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08-04-09 | Currency Marketing helps launch search for a wildly creative, funny and talented Seattle-area mom!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Currency Marketing helps Verity Credit Union (Seattle, WA) unveil veritymom.com, a new social media program aimed at connecting and learning from Seattle-area moms.

(CHILLIWACK, BC CANADA) Aug. 4, 2009—Proving youth aren’t the only ones connecting and engaging online, Currency Marketing has shown Verity Credit Union ($379 million, 26,278 members) a very unique approach to learning from one of their primary membership demographics—families—by offering a part-time blogging position through an online contest.

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02-02-09 | Another Dream Job available for a Gen Y Spokesperson

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Currency Marketing launches Young & Free South Carolina in partnership with South Carolina Federal Credit Union

(CHILLIWACK, BC CANADA) Feb. 2, 2009 – South Carolina Federal Credit Union, one of the largest credit unions in the southeastern United States at 155,000 members and $1.4 billion in assets, is looking for the voice of South Carolina’s 18-25 crowd by launching Currency Marketing’s award-winning Gen Y spokesperson search, Young & Free.

“We are thrilled to bring Young & Free to South Carolina, to create a dream job for a young South Carolinan, and to assist South Carolina Federal Credit Union in its desire to connect with 18 to 25 year olds by providing an entertaining and educational financial platform,” says Tim McAlpine, President and Creative Director at Currency Marketing, the creators and owners of Young & Free.

Beth Jaskiewicz, South Carolina Federal Credit Union’s Senior Vice President for Marketing believes “Young & Free is an amazingly strategic program and a great fit for South Carolina Federal’s objective of engaging with existing and future young members. We are eager to learn more about Gen Y, and we are thrilled to be launching a suite of products - MY Accounts - that have been designed especially with 18 to 25 year olds in mind. Currency is a supportive partner, guiding us as we enter the social media realm, and managing the program that is fully integrated with our credit union. We’re excited about the shared learning and collaborative opportunities that we can experience from being a member of the broader Young & Free family.”

South Carolina Federal’s youngfreesc.com is the third in a growing list of Young & Free regions. Young & Free is a fully managed Generation Y marketing program licensed to one credit union in each U.S. state and Canadian province. It combines a product launch with a spokesperson search wrapped in an integrated traditional and social media marketing strategy. Young & Free Alberta for Servus Credit Union was the original program, and Young & Free Texas for TDECU launched in August 2008. Additional Young & Free programs are currently being planned. For more information check out www.livingyoungandfree.com.

About Currency Marketing
Award-winning Currency Marketing specializes in super-charging credit union member engagement with its proprietary social media marketing challenges. These challenge programs drive product sales and deliver ROI. Currency Marketing has been committed to strengthening and growing the credit union industry since 1990. It is located in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada. For more information, visit www.CurrencyMarketing.ca.

About South Carolina Federal
South Carolina Federal Credit Union, headquartered in North Charleston, is one of the 100 largest credit unions in the United States. More than 155,000 members own and belong to the not-for-profit financial cooperative, which has over $1.4 billion in assets. South Carolina Federal is a community-chartered credit union. Anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Dorchester, Berkeley, Charleston, Orangeburg, Clarendon, Calhoun or Georgetown counties, and most of the Columbia area, is eligible to join. South Carolina Federal has 23 branches and more than 80 ATMs throughout Charleston, Columbia, Georgetown, Orangeburg, St. Matthews and Manning. In 2008, South Carolina Federal for the second consecutive year was voted one of the Best Places to Work in the state. More information about South Carolina Federal can be found at scfederal.org.

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For further information, contact

Tim McAlpine
President & Creative Director
Currency Marketing
604-793-8976
tmcalpine@currencymarketing.ca

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12-04-08 | Envision Financial wins national CMA award for 2008 RRSP campaign

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Currency Marketing is proud to announce that Envision Financial, BC’s third largest credit union, has won a silver award for its 2008 RRSP campaign at the Canadian Marketing Association’s annual award ceremonies on November 28. The award is in the Financial Services – Wealth Management category, competing with Canada’s five major banks and credit unions across the country.

