SAN ANTONIO — South Texas credit unions this month are reaping a payoff in the public's hunger for financial guidance as the local CBS affiliate seeks to develop live TV shows in early 2009 utilizing CU experts.
"We really had outstanding response to our first TV show on Oct. 24 which lasted a full hour and in which we had 12 credit union representatives and nine volunteers fielding questions from a phone bank," explained James Johnston, vice president/associate marketing director at the $2.8 billion San Antonio FCU, one of nine San Antonio area CUs participating in the Financial Forum venture, as it is called, and which make up the Alamo Chapter of the Texas Credit Union League.
The call-in show become part of the local "Great Day SA" on the network station with more than 500 calls pouring in until phones were shut off after lunch, said Johnston. The Financial Forum campaign is part of a $25,000 Alamo Chapter ad series on safety/soundness and deposit insurance appearing on cable stations, in print ads and on an electronic billboard.
The commercials, as well as the Oct. 24 show, stress that CUs have not engaged in subprime loans, and that CUs provide "a safe harbor for people during this turbulent time." Johnston said arrangements are now being made with the station for a repeat "during tax season perhaps in February."
"The show and the ads have really been a huge success for us since they have put out a really positive message about credit unions," said John Worthington, senior vice president of corporate communications at Security Service FCU, also an Alamo Chapter participant.
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