SECU, Maryland’s largest state-chartered credit union, is pleased to announce it has won two Diamond Awards from the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) Marketing & Business Development Council. Often recognized as the most prestigious annual credit union marketing competition, the Diamond Awards honor creative excellence and outstanding results in credit union marketing.
SECU received a Diamond Award in the category of Brand Awareness for its awareness campaign “Here’s to the Seekers.” This campaign aimed to increase SECU’s visibility in the marketplace and share messaging that resonates with its core audience. This campaign also served as the launch of the brand’s new visual identity and positioning, which is the culmination of the credit union’s evolution to provide holistic financial wellness for those who expect and are seeking a better banking experience.
SECU was also presented with a Diamond Award in the Internal Marketing Recognition and Incentive Campaign category for its Employee Appreciation Boxes. In a mostly remote setting, SECU knew its employees were craving a sense of connection. To help with this and remind employees how much they are valued, SECU developed a series of branded appreciation boxes that were mailed to each employee. Each box was curated based on the season, hot SECU topics, well-being, and an element of doing good or giving back to the community.
To echo the brand awareness campaign “Here’s to the Seekers,” each box was themed “Seek: __.” For example, the May Employee Box was themed “Seek: Sun & Fun,” which was about seeking summer fun and providing items to help employees along the way. This box included a custom branded t-shirt, adventure bag, beach towel, and a $25 outdoor adventure gift card.
“We are so proud of our marketing team for their dedication and creativity showcased in these two CUNA Diamond awards,” said Becky Smith, EVP and Chief Strategy & Growth Officer at SECU. “Our marketing and community outreach teams continue to go above and beyond to serve and give back to our members and employees. We are thrilled that other professionals within our industry have recognized their hard work.”
This year’s competition included 35 categories and nearly 2,000 entries from credit unions across the U.S. The award recipients were announced for the first time at the annual CUNA Marketing & Business Development Council Conference on March 11 at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles. To view the complete list of 2022 Diamond Award winners, visit https://www.adque.com/cuna/2022/CUNA_Menu.html