CULookup.com mention on CBS drives Web traffic

Dec. 18, 2009 – An estimated 2.5 million people watching CBS’s “Early Show” yesterday learned that credit unions are ready to lend, are offering better rates and can be found via NAFCU’s credit union locator Web site, CULookup.com.

In the program, financial contributor Vera Gibbons spent several minutes extolling the virtues of credit unions in a discussion with show co-anchor Harry Smith. Gibbons told watchers that as the banking industry’s loan portfolio is shrinking, credit unions’ is on the rise. She also noted the membership rules today favor eligibility for more people since so many credit unions are community chartered. She said to find one, they should check out CULookup.com.

She also urged consumers to make sure they choose a credit union insured by NCUA.

There was a significant spike in CULookup.com’s traffic following the report: By mid-afternoon Thursday, 1,620 unique visitors had landed on the site, and there had been 4,322 page views.

NAFCU President Fred Becker was interviewed by Gibbons about a month ago for Thursday’s segment.

CULookup.com was previously highlighted on the CBS “Early Show” in June. Since the site’s inception in November 2008, it has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Consumer Reports and major local media markets.

The site, developed and maintained by NAFCU Services Corporation, provides free listings for NAFCU members; it will, for a fee, include listings for state-chartered credit unions ineligible to join NAFCU. For more information, contact NAFCU Services Marketing Manager Kirstin Hemsteger at khemsteger@nafcu.org.

For an “Early Show” roundup of information about credit unions, and a link to Thursday’s segment, follow the link below.