From social posts to parties: credit unions mark I Love My Credit Union Day
On the afternoon of Friday, July 31, the parking lot at Marshfield Medical Center Credit Union will fill with the smell of food-truck cooking, the sight of children decorating bookmarks, and the satisfaction of a community goal met. The Wisconsin credit union is marking I Love My Credit Union Day (#ILoveMyCreditUnion) with a free public event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., complete with a photo booth, face painting, and the finale of a book drive for young patients at Marshfield Children's.
Tiffany Schara, the credit union's event organizer, called it " a fun event that also supports a meaningful cause," and said the day is a chance to celebrate community connection, local partnership, and the generosity of everyone who contributed to the drive.
A grassroots idea, five years on
Marshfield is one of many credit unions across the country planning to take part. The observance says something about the movement behind it: what started as a purely online awareness push has increasingly spilled into branches, parking lots, and neighborhoods.
The day was the idea of a small team at the Illinois Credit Union League, which held the first I Love My Credit Union Day on July 20, 2021. The concept was deliberately simple: rather than chase a single viral post, the league set out to rally thousands of credit unions to share member stories on the same day. That first event drew about 500 participants from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, each posting about why they valued their credit union. The organizers skipped paid advertising, betting that authentic member stories would travel further than any ad campaign.
From a hashtag to a movement
The bet paid off. Last year, the campaign reached roughly seven million people across 21 countries. The countries taking part have multiplied year over year, from a handful at the start to 21 in the most recent campaign. The logic is cooperative at its core: many small credit unions, acting together on a single day, add up to a global moment.
Five credit unions, five ways to celebrate
In Virginia, Baylands Family Credit Union is folding the day into its 80th anniversary. Members who stop by a branch on July 31 can pick up a treat and enter for prizes, and anyone who leaves an online review by that day can win an $80 gift card, a figure chosen as a nod to the credit union's eight decades of service.
Near Philadelphia, Ardent Credit Union is framing its celebration as a " World Cup of member appreciation," leaning into the summer's soccer fever. The credit union is running a member referral program with cash prizes alongside a social campaign that encourages members to tag others and spread the word.
In south-central Pennsylvania, 1st Ed Credit Union is throwing branch parties from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET across its three locations, with "buried treasure" giveaways and food that changes by town: a hot dog lunch in Chambersburg, Antietam Dairy ice cream in Greencastle, and an ice cream bar in Hanover, where members can also bring old paperwork for free, secure shredding.
Out West, TruWest Credit Union, is pairing the online push with in-person fun at its financial service centers in Arizona and Texas, where members can visit photo booths and enjoy refreshments.
"We're inviting everyone to celebrate TruWest online and in person," said Jennifer Kimmell, chief experience officer at TruWest, urging members to post selfies tagged #TruWestCU and #ILoveMyCreditUnion.
Back in Wisconsin, Marshfield's book drive rounds out the picture. Run in coordination with the local Altrusa service group, the drive will announce its final tally at the July 31 event, where representatives from Altrusa will join for a photo marking the partnership. Every donated book will go to Marshfield Children's and its Child Life vending machine, which offers books and comfort items to children during their care.
Why the day resonates
Credit unions are not-for-profit cooperatives owned by the members they serve, and the observance turns that structure into something members can see and touch. The through line across these celebrations is a principle credit unions return to often: people helping people. Whether the draw is a cash prize, an ice cream cone, or a book for a child in the hospital, each event gives members a reason to see the difference between a credit union and a bank up close.
For credit unions still deciding how to take part, free graphics, sample posts, and branch materials are available through the campaign's toolkit . The rest is left to local imagination, which, judging by this year's plans, is in no short supply.
Disclaimer: This is just a sample of credit union events planned to honor ILoveMyCreditUnion Day. If you would like to share what your credit union does for a future post, please send it to [email protected].
