MUSCLE SHOALS, AL (July 15, 2014) -- Starting this summer, Listerhill Credit Union is teaming up with the University of North Alabama, located in Florence, Ala., to provide enhanced card services for the University.
The One Card is a combined card that has all of the features of UNA’s Mane Card, which serves as a student’s ID, meal card, library card, and door access card in addition to providing access to campus events. However, The One Card will have the added bonus to giving students or campus staff access to their Listerhill accounts.
“The One Card is just the next step in Listerhill’s commitment to the University of North Alabama,” said Brad Green, President/CEO of Listerhill Credit Union. “Through this partnership with the University on the card program, we are pleased to have this opportunity to deepen our relationships with their students, faculty, and staff through a card they will use every day.”
According to Listerhill Vice President of Marketing Kristen Mashburn, the University was seeking a financial institution that would help to facilitate the creation of a student card that could also be used off campus. Mashburn said that Listerhill was one of several financial institutions that bid on the card program after receiving a request for proposal. University officials awarded the bid to Listerhill following a review process.
During the card’s development stages, representatives from Listerhill consulted with card servicer PSCU, St. Petersburg, Fla., to find examples of other financial institutions using campus cards, to determine the appropriate stock of the card as well as placement of card information, and to get approval through Visa. Listerhill also worked with the University to make sure that card information and student information were housed separately, and so that information printed onto the card would not interfere with its ability to function properly.
One unique feature of the One Card is that it has one magnetic stripe for the students’ Mane Card functions and a separate stripe for debit transactions. This will provide efficiency and convenience for students of the University who use the card for campus activities as well as for offsite purchases, according to Mashburn.
The One Card’s design is a combination of elements from both the University and Listerhill.
“We wanted the One Card to be a strong graphical representation of UNA’s brand, but also visually demonstrate that Listerhill was making the card possible for the University,” said Listerhill Marketing Manager Chris Anderson. “Since Listerhill is also providing Mane Cards to the University for students who do not opt for the One Card, our logo will appear in the design for those as well.”
“We are extremely excited to see this process come to fruition,” said Mashburn. “The University and Listerhill have worked together from day one to make service and convenience through the One Card a reality for those who want to have both.”
The University has a total enrollment of approximately 7,000 students. According to Chris Anderson, the University is seeing a positive adoption rate for the card so far.
“During the student orientation process that started in June, we’ve had about twenty percent of incoming freshmen get the One Card,” said Anderson. “Students who opt for the Card will also be entered into a car giveaway Listerhill sponsors in mid-August, so we believe that will generate more interest in the card as well.”
Just four years ago, Listerhill announced an effort with the University of North Alabama to establish the Center for Financial Literacy on the Universityʼs campus. Listerhillʼs part was a $625,000 gift toward the Universityʼs new Academic Center and Student Commons, where the Center for Financial Literacy and The Hill (a student-run credit union featuring an account with the same name) are now housed.
“The partnership that Listerhill has with the University of North Alabama is representative of our philosophy of people helping people,” said Brad Green. “We look forward to the continued expansion of services available to the University as well as to other institutions throughout our service area, including support for education, technology, and financial literacy initiatives.”
About Listerhill Credit Union
Listerhill Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned financial institution. Founded by Shoals residents 62 years ago, Listerhill has grown to include 80,000 members, $645 million in assets and 18 branches serving northwest Alabama and south central Tennessee. For more information, please visit www.listerhill.com or call 800-239-6033.