Currency Marketing crafted a decidedly different (and delicious) campaign that helped Envision exceed its sales goals. The creative focused on the specific and individual dreams that members have for their RRSP savings, and used a multi-channel integrated marketing approach that included radio, community newspaper and online advertising, direct mail, point-of-purchase and environmental graphics, staff sales tool and promotional website section. The campaign can be viewed here.

About Currency Marketing
Award-winning Currency Marketing specializes in super-charging credit union member engagement with its proprietary social media marketing challenges. These challenge programs drive product sales and deliver ROI. Currency Marketing has been committed to strengthening and growing the credit union industry since 1990. It is located in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada. For more information, visit www.CurrencyMarketing.ca.

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For further information, contact

Tim McAlpine
President & Creative Director
Currency Marketing
604-793-8976
tmcalpine@currencymarketing.ca

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10-29-08 | Currency Marketing’s Young & Free snaps up prestigious social media award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The award-winning Common Wealth Credit Union Young & Free Alberta program, developed by Currency Marketing, has captured the prestigious Forrester Groundswell Award in the category of Talking, announced earlier today at Forrester Research’s annual Consumer Forum in Dallas.

The Forrester Groundswell Awards recognize excellence in accomplishing business goals with social applications. Forrester developed this awards program to support and recognize the principles outlined in the Forrester book Groundswell: Winning In A World Transformed By Social Technologies (Harvard Business Press, 2008).Winners were selected based on a combination of online community reviews and proof of business value. The awards recognize companies that effectively use social media across seven categories: Listening, Talking, Energizing, Supporting, Embracing, Managing and Social Impact.

The Common Wealth Credit Union Young & Free Alberta entry was up against major advertisers— many of the 34 companies competing firms are members of the Fortune 500. Visit http://www.forrester.com/Groundswell/talking.html for a list of all competing firms. The Talking category’s award is given to the entrant that best uses social media to spread messages about a company.

"Groundswell is the first widely recognized book to legitimize social media as a marketing tool. The perception of social media for many in the financial services industry has been 'kids killing time on the Internet.' Now companies–credit unions in particular–realize it’s an important many-person conversation that can grow a brand and sell a product or service. This is something credit unions need to participate in," explains Tim McAlpine, president of Currency Marketing.

For more information about the Forrester Groundswell Awards, visit www.forrester.com/Groundswell/awards.html.

About Currency Marketing
Award-winning Currency Marketing specializes in super-charging credit union member engagement with its proprietary social media marketing challenges. These challenge programs drive product sales and deliver ROI. Currency Marketing has been committed to strengthening and growing the credit union industry since 1990. It is located in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada. For more information, visit www.CurrencyMarketing.ca.

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For further information, contact

Tim McAlpine
President & Creative Director
Currency Marketing
604-793-8976
tmcalpine@currencymarketing.ca

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06-03-08 | Is your credit union Young & Free? It can be

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The multi-award-winning Generation Y marketing program is now available to your credit union.

CHILLIWACK, BRITISH COLUMBIA—Currency Marketing, the agency responsible for developing the Young & Free program, is looking for one credit union in each US state and Canadian province to follow in  Alberta’s Common Wealth Credit Union’s footprints by becoming a Young & Free program member.

The Young & Free marketing program popularized by Alberta’s Common Wealth Credit Union, www.youngfreealberta.com, has taken the credit union industry by storm. It is an integrated marketing program that uses a microsite, social media and traditional marketing centered around a Generation Y spokesperson search in conjunction with the launch of a Young & Free product.

Dubbed the “voice of the under 25 crowd,” the Young & Free Spokesperson creates YouTube videos, posts daily blog entries and attends youth events to connect your credit union with young people.

“Common Wealth Credit Union is our founding partner in the Young & Free program and has been instrumental in proving the value of this unconventional approach. It takes a very courageous credit union to be the first at anything. Common Wealth was willing to try something new. For that, we are very grateful,” notes Tim McAlpine, President and Chief Strategist at Currency Marketing.

The average credit union member is aging and the credit union industry is not replacing maturing depositors with young borrowers fast enough. To be a successful organization, your credit union needs to stop this trend in its tracks. Young & Free is a great solution.

