berth inSunday's NCAA championship game.

“We've long had a good longstanding relationship with theuniversity and we already had been running ads charting theprogress of the team in the student newspaper, CommonwealthTimes,” explained Glenn Birch, director of publicrelations.

Monday's congratulatory ad on Facebook, under the headline “Go Rams,”noted that the basketball team had “shown the entire country whoVCU really is and what you are capable of.”

Virginia Credit Union, said the ad, “is proud to be your creditunion and our staff and members are cheering you on.”

Furthering the university link with a plug for financialliteracy, the CU reminded students that this week VCU isoffering a seminar for graduating seniors called “Making It” andwhile all the attention is on the basketball team, “another type ofMarch Madness should be strictly avoided–graduating from collegewithout an honest look at your financial situation.”

On that front the Richmond CU said the 45-minute March 31seminar would offer “practical guidance on steps students shouldtake to ensure they start on the right financial footing.”

In addition to the seminar, seniors may sign up for a 30-minuteone-on-one financial checkup on campus staring today. “Theindividual appointments address specific questions students mayhave about managing debt, setting goals, and creating and stickingto a budget,” said VCU.