University Credit Union Inks Sponsorship Deal With Saint Mary’s College

The Los Angeles-based University Credit Union has announced a comprehensive sponsorship deal with Saint Mary’s College of California that will give it the naming rights to school athletic venues, as well as new ATM, branch and program opportunities on the campus.

Under the agreement, the school’s basketball and volleyball venue will become University Credit Union Pavilion, and credit union signage will be visible in various athletic venues, as well as on the floor of the pavilion. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“University Credit Union is honored to partner with Saint Mary’s College. This partnership will provide financial services and education to give the Saint Mary’s College community a financial edge on campus and beyond,” University Credit Union President David Tuyo said. “University Credit Union looks forward to serving and being an integral part of the Saint Mary’s community.”

The credit union, which has $728 million in assets and about 41,000 members, said it will add affinity credit and debit card programs, operate a dean’s choice grant program, sponsor student research opportunities, help fund the school food pantry and provide case study partnerships. The credit union will also let students manage a small part of the credit union’s investment portfolio as part of a class curriculum. In addition, it will place ATMs on campus and open a new branch there.

University Credit Union has also been the official financial services partner of the West Coast Conference and the sponsor of the West Coast Conference Basketball Championships.

Saint Mary’s College of California has about 4,000 students.

Other credit unions have announced the purchase of naming rights from local colleges and universities this year as well.

In October, for example, the Phoenix-based Desert Financial Federal Credit Union announced the purchase of naming rights to Arizona State University’s University Activities Center, which is home to the men’s and women’s basketball teams, as well as the school’s wrestling, gymnastics and volleyball programs. The credit union said it would pay $1.5 million per year for five years under the agreement. Desert Financial has $4.8 billion in assets and about 346,000 members.

In June, the Virginia Beach, Va.-based Chartway Federal Credit Union announced a branding and sponsorship agreement with Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va. That $4.25 million deal will rename the interior of the university’s 8,400-seat arena in its Ted Constant Convocation Center complex to Chartway Arena. The agreement also created a $25,000 annual scholarship fund for student athletes. Chartway has $2.2 billion in assets and about 191,000 members.