Young & Free #3
Feb 2, 2009 
The Financial Brand | By Jeffry Pilcher
Currency Marketing has just launched the third iteration of its Gen-Y financial program Young & Free, this time in South Carolina.
South Carolina Federal Credit Union joins two other credit unions already running Young & Free. Texas Dow Employees CU has Young & Free TexasYoung & Free Alberta. and Servus Credit Union in Canada has
MY Checking, one of Young & Free South Carolina’s three free accounts, includes Oops Refunds – one free fee refund per quarter. There's also free mobile banking and a free budgeting tool from FinanceWorks powered by Quicken.
The MY Whatever account is a goal-based savings program. The MY Savings account can be used for overdraft protection.
The latest Young & Free product line-up from South Carolina FCU is the strongest yet. It builds off the free checking product introduced in Alberta back in 2008. TDECU, on the other hand, didn't do anything special for the "25-and-under crowd." They basically repackaged their basic checking account.
South Carolina FCU will be offering online account opening in a week or two. It plans to have this option live by February 10.
Tim McAlpine, head of Currency Marketing, says the media plan for Young & Free SC consists of a heavy emphasis on Facebook and radio advertising. "We are also doing some college newspaper ads and campus posters," McAlpine added.
McAlpine partnered with hit music station 95SX, who will be following Young & Free SC and promoting it daily. "The station put together an awesome package," McAlpine said. "The morning show is promoting it like its their own thing."
As with the previous two Young & Free programs, the first phase of South Carolina Fed’s promotion is to find a "spokester," a term popularized by the first Y&F spokesperson, Larissa Walkiw.
Kimberly Riggs, South Carolina Federal’s Public Relations Manager, was on 95SX’s 2 Girls & a Guy morning show this morning to launch the credit union’s spokester search. She was on for over half an hour, and you can listen to 7 minutes of it here. She sounds appropriately "cool" for a morning show and does a good job.
When asked about working with South Carolina FCU’s team, McAlpine described the launch process "awesome." McAlpine said South Carolina Fed executives visited every location in the last two weeks to fully explain the program. The site even went live secretly on Friday to ensure staff had a chance to check it out before the campaign’s official launch.
McAlpine also says there is an aggressive incentive program in place to reward sales for each of the three new Gen-Y accounts.
Currency Marketing’s franchise model for the Young & Free program is in its second year. Only one credit union in each state and province in North America can buy the Y&F program. If you’re credit union covers more than one state or province, you need to buy additional licenses. At Currency’s choosing, banks cannot participate in the Y&F program.
As a Young & Free franchise licensee, Currency mandates a significant investment in offline, traditional media.
Recently, Currency Marketing launched a master site, Living Young & Free, to help build, manage and coordinate the Young & Free community growing across North America. The site aims to facilitate dialogue and discussion among those participating in the Young & Free program, as well as prospects who are interested.
