Just ask the marketing staff at the $600 million Vermont StateEmployees Credit Union about the fallout from the state regulator'scease and desist order for using banking in its advertising, andthey'll tell you, “We couldn't have planned this any better—it'smade my job so much easier.”

Yvonne Garand, vice president of marketing/business development,said Friday that while her credit union faces the prospect of acease and desist from the Vermont Department of FinancialRegulation, it is reaping favorable public response from thechallenge.

• UPDATE, Oct. 8, 2012, Vermont Credit Union, Regulator Settle 'B' WordDispute

“We're getting encouraging emails and calls from across Vermontand elsewhere, and they're mad,” Garand said, explaining they findthe ruling “just plain stupid and absolutely ludicrous.”

Garand said she is currently working on an op-ed for aMontpelier paper, and her credit union issued an email blast tomembers today explaining the controversy and urging they contactthe DFR to halt the cease and desist proceedings.

Local TV news crews were slated to interview Steven D. Post, the president/CEO today for statewide coverage,she said.

“The fact is the commissioner could halt this silliness with anorder on his own,” said Garand. “He has the power to interpret thestatute and simply say that our credit union is not in violation,but he refuses to do so.”

The Vermont commmissioner of banking, insurance, securities andhealth care is Steve Kimbell, an attorney and former state planningdirector who previously served at KSE Partners, a Montpelier andWashington lobbying firm. The June 18 notice of the intent for aVSECU cease and desist was drafted by the deputy commissioner,Thomas Candon, a veteran in the agency and a former banker whohas said he expects to hold a hearing on the case late nextmonth.