The proliferation of personal technology has created a great deal of added new conveniences in our everyday lives – and a growing dependence on connectivity. With 81% of adults carrying smartphones and 84% owning a computer, it is no surprise that online and mobile credit union applications have become a must-have. In addition to convenience, these avenues of digital account access provide a sense of security and control members have come to desire.

However, the draw of hands-on convenience is also changing member behaviors. Constant access to account information has members taking basic banking services into their own hands – reserving in-person transactions for more in-depth questions and programs. The result is an up-tick in self-service use with a slow and steady drop in face-to-face interactions. Research from CACI, an IT solutions provider, predicts branch visits will fall from an average of seven per year to a mere four by 2022.

While a lack of personal interactions may seem worrisome, digital interactions are predicted to see a steep rise. And, with their personal assistant at their fingertips, there are a multitude of ways for credit unions to increase and dominate member outreach.

Email

If you are thinking about backing off an email messaging, don't. Despite complaints of an overflowing inbox, email is of increasing relevance to reach members. According to research from Harland Clarke Digital, email has reached an average of 45% penetration for credit unions. Open and click rates are even higher for current members.

Social Media

Use of social media has seen significant growth with the advent of the smartphone. According to data from Statista, some 81% of the U.S. population has reported having a profile on one or more social media platforms as of 2017. But, despite its penetration, the majority of social media users see it as a communication device.

While some 67% of financial institutions purchase social media ads, Salesforce.com reports average click-thru rates remain well below 0.5%. Whereas one in three social media users turn to customer care on their preferred social media platform even before reaching out via telephone or email. As a result, social media experts encourage a focus on content and customer service rather than paid advertising for outreach to current and potential members.

Paid Search

Delving into the realm of paid search may seem a dubious venture – especially in large, competitive markets. A mortgage lending ad, for instance, could run as much as $15 per click in Los Angeles while costing a mere $1.75 in rural Kansas. But search engines are a go-to for the majority of consumers and a great place to reach both members and non-members. According to Go Local Interactive paid ads reach approximately 80% of U.S. consumers – with AdWords click-through rates averaging over 2%. With average cost per click coming in just under $4, paid search can be a fairly reliable marketing and message resource for reaching digital account holders.

Mobile Advertising

Despite the appeal, there is really only one word for mobile advertising – NO. A recent consumer survey from HubSpot found that 70% of respondents dislike mobile marketing. In fact, the distaste is so extreme that the installation of mobile ad blocking software surged 90% in 2015 and continues maintain steady popularity. Other than opt-in text/SMS alert programs, experts suggest limiting ads to in-app messages or risk a significant amount of negative feedback.

ATM Messaging

The ATM may not be an immediate thought when strategizing outreach to the digital member. But it should be. A recent study from Raddon, a provider of research, analysis and strategic guidance for financial institutions, shows a marked increase in ATM usage among mobile banking users. Fifty-four percent of frequent mobile users and 23% percent of all mobile users reported using the ATM more often. This change in behavior is generating an additional opportunity for member outreach to an already attentive and engaged audience.

As personal technology continues to become a mainstay of our culture, outreach to the digital member becomes ever more important. However, not all avenues of communication are created equal and it is essential to walk the line of present without becoming intrusive. While face-to-face interactions remain on the decline, there are a variety of ways members are welcoming their credit unions further into their lives.

Rebecca Hellmann is Director of Marketing for FCTI, Inc. She can be reached at 636-295-5370 or rhellmann@fcti.net.

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