Project Zip Code Helps Grassroots Efforts

Credit unions that use CUNA’s Project Zip Code know which congressional and state legislative districts and counties their members live in without compromising their members’ privacy.  

"Credit unions are always growing, districts are changing, and members are moving across the county—or the country, even though they keep their credit union membership,” explained CUNA SVP of Political Affairs Richard Gose.  

In addition to the mobility of credit union members, the changing of legislative districts for the 2012 election cycle is a concern of many credit unions. As new district maps are approved, credit unions that have run the latest version of Project Zip Code (version 12.0) will automatically have their members matched to the current and new legislative districts.

This will give credit unions a great advantage as we talk to new legislators and candidates about the credit union difference.  

When credit union advocates meet with their legislators, it is important that the advocates show they are speaking on behalf of a larger constituency. Before coming to Topeka or DC to meet with a policymaker, advocates can go to the PZC website to create detailed reports that show how many credit union members live in that legislative district.  These numbers truly show the depth and breadth of the credit union system nationwide and stick with legislators.  

Before an elected official, be it a Senator or County Commissioner, visits a credit union branch, the PZC numbers again provide valuable context. The credit union can run reports and queries within Project Zip Code to show how many of their members are represented by the elected officials statewide down to counties and zip codes.

When credit unions share these numbers with elected officials, it informs the official how many people care about credit union issues in their district and keeps credit union issues on their mind.  

Project Zip Code protects the privacy of credit union members. No credit union membership information leaves the database when a credit union participates in Project Zip Code.  The only information uploaded to the website is the membership totals per legislative district and county.  

According to CUNA CEO Bill Cheney, "the voice of credit unions has been made stronger on Capitol Hill and in the state legislatures by sharing the Project Zip Code numbers.”   Running Project Zip Code is an important way for your credit union to get involved.  

For more information on PZC please contact Haley DaVee at or go to www.pzconline.com/install to get started.