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

The credit union has spread the word of the event through posters, digital signs, an email blast to members and posts on its social media channels (Twitter, Facebook and Instagram).

The biggest cost so far was for printing the posters. “We have kept 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 at its call center, and shifting schedules at its branches to have all hands on deck when the sun fades.

Southern New Jersey, about 600 miles north of the path of totality, will experience only a partial eclipse that will begin at 1:21 p.m. and end at 4:01 p.m. At its peak at 2:44 p.m., residents will 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 are still in line with the moon and sun separate. “Even if we don't get to them, they'll be eligible.”

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

South Jersey hopes to gain more members and more loans on Monday.

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And the final disclaimer, should the CFO sense the end is near: “Offer may be withdrawn at any time at the discretion of the credit union.”