We were given the great opportunity of running the agency search for Wright-Patt Credit Union, one of the top credit unions in the nation.

WPCU was looking for a new full-service agency that that could really help carry their business forward.

We’ve known the winner for a while, but the official announcement only came out yesterday via Media Post.

So excited for Cactus out of Denver for winning the business.

How we got to Cactus – I’ll keep it simple

We started by looking at 100+ agency sites – all with credit union experience.

We identified 30 – the best of the bunch.

We narrowed the list to 15 via pre-qualifying questions.

From there, we interviewed the 15 and cut the list to 7.

Any of the 7 could have made for a great partner (it’s the way we work).  All 7 received an RFP.

From there we narrowed it to 3 finalists, each of which got a one-on-one Q&A/Chemistry call with the Wright-Patt client.

The 3 were given a Challenge Document that outlined the expectations for the final pitch presentation.

The 3 visited Dayton, Ohio and made their play for the business.

When it was all said and done, Cactus won the day.

Cactus will create brand strategy and positioning, campaigns across TV, video, radio, out-of-home (OOH), social, display and search. It is also charged with media planning and buying.

The fit seems so perfect!

According to Joe Conrad, CEO of Cactus: “Wright-Patt Credit Union has built a stellar reputation with its members as a reliable, trusted financial partner since 1932. Our job is simple: We just need to let people in Ohio know that not only can they bank at Wright-Patt Credit Union, but it is the clear choice if they want a banking partner that puts their needs first.”

And the story feels all the same on the WPCU side!  “We selected Cactus at an important milestone in our nearly 100-year history because they share our values and brought a clear point of view on how to move our brand forward,” added Tracy Szarzi-Fors, senior vice president, marketing at Wright-Patt Credit Union. “Our identity is rooted in the people-helping-people philosophy, and we wanted to express that in a more bold, confident way.”

So all-in-all…a great search led to a great day!

We have been helping marketers find better agencies of any type/size/location for the past 15 years.  We primarily work with mid-spend marketers and typically are bringing independent, smart thinking agencies into our search.

This agency search for Wright-Patt Credit Union was no different.  A well-spelled out scope for the search, a cooperative and helpful marketing client, great agencies that appreciate our transparent and honest approach, and agencies that listen and respond to what we’ve asked them to share with their new potential client.

Good stuff for sure!  If you’re ever looking for a new marketing agency, we certainly can help.  Just drop me a line (msneider@rswagencysearch.com)