CUNA
  • Advocacy
    • Priorities we’re fighting for
    • Actions you can take
  • News
  • Learn
  • Compliance
  • Shop
  • Topics
    • Community Service
    • Compliance
    • Credit Union Hero
    • Credit Union Rock Star
    • Credit Union System
    • Directors
    • Human Resources
    • Leadership
    • Lending
    • Marketing
    • Operations
    • Policy & Issues
    • Sales & Service
    • Technology
  • Credit Union Magazine
    • Buyers' Guide
    • COVID-19
    • Digital Edition
    • Credit Union Hero
    • Credit Union Rock Star
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
    • Contact
  • COVID-19
  • Advertise
  • Awards
    • Nominate Credit Union Hero
    • Nominate Credit Union Rock Star
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Contact
Learn More about Member Value

News

Member Benefits
Learn more
Learn more about the benefits of membership.
Home » Youth-chartered CU wins 'The Pitch'
Marketing
#MBDCouncil

Youth-chartered CU wins 'The Pitch'

Wisconsin’s STAR CU wins $10,000 for its big idea during the marketing contest.

March 30, 2017
No Comments
Youth-chartered CU wins The Pitch
Kristel Renn (second from the left) is presented a check from the CUNA Marketing & Business Development Council and Mills Marketing for $10,000 for winning The Pitch.

Wisconsin’s STAR Credit Union, the first youth-chartered credit union in the world, won The Pitch competition Thursday at the CUNA Marketing & Business Development Council Conference in San Antonio.

STAR’s big idea for The Pitch, an audience-driven contest sponsored by Mills Marketing, was a financial literacy-themed summer camp called Camp Millionaire.

 

“It was crazy,” says Kristel Renn, youth development director of the $36,000 asset credit union in Madison, Wis., after winning the audience vote. “I am so excited for the kids to hear about it. I think their reactions are going to be even better. They are going to be stoked. And the difference that we can make with this is huge.”

Many of the credit union’s young members and young employees were featured in Renn’s presentation via video.

The credit union’s mission is to instill financial literacy and responsibility in its young members by providing access to financial services and the opportunity to participate in the development and operation of the credit union.

Members learn the importance of savings, earn incentives, and participate in programs that teach everything from budgeting to investing to entrepreneurship.

“For a lot of them, it changes their lives,” Renn says.

Now the credit union has the opportunity to do more. With a $10,000-prize and support from Mills Marketing the dream of a summer camp program will become a reality.

“It is a perfect fit,” says Mills Marketing President Sarah Bacehowski of getting to work with STAR. “It is really a great opportunity to partner with someone that really needs our help and that is what is really special about The Pitch.”

The other finalists that presented during the contest were $96 million asset ANECA Federal Credit Union in Shreveport, La., and $749 million asset Seattle (Wash.) Metropolitan Credit Union.

ANECA offered a project that would increase participation with their credit union through member-directed philanthropy, leveraging existing products such as CDs and card transactions to direct donations to causes.

Seattle Metropolitan presented a project that would encourage and empower front-line staff to make a difference for members by giving front-line staff a small quarterly stipend to award to members as they see fit, whether a cup of coffee for someone having a bad day or a small grant for a needy college-bound member.

Each presentation impressed attendees and Bacehowski.

“I thought they all were great. This is our third year and every year they get better,” she says.

 

Read more coverage of the conference from CUNA News, and get live updates on Twitter via @CUNACraig and @cumagazine, and by using the #MBDCouncil hashtag.

 

KEYWORDS #MBDCouncil marketing The Pitch

Post a comment to this article

Report Abusive Comment

Credit Union Magazine - Spring 2021

Spring 2021

Credit Union Magazine’s Spring 2021 edition features CUNA's 2021 advocacy agenda, strategic planning guidance, and labor market insights.
Digital Edition •  Subscribe

Trending

  • 4 tips for #CURockStars nominations

  • 48 credit union leaders graduate from Foundation’s virtual DE Program

  • Longer CU loan maturities could make education more affordable

Tweets by CUNA_News

Polls

How have vaccination efforts affected your remote work policy?

View Results
More

Champion of America’s Credit Unions

Credit Union National Association is the only national association that advocates on behalf of all of America’s credit unions. We work tirelessly to protect your best interests in Washington and all 50 states. We fuel your professional growth at every level and champion the credit union story at every turn.

More CUNA

  • About
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Recommended Websites
  • Privacy Policy

Resources for

  • CUNA Board Members
  • Credit Union Advocates
  • Leagues
  • Press
  • Vendors