PenFed Credit Union launches new digital division to highlight stories of inspiration, resilience and service
PenFed is the first credit union dedicating a team to digital storytelling for world-wide viewers
SAN ANTONIO, VA (March 5, 2019) — PenFed Credit Union today announced the launch of a new digital division dedicated to highlighting stories of inspiration, resilience and service. PenFed is the nation’s second-largest federal credit union with 1.8 million members and $25 billion in assets and the first credit union to have a digital story telling team for worldwide viewers on social media.
Stories curated by PenFed Digital will be distributed across multiple platforms. Viewers can engage with the Digital Team and experience their content on PenFed’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn accounts.
Andrea McCarren, a nationally recognized journalist whose numerous recognitions include over 20 Emmy Awards, three Edward R. Murrow Awards and a 2018 Gracie Award for military affairs reporting, will lead PenFed Digital.
“Our team’s mission is to share stories of inspiration, resilience and service,” said McCarren, Vice President and Chief Content Officer at PenFed. “Each day, members of the military community and our credit union community live extraordinary lives. We will give them a voice and a platform to share their experiences with the world. We’ll be traveling throughout the country capturing compelling content to showcase ordinary Americans doing extraordinary things. We’ll bring our engaged online community along on our journey.”
McCarren is joined by Christopher Mullen, John Mogor and Amanda Ota, who also bring decades of news experience, Emmy Awards and storytelling talent to this new venture.
The new digital storytelling division will capture and share content that showcases the lives of servicemembers, veterans, military families and the national defense community – PenFed’s core field of membership.
“Many PenFed members have earned the right to be called heroes through their service to our nation,” said James Schenck, President and CEO of PenFed Credit Union and CEO of the PenFed Foundation. “From privates to Four-Star Generals, PenFed members have received the Medal of Honor, Silver Stars and Purple Hearts. Some lead Fortune 500 companies, while others serve as leaders across a wide spectrum of industries. They all have one thing in common: they embrace the credit union philosophy of ‘People Helping People.’ We look forward to sharing their stories.”
PenFed Digital’s first story focuses on PenFed Foundation Speakers Bureau CEO Cedric King, a double amputee delivering inspiring messages to the world champion Boston Red Sox. Other featured content posting as part of the launch includes:
- a triple amputee who fulfilled his life-long dream of becoming a stand-up comedian, despite losing his legs in Afghanistan;
- a veteran who served six combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, then overcame debilitating PTSD after discovering cooking as his true passion;
- a video highlighting Puerto Rican high school students who learned how to manage their money and now share dreams of rebuilding their island;
- aprofile of the man behind PenFed’s Military Hiring Program, who played a key role in a daring military rescue.
“PenFed is not only a credit union; PenFed is a community,” said Steve Bosack, Special Advisor to the President and Chief Communications Officer. “We hope the inspiring stories shared by PenFed Digital will empower even more members of our community to tell their unique stories.”
PenFed Digital is accepting story ideas at Stories@PenFed.org.
Last year, PenFed announced the acquisition of the award-winning, independent marketing services agency WHITE64, which has served as PenFed’s marketing and advertising agency since 2014. The launch of PenFed Digital is part of PenFed’s broader commitment to building brand awareness, highlighting its community and elevating the credit union industry through efforts across PenFed Marketing, WHITE64 and PenFed Digital.
About PenFed Credit Union
Established in 1935, Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) is America's second-largest federal credit union, serving 2.9 million members worldwide with nearly $34.6 billion in assets. PenFed Credit Union offers market-leading certificates, checking, credit cards, personal loans, mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and a wide range of other financial services with members' interests always in mind. PenFed Credit Union is federally insured by the NCUA and is an Equal Housing Lender. To learn more about PenFed Credit Union, visit PenFed.org, like us on Facebook and follow us @PenFed on X. Interested in working for PenFed? Check us out on LinkedIn. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.
