To preface arrival of the CCUL website in conjunction with the new year, staff unveiled the logo for the new organization earlier this week following a series of communications with subtle references to cohesion, expertise, and strength.

"Because the logo represents characteristics we value and uphold, we focused on those first,” explained Brandon Pugh of the league’s communications team. "By affirming them among staff and introducing them via social media and direct communication, we established a connection to the brand that will grow deeper as the year and member experiences progress.”

The logo reveal comes as the new league prepares its new website (carolinasleague.org) for launch by January 1, 2014. In the meantime, credit union staff and industry peers are invited to follow news and updates via Twitter (@TheCCUL) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/carolinasleague).

The website—built on the South Carolina Credit Union League’s current site platform—highlights the four league services credit unions value most, according to surveys conducted in the brand development process. Enhancing the association-standard advocacy, compliance, and professional development will be a robust community section, in which credit union staff can engage peers and exchange support among groups by chapter, expertise, or credit union asset size.

"We heard clearly that credit unions want their league to be a unifying influence and a champion of cooperation, and the Community section will empower them to connect and collaborate,” Pugh added. "We’re excited about this section and its potential as more members create profiles, and for other site features everyone will soon appreciate.”

If you have any questions about the creation of the Carolinas Credit Union League, please contact John Radebaugh, Eric Gelly or Dan Schline.

Columbia, SC and Raleigh, NC — Just weeks from becoming the Carolinas Credit Union League on January 1, 2014, the North Carolina Credit Union League and South Carolina Credit Union League are revealing the new organization’s brand identity through various social media platforms.

For several months, a joint league team worked with Third Degree Advertising (Durham, NC) on internal and external discovery of key characteristics, challenges, and opportunities for the Carolinas Credit Union League, visual representations, the logo and brand vision, and communications strategy. An all-staff meeting in Columbia on November 21 included an internal brand rollout and celebration, and employees connected right away.

"Branding is so important,” remarked SCCUL Conference Coordinator June Ballentine. "The logo, color scheme, and design will be with our new organization for a very long time, so it was impressive to see the finished product and how it reflects our shared purpose, while visually uniting two great leagues.”

"Staff in both states have worked hard this year to create a league that stirs pride within each of us and member credit unions,” shared NCCUL Director of Administration Geoff Finken. "Seeing the new identity of the Carolinas Credit Union League really brought it home for me. We will be the strongest advocate and more for credit unions in the Carolinas—that message really gets at the heart of what we’re all about.”

The new logo and full video will be unveiled in the coming weeks along with a new website, www.carolinasleague.org, at year’s end.

The final switch to the CCUL website will occur at year’s end. Enhancements will include improved navigation and functionality throughout, additional payment options for professional development events, addition of a custom league grassroots advocacy portal through VOCUS, and a more robust online CU community. Continued site functions include access to national and local credit union news, compliance services through League InfoSight, member credit union directory, social networking by function and chapter, employment postings, and more.