The 11,000 members of the True North Federal Credit Union in Juneau, Alaska, have responded strongly to a targeted offer centered on the credit union's Platinum Visa card.

Working with its card processor, PSCU Financial Services, the card offer from the $113 million credit union garnered a response rate of 9.23% and boosted outstanding balances by 5%.  As of Dec. 31, the CU had $7.1 million in outstanding balances in its card portfolio and almost 2,350 active accounts.

The promotion offered a 4.99% annual percentage rate on cash transactions, including balance consolidation, convenience checks, ATM and other cash advances during a six-week period.

This yielded an average balance transfer of $5,000, along with $240,000 in new outstanding balances. In addition, marketing in branches and online helped the CU bring in $125,000 in brand new balances, the credit union and company said.

“This campaign exceeded our expectations by creating a dramatic lift in outstanding balances while stimulating continued higher use of our credit card,” said Bill Peters, True North's vice president of corporate development.

“PSCU Financial Services' team played a vital role in designing this campaign to match our objectives,” he added.