Inspiring Black Friday 2011 deals at local credit unions before you fight the crowds.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday used to mean price cuts on toys and electronics but this year it also translates to low auto loan rates and bonus debit card rewards at your local credit union.

Trending 2011 is the credit union Black Friday and Cyber Monday.  “After going through the Black Friday ads this year I thought about how the credit union needed loans and why don’t we do a Black Friday special,” said Michelle Rosner, SVP/Corporate Communications at 1st Financial Federal Credit Union ($210 million, Wentzville, MO).

Rosner said that after crunching the numbers and running them by her CEO, the credit union decided to launch a one-day only Black Friday auto loan special.

“We’re normally open on Black Friday anyway so we thought why not give members an additional reason to visit their credit union?”

1st Financial’s auto loan campaign is just like an old fashioned Black Friday special--one day only. On Friday, November 25 members can take advantage of loan rates as low as 1.99% APR for up to 60 months. Rosner says that the offer is good on both new and used vehicles. 

“Because we know that every member may not have everything completed for that day, the offer is good as long as the member applies for the loan on November 25.” All loans must be closed by December 2, 2011. 

The mood will be festive as employees will be donning Santa hats, serving cookies and cocoa and playing holiday music in the branches.

“This is the first year we’ve done something like this so it will be interesting to see the response.”  The campaign was promoted through five email blasts, a banner on the credit union’s website and signage in the branches.  

While 1st Financial promotes loans, Service Credit Union ($1.7 billion, Portsmouth, NH)  is campaigning for deposits.  The credit union is touting a smattering of Black Friday “Doorbuster Deals” which includes a 10% APY, three-month, “super high” savings certificate. 

In addition to the “super high” certificate, the credit union is also rewarding members with $150 when they open a ServicePlus Checking account, with direct deposit.

Additional deals that will have members clamoring to hit the credit union include a 1% off auto loans, 1% off personal loans and a free $25 gift card with each new Visa credit card.   Members can also purchase fee free Visa gift cards at the credit union on Black Friday.  Service Credit Union’s branch doors open at 7am. 

Don’t Miss Out on These Deals

Heritage Community Credit Union ($200 million, Sacramento, CA) is running a “Black Friday Loan Clearance” for two days over the weekend where members can snag special deals on auto and personal loan rates. Members can also receive a $100 Visa gift card when they refinance their mortgage from another lender (or originate a new home loan). 

Looking to boost your ScoreCard ® Bonus Points? Envision Credit Union ($175 million, Tallahassee, FL) is giving members three times the number of ScoreCard ® Bonus Points for anything they buy using their Envision credit or debit card throughout Black Friday weekend.

Points can be racked up when the member signs for the purchase (instead of using a PIN).  Additionally, happy shoppers will be entered into a drawing to win $500 when they sign up for a new Envision Visa credit card or by performing a balance transfer to a new Success card.  The drawing will be held at the end of November and a second drawing in December.

Don’t Forget About Cyber Monday

Navy Federal Credit Union ($46 billion, Vienna, VA) members may love Black Friday, but corporate spokesperson Donovan Fox says that Cyber Monday this year will be out of this world. 

The credit union is offering a huge hike in Navy Federal credit card reward points for those who shop in its new “Member Mall.”

Fox says that the Member Mall allows Navy Federal members to shop at over 700 leading retailers online, receive discounts on merchandise and gather reward points in the process.

“We had a soft rollout already but are promoting it for Cyber Monday,” he explains.  “The member can earn reward points when they use any Navy Federal Visa, but the type of Visa dictates specifically how many points and reward types they will rack up.” Reward points range from five, 10 or 15 times the typical points if the member shops at the Member Mall.

Fox explains that shopping at the “Mall” is easy. The member simply logs on to credit union account access, chooses the member’s credit card account and then clicks on the Member Mall link. 

“The choices in retailers are almost limitless.  From Best Buy and Target to Groupon and the Apple Store, members can sit back on Cyber Monday and find almost everything they need.”  Fox urges members to comparison shop as most Member Mall retailers offer deeper discounts than what is typically found in-store or online.

Worried you can’t partake in these mouth-watering deals because you aren’t a member of a credit union?  Don’t despair, find a credit union now and inquire about membership.

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