University Credit Union announced its UTA-branded credit and debit cards as part of a year-and-a-half-long partnership supporting the campus and community, late October. While anyone can show their Maverick pride, the collaboration strengthens its commitment to delivering financial services to campus.
UCU is the official financial service partner of the Western Athletic Conference which helped spark its original partnership with UTA, said David Tuyo, UCU president and CEO.
As a digital-first credit union focused on the university communities, Tuyo said it understands its members’ unique needs and challenges better than anyone else. The company ensures rates and services are among the top 5% in the nation and that members receive personalized financial guidance and counseling from certified experts, he said.
The credit card offers key benefits including up to 3% cash back on purchases during the first six months and 1.5% cash back on all future purchases. The debit card provides surcharge-free access to over 30,000 ATMs nationwide and Mastercard’s ID theft protection service.
Those interested can open an account or apply for one online.
The debit card sports UTA’s signature blue and orange colors and the Maverick mascot, while the credit card features a photo of the Gateway Tower.
When settling on designs, UCU aims to be inclusive across all universities it serves by researching its looks, core values and brand reputation, Tuyo said. While UCU said it would love to take credit for the cards, it was UTA who had the final say.
“Ultimately, those designs are from [UTA],” Tuyo said. “The school approved those, the school decided on those. This is what they think best represents them and their students and their faculty, employees and alumni.”
He said the cards provide a sense of pride for the UTA community and can sometimes be a conversation starter.
“What I heard from somebody recently was, they pulled out the card, and somebody said ‘Mav Up,’ and I thought that was pretty cool,” Tuyo said.
The financial institution works with around 20 universities across the country and relies on people, advertising and marketing to increase users, and in this case, Tuyo said partnering with UTA was a great fit.
“Our partnership has really blossomed over the years and continues to get stronger,” he said. “I think when you look at all the changes that are happening on campus, the winning brand, the mindset underneath the newer leadership at UTA is just fantastic to see.”
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