CASE STUDY: VERVE CREDIT UNION
VERVE,
A CREDIT UNION
Headquartered in Oshkosh, WI Verve, a Credit Union is a financial cooperative that provides banking services such as checking and savings accounts, loans, and other financial services to its nearly 60,000 member-owners. One of Wisconsin’s larger credit unions, and operating since 1937 under a variety of names, Verve has long lived up to the credit union mandate of people helping people. It also richly benefits the communities in which its branches—and those people—are located.
BRANDING
Created as Wisconsin Axle Credit Union, and then becoming Citizens First, Verve a Credit Union was formed in 2014 after the merger of Citizens First with Neenah’s Lakeview and Brillion’s Best Advantage credit unions. Ironically, Wisconsin Axle Credit Union was first located in the same building at 347 North Sawyer St. which Image 360 currently Occupies. In 2015, to help solidify the new name and corporate identity of the organization, Verve sought out Image 360, a sign and graphics company and an Oshkosh neighbor. The result was a complete rebranding of the business, with Image 360 producing and installing newly designed signs and graphics in all of the then eight branch offices.
As a part of this branding project, Image 360 developed a “Feature Wall” in each location—with a unique color decor and interior dimensional signage to be a focal point for persons entering the building. Additional Fox Valley branches have since been added to Verve, and the same imaging projects have been managed for all of them. Through mergers, Verve in 2016 expanded out of the Fox Valley area for the first time. It opened branch offices in Lacrosse, Wisconsin, and Image 360 was chosen to traverse the state and manage rebranding projects for those locations as well.
Verve represents enthusiasm, energy, and activity, and that is reflected in its involvement in the many communities in which it has a presence. From Random Acts of Verve (surprising community members with acts of kindness) to casual attire days for employees to raise money for charity—Verve gives back! Parades, free concerts, sponsorships, youth events—Verve serves! And with its large presence, Verve needs a sign and graphics partner that can produce a variety of branded products, quickly, consistently. Image 360 has demonstrated that it is that partner.
VEHICLE WRAPS
Image 360 has helped put Verve’s visibility on the road by application of full vehicle wraps on a number of Verve vehicles. With the company logo and color brand, the vehicles become a moving billboard with less cost than other advertising. Building signs, window and wall décor, interior signs and displays, employee badges, cutouts—whatever the idea, Verve has called, and Image 360 has been quick to respond with design, development, and delivery.
Verve is driven to increase its scope, both in number and range of sites and in better services and products. It has already announced future acquisitions which will increase its footprint and its numbers of members. It will continue to need community resources to achieve its goals. Image 360 is prepared to be one of those reliable resources; it too has increased its product line and production capabilities, and it too looks to the future.
