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Credit Union Shared Branching To Be Rebranded Cu Service Centers To Give Way To Co Op Shared Branch

CREDIT UNION SHARED BRANCHING TO BE REBRANDED: CU SERVICE CENTERS TO GIVE WAY TO CO-OP SHARED BRANCH


CU SERVICE CENTERS TO GIVE WAY TO CO-OP SHARED BRANCH
4/30/2013
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RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. (April 30, 2013) - The most recognized credit union consumer brand name will now be applied to the industry's shared branching network, it was announced today at THINK 13 in Chicago, by Stan Hollen, President/CEO, CO-OP Financial Services.

CU Service Centers and its "swirl" logo and signage at participating credit unions will be replaced by CO-OP Shared Branch in a two-year rebranding process. Migration to the new logo will be done in a phased approach for the benefit of current shared branch users, as well as participating credit unions and state networks.

The decision on the consumer branding initiative was approved by the Boards of Directors of Service Centers Corporation (SCC), Credit Union Service Corp. (CUSC) and FSCC, LLC, the three entities that comprise CO-OP Shared Branching. The new CO-OP Shared Branch logo is available via the link above and is embedded here:

CO-OP Shared Branch logo 

"The merger of CO-OP and FSCC last year has led to a rapid expansion of the industry's shared branching network - and the opportunity to unify the brand and make the unique credit union concept of shared branching much better known to consumers," said Hollen. "We can do this by drawing on the CO-OP name, which is already well known to them through our ATM network."

In March, CO-OP Financial Services announced that CO-OP Shared Branch had reached 5,000 "live teller" branches nationwide, trailing only three national banks in terms of branch locations. CO-OP Shared Branch also offers members access to more than 2,000 self-service locations at credit union branches and in select 7-Eleven stores nationwide.

"With all the positive attention credit unions are getting in the media, the timing of this change seemed especially right," said Craig Beach, President/COO of CUSC, and Sarah Canepa Bang, President/COO of FSCC and Chief Strategy Officer of CO-OP Shared Branching, in a joint statement. "Leveraging CO-OP's already strong brand recognition will help credit unions educate their members about the credit union difference, not to mention shared branching!"

CO-OP Network, which incorporates 30,000 ATMs nationwide, 9,000 of which are deposit-taking, is the largest credit union ATM network, and larger than any network operated by a bank.

CO-OP Financial Services is making a slight revision to the ATM brand as well, to ensure that the ATM and shared branch networks present the same look and feel to consumers. CO-OP Network is being rebranded "CO-OP ATM" and will feature the logo available via the link and embedded here:

 CO-OP ATM logo

"We are changing the consumer-facing signage of CO-OP Network to CO-OP ATM because we want to make it even easier for members and consumers to identify exactly what they need," said Hollen. "So, now credit unions can present the two best known consumer services side-by-side in an industry brand that is consistent and communicates clearly what we offer." 

For more information on CO-OP Shared Branch and CO-OP ATM, visit www.co-opfs.org.

About CO-OP Financial Services

Based in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and founded in 1981, CO-OP Financial Services is the nation's largest credit union service organization in terms of number of credit unions, assets and members. The company specializes in helping credit unions thrive by providing products and services that make it more convenient for members to do business with them. With a motto of "Be There. Be More," CO-OP's products fall into three business lines, including "Locations," (ATM, shared branching and call center services); "Card Payments" (debit and credit processing) and "Mobile/ Virtual" (mobile, online, check imaging, bill pay services). To learn more visit www.co-opfs.org.