Young & Free has quickly established itself as a powerful brand that resonates with young people. By associating your credit union with this exciting youth brand, your credit union can build credibility and connect with young people in your marketplace. “Young & Free has the potential to become the 'Intel Inside' of the credit union movement—a supporting brand that increases the value of your credit union's brand,” continues McAlpine. “With a North America wide presence, Young & Free is capable of drawing tens of thousands of new members to the credit union movement.”

This pioneering youth program has enjoyed a winning streak for the last few weeks. It took top honors in four categories at the MAC Awards including the MACQUEE Best of Show. In addition, it took three first-place Golden Mirror awards at the recent CUES Experience conference. “To receive this level of recognition amongst the best marketing in the credit union industry has been overwhelming,” adds McAlpine. “It’s a testament to how powerful Young & Free has been in Northern Alberta. Our team can’t wait to see how well it will perform across North America and the positive impact it will make for our credit union clients.”

Interested credit unions can visit www.CurrencyMarketing.ca/YoungFreeInterest to request more information.

About Currency Marketing
Award-winning Currency Marketing is North America’s leading credit union marketing agency. We are experts in branding, marketing and social media for credit unions. Currency Marketing is based in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada.

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For further information, contact

Tim McAlpine
President & Creative Director
Currency Marketing
604-793-8976
tmcalpine@currencymarketing.ca

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05-23-08 | Young & Free Alberta takes best of show honors at the MAC Awards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA—Young & Free Alberta (www.youngfreealberta.com), Common Wealth Credit Union’s pioneering youth program, has taken top honors in four categories at the MAC Awards announced Thursday, May 22, 2008 at the annual MAC Conference held in Newport Beach, California.  In addition, Young & Free Alberta took home the Best of Show, the prestigious MACQUEE Award, competing as one the top five campaigns among the over 400 entered.

"To be included as one of the five international campaigns nominated for the MACQUEE Best of Show is an amazing accomplishment. To actually win it, is absolutely amazing," notes Tim McAlpine, Chief Strategist at Currency Marketing, the agency responsible for developing the Young & Free Alberta program.

Common Wealth’s Young & Free Alberta was recognized with a Gold Award for market segment program over $500 million category, Gold Award for editorial public relations program over $500 million category, Gold Award for websites over $500 million category and the Best of Show MACQUEE Award for coordinated campaigns. More than 400 entries were submitted to the 2008 MAC Awards from credit unions located across North America.

Using a microsite, social media and traditional marketing, the Young & Free Alberta program searched for a Generation Y spokesperson in conjunction with the launch of a new Young & Free Chequing Account. Dubbed the "voice of Alberta’s under 25 crowd," the Young & Free Spokesperson creates YouTube videos, posts daily blog entries and attends youth events to connect Common Wealth Credit Union with young people.

The recognition at the MAC awards follows accolades for Young & Free Alberta at the Golden Mirror Awards announced May 13 in Minneapolis, where the program received first place in the co-ordinated campaign category for credit unions with assets more that $700 million, first place in the segment marketing and public relations categories for all credit unions.

The MAC Awards are awarded at the Marketing Association of Credit Union’s Annual Conference, recognizing top credit union marketers in North America.

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For further information, contact

Tim McAlpine
President & Creative Director
604-792-4053 ext. 62
tmcalpine@currencymarketing.ca

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05-14-08 | Young & Free Alberta Takes Three First Place Golden Mirror Awards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA—Young & Free Alberta, Common Wealth Credit Union’s pioneering youth program, has taken top honors in three categories at the Golden Mirror Awards announced Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at the CUES Experience Conference in Minneapolis.

Young & Free Alberta received first place in the image enhancement category for credit unions with assets more that $700 million, first place in the segment marketing category for all credit unions and first place in the public relations category for all credit unions. More than 900 entries were submitted to the 2008 Golden Mirror Awards from credit unions located across North America.

The Young & Free Alberta program utilized a microsite, social media and traditional marketing to search for a Generation Y spokesperson in conjunction with the launch of a new Young & Free Chequing Account. Dubbed the "voice of Alberta's under 25 crowd," the Young & Free Spokesperson creates YouTube videos, posts daily blog entries and attends youth events to connect Common Wealth Credit Union with young people. 

