USA Federal Credit Union Wins CA. Credit Union League Top Award

“Best Practice Award” & Two Finalist Choices

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

San Diego, Calif., April 9, 2007– USA Federal Credit Union won the California and Nevada Credit Union League’s (CCUL) coveted 2007 “Best Practices” Award for large asset size credit unions last week. In addition to the top award, USA Federal was a finalist for two additional initiatives. The CCUL is the trade association for credit unions in California and Nevada. The CCUL serves more than 430 credit unions in California and Nevada with more than 9.1 million members and more than $104.9 billion in assets.

“We are delighted! This is our best showing at CCUL in our history,” said Mary Cunningham, President/CEO of USA Federal Credit Union, “It confirms our commitment and hard work to providing our members with innovative service every day.”

The top award was for USA Federal’s comprehensive financial education program, called “Money Matters”, for youth and parents.

“With 20% of college students having more than $10,000 in credit card debt and the lowest levels of personal savings in America since the Great Depression, youth financial education is a top priority,” said Nicole Anderson, USA Federal’s VP of Marketing and Public Relations, “Recent research indicates only 32% of parents talk to their kids about personal finances. This proves we need improved financial literacy. We are dedicated to starting good financial habit early!”

The “Money Matters” program utilized innovation and multi-media approaches such as:

• Conducted 148 events throughout 2006 where over 34,000 kids and adults were reached at targeted school assemblies and outreach events.

• Their “Back-to-School” financial fitness programs conducted by Branch staff supported area schools and reached over 3,600 kids.

• Produced a specific hour-long “Money and You” Internet radio show dedicated to helping parents teach their kids about money. This show is available globally to parents and kids in archive form.

• Developed a comprehensive and printable teaching media release, “10 Ways to Teach Kids About Money”, available from USA Federal’s Web site: https://www.usafedcu.org/ne/archive/2006-07-13.html

• Presented the “Ten Tips” in an afternoon feature interview on KGTV (top rated local TV station), reaching approximately 140,000 households in the after-school time segment.

• Online newsletter from the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce to over 10,000 local business leader subscribers with the “10 Ways to Teach Kids About Money” resource information as a Financial Tip of the Week.

• “Teaching Kids About Money” handout provided to 3,500 attendees at San Diego Zoo’s “You Belong in the Zoo” benefit 5K walk (name-sponsored by USA Federal Credit Union)

• USA Federal’s “Teaching Kids About Money” article appeared in Under the Sun magazine with distribution to over 30,000 households in Riverside County.

One of the Finalist entries acknowledged the success of the USA Federal “Money & You” Internet radio show. “We have 61,000 members spread throughout 22 time zones and several continents including America, Asia and Europe,” Anderson said, “USA Federal needed an innovative communication vehicle to provide members with relevant, educational information about finances.”

“Money & You” delivers that information. It features national caliber guests on a weekly basis discussing important financial topics. Here is a short list:

• Teaching Kids About Money

• Newlywed Financial Fitness

• Retirement Goal-Setting

• Savings Rate Crisis

• Women in Business

• Sneaky Hidden Fees

• Retired Women in Poverty

• Savings & Credit Around the World

• Predatory Lending

• Affordable Housing

• American Latinos & Finance

• International Credit Union Week & The CU Difference

• Financing College

• Cutting Your Taxes

• Stock Picking 101

The remaining Finalist nomination was for a highly innovative communication initiative called the Video Email (VEM). “The Video Email allows emailing of a two minute video “movie” containing all the important details about USA Federal’s services, offers, and advantages,” Anderson added, “It is eye-catching, dynamic and widely accepted by our clients and strategic partners.”

The VEM is use in a wide variety of applications, including member communications, strategic employee group notices and new business solicitations. Instead of the typical text email, this innovation includes video technology which can be opened on any computer.

USA Federal also recently received the prestigious Credit Union National Association’s highest award, the CUNA Diamond Award, for Best Community PR program in the nation. Additionally, it received two CUNA Diamond Merit Awards for the “Money & You” radio program and its Annual Report, respectively.

     Founded in 1953 at the Naval Training Center in San Diego, USA Federal offers a full range of financial services, including business services and consumer savings, checking, mortgage and home equity loans, auto loans, debit and credit cards, share term certificates, IRAs and a 24-hour phone center.
     Online services include eStatements, QuickConnect Online and Bill Pay, as well as online loan applications and approval. Additional services include the BALANCE financial fitness program and investment and retirement planning offered by MEMBERS Financial Services.
     With more than 59,000 members and over $700 million in assets, USA Federal Credit Union operates 22 branches, including locations in San Diego and Riverside Counties, Las Vegas, Japan and Korea. Members of the non-profit financial cooperative include the military, civilians and select employee groups.
     USA Federal Credit Union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration. For more information, call (800) 220-1USA or visit www.USAFedCU.org.

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Note: USA Federal maintains the above information for archival purposes, which is presumed accurate upon release, however, data may become outdated over time and affect accuracy.