Press
cuStrategies’ CSA training program helps Carolina Postal Credit Union win 2014 CU Journal Best Practices Award
MONTGOMERY, AL (December 2, 2014) — Lending, business development, and leadership strategies firm cuStrategies’ Credit Score Analysis (CSA) training helped provide Carolina Postal Credit Union ($86 million; 9,368 members; Charlotte, NC) with a 33% lending boost in 2013. As a result, this effort earned cuStrategies and Carolina Postal a 2014 Credit Union Journal Best Practices Award. This recent win also complements the credit union’s Dora Maxwell and Louise Herring Awards presented by the Carolinas Credit Union League in October 2014.
Carolina Postal’s annual loans in 2012 totaled just over $10 million and after cuStrategies’ CSA training in 2013 loans exceeded $15 million – a 33% increase over 2012. In fact, the two months immediately following their two-day CSA training, Carolina Postal experienced a 53% increase in loan dollars (January and February 2013). Loans for 2014 are more than $8.9 million, as numbers proceed to increase because of the credit union’s continued CSA marketing efforts – another big promo already this fall.
Along with the loan growth, CPCU also minimized its delinquency ratio for consumer loans – decreasing to .67% in 2013 from 1.98% in 2012. Its current 2014 ratio is .36%.
According to Carolina Postal President/CEO Joy Watts, the credit union’s marketing department worked very aggressively to promote the CSA program to create complete membership awareness. At every CPCU touch-point, a member received a target-marketed CSA message reading: CPCU can help you improve your Credit Score AND save you money while doing it!
“cuStrategies’ CSA training was invaluable,” states Watts. “If not for its CSA Program, lending strategies, and training of our staff, we would not have gone into this area as aggressively as we did – and we certainly would not have helped as many members as we have.”
“We are extremely happy for Carolina Postal’s win and success using our CSA program,” Cook says. “We worked with them to integrate the CSA Program, and the manner in which they embraced and marketed the program helped fuel their positive numbers. As a result, so many members have benefited. We look forward to more success from Carolina Postal as they continue to promote this program for their members’ benefit.”
“As a CUDE (Credit Union Development Educator), I was personally excited to see this program,” says Carolina Postal’s Vice President of Marketing and Business Development Deb McLean. “This program is exactly the kind of service credit unions should be providing their members all along. I couldn’t wait to get started and bring home the message – and the terrific results show.”
About cuStrategies
Celeste Cook is founder and President/CEO of cuStrategies LLC. As a credit union industry strategist, Cook provides strategic planning services, consulting services, and training programs to the credit union industry. She is also a keynote and motivational speaker in addition to a consultant and trainer. Cook has served as an industry expert, motivational, and keynote speaker for national credit union associations as well as credit union leagues nationwide. She has worked in the credit union industry for more than 20 years and has been a professional speaker and trainer for more than 15 years. She previously worked for a $1.6 billion credit union in Atlanta, Georgia, and worked as a consultant and trainer with Rex Johnson of Lending Solutions Consulting. For more information, visit: www.custrategies.com.