"It was an amazing process for us to nurture the Young & Free Alberta program alongside Common Wealth Credit Union. They trusted our belief in social media as a business tool to reach youth and we are grateful for their faith in Currency Marketing. We congratulate them on this huge marketing honor! The leap of faith is paying off as we watch Common Wealth’s demographic profile shift—something credit unions desperately need as a business strategy to be sustainable," notes Tim McAlpine, Chief Strategist at Currency Marketing, the lead agency behind Young & Free.

"We knew it had the potential to be a great program for Common Wealth. The buzz that it has created is awesome, including almost $200,000 in PR value. Plus, Common Wealth found an incredible spokesperson in Larissa Walkiw, proving that members of Generation Y can be super-smart, creative, technically savvy and engaging. If you give young people the freedom and the platform to express themselves in positive ways, the results can be amazing."

The Golden Mirror Awards are awarded at the Credit Union Executive Society’s annual marketing conference, recognizing top credit union marketers in North America.

Award-winning Currency Marketing is North America’s leading credit union marketing agency. They are experts in branding, marketing and social media for credit unions. Currency Marketing is based in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada.

Currency worked in conjunction with Brookline Public Relations, DSA Media and K1 Technology to execute all components of the Young & Free Alberta program.

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For further information, contact

Tim McAlpine
President & Creative Director
604-792-4053 ext. 62
tmcalpine@currencymarketing.ca

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12-21-05 | Currency Hired by Van Tel/Safeway CU to Develop its RRSP Campaign

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 21, 2005

CHILLIWACK, BC, CANADA—Currency Marketing was recently selected by Vancouver's Van Tel/Safeway Credit Union to develop and manage its 2006 RRSP campaign.

Van Tel/Safeway Credit Union is the largest "employee-based" credit union in British Columbia with approximately $320 million in assets. It is committed to maintaining the unique and special relationship it has with its members.

About Currency Marketing
Award-winning Currency Marketing is Canada's leading credit union marketing agency. We are experts in helping credit unions relaunch, promote, and reposition their brands across all points of member contact. Currency Marketing is based in Chilliwack, British Columbia.

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For further information, contact

Nala Henkel
Vice President, Strategy
604-792-4053
nhenkel@currencymarketing.ca

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12-05-05 | Currency Hired to Develop a Brand and Name for Coastal Community

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 05, 2005

CHILLIWACK, BC, CANADA—Currency Marketing was recently selected by Vancouver Island's Coastal Community to develop a comprehensive brand strategy and naming project.

In early 2005, three Vancouver Island credit unions merged to form Coastal Community Credit Union. It is now the largest credit union based on Vancouver Island. It serves communities from Victoria to Port Hardy through 21 financial service branches and 19 insurance offices.

About Currency Marketing
Award-winning Currency Marketing is Canada's leading credit union marketing agency. We are experts in helping credit unions relaunch, promote, and reposition their brands across all points of member contact. Currency Marketing is based in Chilliwack, British Columbia.

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For further information, contact

Nala Henkel
Vice President, Vice President, Strategy
604-792-4053
nhenkel@currencymarketing.ca

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05-01-05 | Currency Marketing Hired to Deploy New Website Bayview Credit Union

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 01, 2005

CHILLIWACK, BC., CANADA—Currency Marketing was recently selected by New Brunswick's Bayview Credit Union to design its new website.

Bayview Credit Union was established in 1938 and is an industry leader. It has seven branches, more than 20,000 members, and $175 million in assets. Bayview is the second-largest credit union in New Brunswick.

Award-winning Currency Marketing is Canada's leading credit union marketing agency. We are experts in helping credit unions relaunch, promote, and reposition their brands across all points of member contact. Currency Marketing is based in Chilliwack, British Columbia.

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For further information, contact

Nala Henkel
Vice President, Account Service & Strategy
604-792-4053
nhenkel@currencymarketing.ca

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02-01-05 | Currency Named Agency of Record for BC's Envision Financial

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 01, 2005

CHILLIWACK, BC, CANADA—Currency Marketing was recently selected by British Columbia's Envision Financial to be its advertising agency of record.

Envision Financial has locations throughout British Columbia and is the province’s third-largest credit union. It has $3.0 billion in assets under administration, a $4.6 billion book of business, a nearly 750-person staff, and more than 80,000 members. In addition, Envision Financial includes four subsidiaries: Insurance Services, Investment Services, Leasing Services, and CU Dealerlink.

