WASHINGTOMB—What could be more frightening this Halloween than members shoving their credit union plastic into the dark abyss—that dreaded back of the wallet.
To avoid that from happening, Library of Congress FCU has launched a ghoulish promo to scare up additional credit card usage.
LOCFCU’s promotion (right) is just one of many spooky tactics credit unions are employing this Halloween as they look to startle up some volume.
Spooky And Cool
LOCFCU’s promo, which uses the undead to pitch plastic that comes with a 2.99% intro rate and an ongoing rate of 9.75%, is meant to be a little shocking, said marketing consultant Paul Lucas, whose company designed the advertising.
“We wanted something spooky and cool, and this is it,” said Lucas.
The e-mail marketing arrives at inboxes with the subject line: “Don’t be afraid to open this.”
“The subject line is everything in an e-alert, no matter what time of year you send your message,” said Lucas. “We have found that the cooler, the goofier, the more twisted the subject line the higher the open rates.”
And now is a good time for card promos, insisted Lucas, who said the ad is also intended to get ahead of the monstrous holiday credit card advertising rush.
Members Eating This Up
In Charleston, W.Va., Element FCU has kept alive promotion for its Zombie Debit Card that pitches the plastic as “a no-brainer.”
Element’s website says the card not only gets members financially prepared for the zombie apocalypse by avoiding high bank fees, it can return up to 5% APY on the attached checking account.
The credit union offers nine different deathly card designs—from images of the zombies eating brains to undead emerging from the earth.
Inspire FCU, Bristol, Penn., is asking its members to think about what’s really frightening—something that does not disappear like a ghost in the night.
“What is scarier than Halloween—not having insurance,” says Inspire on its website. The credit union is promoting its home, life, business and auto insurance offerings, delivered by Inspire Insurance Agency.
No Tricks Just Treats
Also turning to a Halloween promotion, but in this case opting for flavor over fright, is Latitude 32 CU in Charleston, S.C. It’s offering some extra cash to spend on tricks and treats.
Latitude 32 is staging a Pumpkin Spice Auto Loan promotion that waives payments for the first 60 days and offers rates as low as 2.99% APR.
Oklahoma Central CU in Tulsa, Okla., is warning unsuspecting consumers about a dastardly trick diabolical bankers play on All Hallow’s Eve—and year ’round—fooling consumers that customers’ interests come first.
“Don’t be tricked by big banks,” reads Oklahoma Central’s spooky Halloween online ad. The CU invited the community to stop by Friday evening, Oct. 28, for an open house that not only provided food and refreshments, but information about the credit union difference.
Finally, members of Synergy FCU in San Antonio are goblin-up the CU’s Halloween Loan. The 12-month 3.5% signature loan prevents members from being haunted by credit card bills long after the holidays have vanished into the night.
