Houston Police Federal Credit Union Serves Its
City's Finest
At Houston Police Federal Credit Union, police
officers and their family members in one of the
nation's largest and warmest cities have had a
financial institution to call their own for seven
decades. Over the past year, the credit union has
turned up the heat on its credit card marketing
program, successfully offering rewards and special
offers that have delivered strong growth in the
program.
Houston Police Federal Credit Union opened in
1937, and has maintained its field of membership -
police department employees, retirees, and family
members since its inception. The credit union has
three branches to serve its 24,000 members. With
assets of $276 million, it has 7,095 credit
cardholders.
The Houston Police Federal Credit Union has seen
a big increase in the growth of its credit card
program thanks to some aggressive marketing efforts
run jointly with TNB Card Services, the credit
union's card processor. In the past year, average
retail sales are up by 10% and outstanding balances
have increased by 11%, to more than $10 million.
Since 2004, the average credit line is up more than
5%, to $4,969.
Kimberly Foster, executive vice president for
Houston Police Federal Credit Union, says the
introduction of a TNB-operated rewards program has
been a big help in promoting the Houston Police
credit cards.
"Our members can use their Visa Platinum to
earn one point for every dollar they spend, and can
redeem those points for travel vouchers and
merchandise," Foster says.
The credit union has taken advantage of every
opportunity to promote its card program. "In
the last year, we lowered the rates on our Platinum
card to 7.99%, Gold to 9.99%, and Standard to 12.5%.
Besides the TNB marketing campaigns, we ran some of
our own as well," Foster said.
Among the promotions that have proven to be most
successful in building the Houston Police Visa
credit card program have been TNB's reduced rate
promotion, a skip-the-November-payment option, and a
pre-approved card acquisition promotion.
Houston Police Federal Credit Union sets a strong
example through its card program promotions and
usage-driving strategies, says Dusty Bowers, senior
vice president and national sales manager for TNB
Card Services.
"Promotions deliver the greatest benefits
when a credit union is fully engaged in them and
understands their potential," Bowers says.
"The Houston Police Federal Credit Union is
committed to marketing its card program, and it
continues to pay off with their growth in
cardholders, usage, balances, and credit
lines."
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