Introducing Marketing Tools To Share Credit Unions’ Positive Impacts

Posted by Alyse Knudsen on February 5, 2025

Credit unions across the six states represented by GoWest Credit Union Association contributed over $11 billion to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), served more than 15 million consumers across 1,958 branches, supported more than 86,000 jobs in the economy, and granted 7.5 million outstanding loans that helped members start businesses, own homes, buy vehicles, and achieve other financial dreams. Those are the high-level findings of an analysis performed by Oxford Economics, one of the world’s foremost independent global advisory firms.  The data Oxford’s team analyzed was for the year 2023 and has just been released.  

To accompany the economic data, GoWest’s Community Impact report documents the “heart and soul” of the Credit Union Movement – how credit union employees contributed 265,000 hours of community service, provided free financial education to nearly half a million consumers, and supported more than 7,000 non-profit organizations. The report also details special services such as $2.8 billion in loans to first-time homebuyers, downpayment assistance programs, loans to working taxpayers who do not have social security numbers, and programs that helped children deposit a total of $890 million in savings accounts.  

“Both reports include state-specific data that is valuable for advocates visiting the 119th Congress this session, and at the hyper-local level where they are already being shared with legislators,” said Christine Ruzzi, GoWest’s VP of Member Impact. “Credit union members and consumers looking for a financial services partner will also be excited to see this information as it proves credit unions’ true value proposition.” 

Introducing the 2025 IMPACT Marketing Resource Center

Credit union marketers are critically important in getting the word out to Main Street. GoWest has created an online toolkit to help them share the good news about credit unions’ positive impacts.

The resource center includes social media posts, a blog post, and a sample op-ed to share with your local media. 

Visit the resource center and download your materials today. 

• Read about credit unions’ contributions to each state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by renowned economists at Oxford Economics. 
• See each state’s Community Impact Report detailing the impressive data about credit unions’ financial education, community partnerships, services to the underserved, and more. 
• Find turnkey communications resources. 

More to Come

Oxford Economics has also prepared an analysis detailing each credit union’s economic impact. Those reports will be released to each credit union later this spring. Stay tuned!  

Posted in Across the Region, Advocacy, Arizona, Colorado, Community Impact, GoWest Association, Idaho, Oregon, Public Awareness, Regional Member News, Top Headlines, Washington, Wyoming.