Silver State Schools Family Credit Union Expands Marketing Efforts

Business Wire, June 5, 2000

Business Editors

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 5, 2000

Clarke American's InTouch Messaging Helps Increase Online PC Bill

Payment Activity

Clarke American, the fastest growing provider of checks and related products and services, announced that Silver State Schools Family Credit Union (SSSFCU) in Las Vegas successfully deployed InTouch(R) Messaging as a part of its marketing initiative to increase the number of members using its Internet bill payment solution. InTouch Messaging, designed in partnership with Xerox, uses digital printing technology to allow credit unions to place a customized targeted message in their members' check pad.

According to Gilbert Niimi, vice president of Marketing at SSSFCU, the credit union wanted its members to use its Internet bill payment solution more frequently, and for other non-Internet users, the credit union wanted to expose them to the world of e-commerce. To accomplish these goals, current marketing initiatives were reviewed and a strategy was put in place to accomplish this.

"In July 1999, we evaluated the number of members using our online bill payer service and only 3,700 of our 42,000 members were taking advantage of this service," Niimi said. "We wanted to move our members toward express branches, and change their behavior about Internet banking."

SSSFCU met with its PC bill payer vendor, and decided to begin a special promotion in September 1999 to any member willing to use the PC bill paying option to pay only two bills. "We offered any member a $10.00 rebate just to try bill payment," Niimi continued. "Just offering the rebate was a good incentive; however we needed to get a broader message out to members, and we wanted to use all communication vehicles possible."

The credit union created special promotional statement inserts, had lobby posters made and used Clarke American's InTouch Messaging to help boost interest in Internet bill payment. "SSSFCU thought a combination of marketing efforts would be in our best interest to generate the results we wanted. Using InTouch Messaging we actually customized our own marketing message about Internet bill payment to be included in a new check pad. It fell after the fifth check so it was a subtle reminder.

"That September when we began our marketing campaign, we had approximately 4,300 members using bill payment. By year-end, 5,500 members and now we have almost 9,000. That is a 138 percent increase. I believe this change is due to our combined marketing efforts. InTouch Messaging was and is a great cost-effective way to get your message across to your members because people do write checks."

Brad Wheeless, vice president and general manager Clarke American Credit Union Division said, "The results that SSSFCU received are very impressive, and we look forward to working with them on additional InTouch Messaging campaigns. InTouch Messaging gives credit unions yet another excellent marketing alternative when promoting a special initiative such as bill payment or even a low interest home equity loan."

SSSFCU is signing up 250 new Internet bill payment members each month and there is no associated fee for the service. Niimi said that the credit union plans to use InTouch Messaging for a new loan campaign in the future.

About Silver State Schools Family Credit Union

Silver State Schools Family Credit Union was founded in 1951, and has more than 42,000 members in the Las Vegas Community. The credit union operates five branches throughout Clark County and has assets in excess of $340 million.

For more information on Silver State Schools Family Credit Union write 4221 McLeod Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89121-5215 or visit www.sssfcu.org.

About Clarke American

Clarke American Checks, Inc., headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is the fastest growing specialty printer of financial institution checks in the United States. Since 1975, Clarke American has been helping credit unions increase member satisfaction, reduce operating costs and gain primary financial institution status. Producing more than 9.6 billion checks per year, Clarke American has an unmatched 99.92 percent printing accuracy rate in the industry.

Clarke American's unique services include InTouch(R) Messaging and ServiceLine PlusSM. InTouch digital printing technology can be used to send a general introduction message about new products and services, announce branch openings or make a targeted offer to a specific member. ServiceLine Plus is a service offered to partnering credit unions, and was developed as part of Clarke American's service innovations to facilitate the check reorder and inquiry process.

For additional information about Clarke American's Credit Union products and services, contact Julie Faulkner, director of Marketing at (210) 697-6179, write 10931 Laureate Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78249 or email julie_faulkner@caradon.com. Visit its Internet site at http://creditunion.clarkeamerican.com or www.clarkeamerican.com.