Chase Offering $100 for a New Account

This week's most compelling marketing offer comes from Chase Bank. I received a direct mail offer to receive $100 when I opened a new personal checking account. Here's the details:

• the mail was unaddressed: "Our Neighbor"
  
• with an opening deposit of $100, I will receive $100 within 10 business days
• the account must remain open for 6 months
  
• I can open the account online with a provided coupon code or at my nearest branch (the nearest location was lasered onto the direct mail piece)
• no minimum balance required
  
• no monthly service fee with direct deposit or five debit purchases
  
• one reward per customer per year
• the offer excludes High School CheckingSM, Chase College CheckingSM, Chase Access CheckingSM, and New Jersey Consumer Checking Account
  

Webcasts & Podcasts Educate BECU Members

BECU (formerly Boeing Employees Credit Union), the 4th largest US credit union, has successfully incorporated webcasts and podcasts into its member education services. In the past year, almost 19,000 members and prospects visited the Education and Seminars web page to download the seminars, according to Todd Pietzsch, BECU Public Relations.

Todd told Mercury Direct: "As a not-for-profit credit union, our focus is aimed at improving the financial lives of our members. We developed the webcast and podcast to reach more of our members and give them 24/7 access" to BECU's financial education seminars.

The credit union has 3 full-time educators who conduct community education on topics such as home buying, understanding credit reports, household budgeting and other financial topics. Webcasts and podcasts allow the credit union to reach more members. "While the classes allow us to reach thousands of people every year, we were limited in our ability to cost-effectively reach more of our members. The webcasts and podcasts have been very well-received and easy for us to create and keep fresh with up-to-date content", says Pietzsch.

In addition to the content, BECU has captured member feedback on the classes, both in-person and electronic. The testimonial page captures member's feedback and links it back to the appropriate seminar.

BECU does an excellent job of adopting new electronic tools to meet the age-old responsibility of keeping members financially well-educated.

Umpqua Bank Helps Customers Go Green

Umpqua Bank, a subsidiary of Umpqua Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: UMPQ), and Energy Trust of Oregon Inc., an independent nonprofit organization, introduced low-interest financing for energy-saving improvements and solar energy systems. Their program, GreenStreet Lending, offers financing options designed to help small businesses and homeowners manage rising energy costs by making it easier to invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

All GreenStreet Lending products offer low-interest rate financing, have no loan origination fees or closing costs, and have flexible terms. GreenStreet loan options are available to qualified borrowers on approved credit who are Oregon customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural or Cascade Natural Gas.

GreenStreet products can be paired with Energy Trust’s cash incentives and State of Oregon energy tax credits, making home and business energy improvements financially accessible to a broader market.