It may always be sunny in Philadelphia, but on the other side ofthe Delaware River the South Jersey Federal Credit Union is tryingto stir up interest in a rare bit of afternoon dimness Monday.

On Wednesday, the South Jersey FCU ($357.9 million in assets,47,661 members) put up signs in the lobbies of its eight branchesfrom Philadelphia to Atlantic City, N.J. announcing “A TotalEclipse of our Rates.”

The credit union will offer car loans at 0.99% for up to 38months and personal loans at 3.8% for up to two years. Its websiteproclaims: “These rates are hotter than the surface of the sun andwill only last as long as the Solar Eclipse, 2 hours and 40minutes, so set your alarms and get ready to take advantage ofthese once in a lifetime loan rates!”

Linda Laubach, South Jersey FCU's director of marketing, cameup with the idea on the morning of Friday, Aug. 11 and the creditunion's in-house graphic designer, Melanie Knowles, had the artworkdone by that afternoon.

“It came together really, really quickly,” Laubach said. “Wehave no idea how this is going to go. It's the first time we'veever done anything like this.”

The credit union has spread the word of the event throughposters, digital signs, an email blast to members and posts on itssocial media channels (Twitter, Facebook andInstagram).

The biggest cost so far was for printing the posters. “We havekept our out-of-pocket expenses to a minimum,” she said.

To get the rates, borrowers have to apply by phone or in person.The credit union is gearing up by increasing staffing on Monday atits call center, and shifting schedules at its branches to have allhands on deck when the sun fades.

Southern New Jersey, about 600 miles north of the path oftotality, will experience only a partial eclipse that will begin at1:21 p.m. and end at 4:01 p.m. At its peak at 2:44 p.m., residentswill be under a “crescent sun.”

The rates expire when the sun emerges completely from the sun,so employees will be ready to time stamp loan applicants who arestill in line with the moon and sun separate. “Even if we don't getto them, they'll be eligible.”

The credit union's membership has increased 4% in past year, andits total loans were $194.7 million on June 30, up 14% from a yearearlier. “We have been benefitting from significant loan growth,”she said.

South Jersey hopes to gain more members and more loans onMonday.

But its deal has a few conditions:

• The 0.99% APR requires a minimum 680 FICO score.
• The car loan has to be new, not a refinance.
• The vehicle must be model year 2008 or newer.
• The loan must be for at least 10,000.

And the final disclaimer, should the CFO sense the end is near:“Offer may be withdrawn at any time at the discretion of the creditunion.”