Credit unions are using St. Patrick's Day to promote brand awareness, member engagement and good financial habits.

Click through to read how five credit unions are getting into the holiday spirit:

Read more: Greening Tampa with Grow Financial …

Grow Financial Credit Union, in partnership with the city of Tampa, will dye the Hillsborough River “Grow Financial” green on Friday, March 15, for the annual Mayor's River O'Green celebration.

“We are thrilled to be the presenting sponsor of the Mayor's River O'Green for the third year in a row”, said Allen Milliron, director of corporate sponsorships for the $1.9 billion Tampa institution. “This is a great community event for Grow Financial to be aligned with as we have a strong commitment to giving back to the communities that we live and work in.”

During the festival, a stretch of the Hillsborough River will be tinted green with non-toxic, biodegradable dye, the credit union said. It will be easy to spot Grow Financial during the event. The credit union's tent will be located next to a 30-foot-high tower with the Grow Financial logo branded on it.

As part of Grow Financial's new World of More marketing campaign, festival goers can grab a limited number of free #moreinreturn T-shirts. The shirts can be customized with a message about what members want more of, which is the theme of Grow Financial's new campaign.

The credit union will also host a customized photo booth where guests can snap pics to share on social media sites or via email. Photos will also be posted on Grow Financial's Facebook page.

“This is a great community event and is a perfect example of how to Grow the Greater Good, which is one of our credit union's guiding philosophies,” said Adrienne Drew, a marketing communications specialist for Grow Financial.

An estimated 3,000 people attended last year's Mayor's River O'Green celebration, the credit union said.

“We see many of our current members there, but it is also a great time for our credit union to gain new members,” Drew said. “When we are present at the event, we have information on the credit union to hand out to potential members and we have employees working the event to speak to current and potential members about joining. This year, we will have even more engagement and interaction by providing the photo booth and asking guests to post their pictures on their social media pages.”

Read more: Irish luck at Spokane Teachers' …

Thanks to Spokane Teachers' Credit Union, a Washington educator seemed to be blessed with the luck of the Irish.

The $1.85 billion STCU in Spokane, Wash., selected Steve Barnes, principal of Holmes Elementary School, as winner of the 2014 Principal on Parade contest, according to the credit union's website.

During a surprise celebration on March 7, STCU presented the school with a $1,000 donation and announced that Barnes, along with the student who submitted the contest nomination, will be guests of honor in the city's St. Patrick's Day parade this weekend, the credit union said.

The contest was co-sponsored by 121,000-member STCU and the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, a non-profit group formed in 1979 that organizes the annual parade, the credit union said

Hundreds of nominations were received for the contest, the credit union said.

As an organization founded by teachers, STCU has a long history of supporting schools.

“In particular, the credit union looks for opportunities to reinforce positive behavior and respect within the classroom,” said Traci McGlathery, STCU's community relations manager. “Principal on Parade fosters respect by encouraging students to think about why they look up to their principal as a mentor and a role model. It encourages them to put down in writing the appreciation that some students may be reluctant to express in person.”

“The importance of this program isn't so much the parade, as the opportunity it gives us to celebrate with the entire student body of that school,” McGlathery added. “It's our way of saying that good role models are so important that we want to make sure they're recognized, by the students as well as the community.”

Savings O' the Green at Evansville Teachers FCU

The $920 million Evansville Teachers Federal Credit Union is encouraging members to enjoy a bit of savings of the green with a St. Patrick's Day certificate special.

The 73,000-member credit union is offering special rates on 17-month and three-year certificates, along with a three-year IRA certificate for a limited time, according to its website.

In addition, ETFCU's St. Patrick's promotion touts money market share accounts. New 8-, 14-, 18- and 30-month certificates can be purchased with regular and IRA funds for a limited time only, the credit union said.

Read more: Shamrocks and share accounts at SunWest

The $270 million SunWest Federal Credit Union has created a holiday-themed splash page on its website to encourage members to create their own pot of gold by investing and saving. With one click on the site's home page, members are redirected to a page with details about share accounts, money market accounts, share certifications and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs).

In addition, the Phoenix-based credit union is also inviting members to participate in a special St. Patrick's fundraiser. Paper shamrocks are being sold to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the credit union said.

“To do our part in the fight against muscular dystrophy, we started selling shamrocks in each of our seven SunWest locations last week,” said the credit union's blog. “You can stop by any branch and purchase a green shamrock for $1 or a gold shamrock for $5. Of course, you are always welcome to purchase/donate any denomination of your choosing.”

The shamrocks will be displayed throughout the branches and proceeds will be donated to MDA, the credit union said.

A Pot O' Gold at Hanscom

Hanscom Federal Credit Union has found a fun way to engage members and educate them about new products and services through a Pot O' Gold promotion.

Members and visitors at Hanscom's branches can choose a token out of a lucky leprechaun pot to win prizes, ranging from candy bars to $50 worth of MemberPoints when opening a new credit card, the credit union said.

The promotion begins Friday and ends Monday.

The credit union has held similar activities in branches since January involving prizes, charity donations and other member engagement activities, which have been featured on Hanscom's Facebook page.

“Celebrating holidays and special events is a great way to show appreciation for our members and make the branches a fun destination,” said Paul Marotta, chairman of the board of the $1 billion credit union, headquartered on Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts.

“The St. Patrick's Day promotion, in particular, gives us a chance to talk with members about a product or service in a casual, natural way,” added Steve Silva, Hanscom FCU's vice president of marketing. “Then we can extend our reach by posting photos to Facebook.”

Instant Insights /

5 Credit Unions with St. Patrick&rsquo;s Day Promos

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5 Credit Unions with St. Patrick’s Day Promos