The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business has ranked Envision Financial among its 50 Best Employers in Canada for three years running. Envision also is recognized by the National Quality Institute. For its extensive support of community, Envision Financial is designated a Caring Company by the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy and is a proud member of Canada’s Imagine program.

Award-winning Currency Marketing is Canada's leading credit union marketing agency. We are experts in helping credit unions relaunch, promote, and reposition their brands across all points of member contact. Currency Marketing is based in Chilliwack, British Columbia.

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For further information, contact

Nala Henkel
Vice President, Account Service & Strategy
604-792-4053
nhenkel@currencymarketing.ca

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01-01-05 | Currency Named Agency of Record for Ontario's Woodslee CU

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 01, 2005

CHILLIWACK, BC, CANADA—Currency Marketing was recently selected by Ontario's Woodslee Credit Union to be its advertising agency of record.

Woodslee is a community-based and community-oriented full-service credit union that opened in 1943. Since its humble beginnings in the small hamlet of Woodslee, it has grown to seven branches to serve the rural population throughout Essex County. Woodslee is owned by more than 22,000 members and has assets of $262 million. Sufficiently large to be strong, Woodslee remains small enough to care.

Award-winning Currency Marketing is Canada's leading credit union marketing agency. We are experts in helping credit unions relaunch, promote, and reposition their brands across all points of member contact. Currency Marketing is based in Chilliwack, British Columbia.

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For further information, contact

Nala Henkel
Vice President, Account Service & Strategy
604-792-4053
nhenkel@currencymarketing.ca

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03-29-04 | McAlpine Group Has a New Name, a New Look and a Very Specialized Focus

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 29, 2004

CHILLIWACK, BC, CANADA—Marketing agencies cannot be all things to all people. So we’ve chosen to define our practice to only the Canadian credit union industry. Reflecting this focus is behind our change of name, to Currency—The Credit Union Marketing Agency.

"When this firm was founded 15 years ago, the name McAlpine Graphic Communications said a lot about what we did," says creative director and founder Tim McAlpine. "As staff was hired, the name changed to the McAlpine Group, indicating our growth in size and in scope of services. Over the years, our agency has evolved into much more than a graphic design firm.

"Today, the scope of our services encompasses award-winning advertising, print, and Web design. We also offer strategic marketing and brand development executed by a team of talented professionals focused on the credit union industry. Although I remain the sole owner, we have become so much more than just Tim McAlpine’s agency."

The name change is part of a restructuring process that will help Currency sustain and grow its business. Under our new banner, Currency—The Credit Union Marketing Agency, we will attract and serve credit union clients across Canada.

Our name is new. But our commitment to quality service and to comprehensive solutions for our clients is unchanged.

What else is new? Three new employees and one promotion!

As part of our commitment to our clients, we have hired two new account executives to handle all day-to-day account management activities.

Nicole Gaudreau
Account Executive

Nicole joins Currency after being with Westminster Savings as an advertising and promotions officer for the past three years. Prior to that, she held marketing positions with Petcetera and Overwaitea Food Group. Nicole studied marketing at BCIT.

Ashlea Spitz
Account Executive

After graduating from Kwantlen University College with a degree in marketing communications, Ashlea joined a leading national promotions agency, where she was involved with the promotional strategies and national marketing campaigns for such major clients as Molson Breweries, BC Lotteries, and Proctor and Gamble. She joins Currency following a year of running her own marketing firm.

Kristen Neufeldt
Production Assistant

Kristen is new to the marketing industry but certainly does not lack enthusiasm. She joins Currency as a production assistant and will help our production manager, Wendy Hancock, with the internal trafficking of projects.

Nala Henkel
Director of Account Strategy & Service

Nala has been promoted to director of account strategy & service. She is in charge of new business development, of branding and marketing strategies, and of supervising our account services team.

Currency is based in Chilliwack, British Columbia, where its award-winning predecessor was established by Tim McAlpine in 1990. In 2002, Business in Vancouver named that predecessor the 15th-largest design firm in British Columbia and the province’s 33rd fastest-growing company. Currency is ideally positioned to offer full-service marketing solutions to credit unions throughout Canada.

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For further information, contact

Nala Henkel
Vice President, Account Service & Strategy
604-792-4053
nhenkel@currencymarketing.ca

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