One of the most important ways to stay top-of-mind with your sponsor group is through outreach. By reaching out to your membership in the places where they work, socialize and live, you are sending the message that you are willing to do business with them on their turf and terms.

At Los Angeles Police Federal Credit Union, our outreach begins on the recruit’s first day on the job. We conduct presentations on the importance of joining their credit union during their new hire orientations. We regularly recruit between 80-90% of all new recruits on that day as they are excited about becoming part of the police family and eager to join.

Within our Marketing Department, we have a Sponsor Relations Officer whose sole job is outreach. In addition to making presentations at recruitment, he is out-in-the-field a minimum of two-days a week. He regularly visits police stations where we set up mobile units and can conduct every bit of credit union business with the exception of cash transactions (which, as every station also has an ATM machine solves that dilemma).

Additionally, we set-up outreach tables at all LAPD community events – whether it is a Police Activity League golf tournament, annual or department picnic, or a police educational conference. Members stop by to receive freebies and we are frequently able to sign-up new family members.

In addition to outreach, we conduct workshops throughout the year at various police locations. These range from managing your finances to how to get the best auto deal to debt consolidation and more. It is another great way to stay top-of-mind with your member group.

Finally, we share in our outreach commitment from our executive level down. We attend all police social events as they provide an opportunity to interface with the rank and file. They are also a great way to increase business, and as I write, we are processing a refinance request for the Chief of Police based upon a conversation we had during a social event.

As Credit Unions are most often limited with regard to their branch footprint, it is important to remain creative when thinking of ways to add convenience to our members’ lives. Outreach is a great way to foster positive relationships and serve your members.