Addison Avenue Says It’s Time To “Kick Your Big Bank Habit.”

Addison Avenue Federal Credit Union has recently launched a new membership campaign to help consumers get over their dependency on banks. It’s called the Addison Avenue Banking Recovery Center.



The micro-site, www.bankingintervention.com, let’s you watch humorous clips of one family’s “Banking Intervention” for their son, while promoting their:

• Dividend Rewards Checking Account with 3.51% APY
• Auto Loans with terms as low as 4.49% APR and up to 60 months
• Platinum Cash Back Visa with 3.99% APR on balance transfers

You can also take a self-exam test and find out why Addison Avenue is better than a bank. Plus, you get $25 for switching banks.

Here is Episode 1 of the Banking Intervention:

Addison Avenue is also using Twitter to get people talking about their big bank stories. Just send your tweet with the trending topic “#bankintervention” and you are entered to win a $250 savings account with a new winner every two weeks.

This campaign is a really fun and engaging way to poke fun at the big banks while conveying your credit union’s benefits.

And, over the last several months, we’ve seen a lot of that messaging by credit unions. However, The Financial Brand wonders if there is a cost to all financial services once you start “bank bashing.”

In fact, they cite that the 10th Annual Harris Interactive Reputation Quotient (RQ) survey shows that the financial services industry fell to its lowest point in a decade at an 11% positive rating…tied with the tobacco industry!

We think credit unions need to get more competitive against the big banks but marketers need to be responsible and make sure your messages are honest and truly differentiating, not just mudslinging. What do you think?