BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Alabama Credit Union League wants Alabamians to be aware of the difference between credit unions and banks and ran a full-color ad in the June issue of Business Alabama magazine to make their point. The ad is part of a statewide credit union image campaign being conducted by League-subsidiary CU-Vote. The image campaign includes billboards on interstate highways around Alabama and postcards explaining the CU difference sent to over 500,000 credit union members. Copy on the ad begins by stating: "Your Credit Union. Not a bank. Never has been. Never will be." It continues to read: "Imagine what it would be like if your bank treated you like you owned the place. Suppose that, when you applied for a loan, your financial institution considered your desire to repay the loan (your character) not only your ability to repay (your income). If you have come to expect this kind of service – you must be one of the millions of Alabamians who belong to a credit union. All credit unions, no matter how large or how small, are non-profit financial institutions that exist solely to serve their members. Every credit union treats you like an owner, because that is exactly what you are." The ad discusses how consumers have consistently rated credit unions higher in customer satisfaction than other financial institutions. "No wonder more than 1.4 million Alabamians depend on a credit union to give them the top-quality financial service that they deserve," it continues, concluding with the statement: "Your Credit Union. Not a bank. A member-owned financial cooperative." Commenting on the ad campaign, ACUL President/CEO Gary Wolter said, "Credit unions are being attacked like never before, in the press and especially in front of lawmakers. The league and CU-Vote are using every opportunity to respond, whether it is to individual lawmakers, in the press, or to the general public. We as a movement must not silently accept the attacks, but must rise to meet them." The magazine also included a listing of the 100 largest CUs in Alabama, as well as an article on current credit union legislative priorities in Washington, D.C. Business Alabama has a circulation of over 50,000. CU-Vote is currently working on the placement of ads in Chamber of Commerce publications of the four largest media markets in Alabama as well as 92 bi-weekly, weekly and small daily publications that will reach a total of 962,000 Alabamians, including state and federal legislators. -

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