Digital Press Kit
A Message From Our President, Dennis Meunier
It is a very exciting time for United College Marketing Services. Since 1989, we have positively affected the credit card marketing industry by developing innovative sales methodologies that credit educate people in the process.We have been richly rewarded as we are one of the most profitable companies in our field. In addition to measuring up well financially we have also made quantifiable improvements in the lives of the college students we sell to, the campus administrators we work for and the card issuers that rely on us for growth. Through our Campus Merchant Program, we are able to pass some great savings unto the students while at the same time providing campus merchants a channel with which to reach their target consumers, students.
I personally want to thank all those that have partnered with us in this journey. Representative Joe Kennedy from Massachusetts and Representative Carolyn Maloney from New York for making the nation more aware of credit card marketing issues. Key people in the press such as Robert Heady from Bank Rate Monitor, David Robertson from Nilson Report and Kris Hunter from Credit Card News have been very gracious in tracking our progress.
Top Stories | Ideas | Statistics | Releases | UCMS PR
United College Marketing Services is a company that promotes credit cards to college students. Instead of the typical sales approach, UCMS avoids solicitory methods. We try to offer students more value. An example of this is Credit Strategies Seminars. Just about anyone can set up a booth to sell cards on campus, so UCMS offers this alternative.We started offering Credit Strategies Seminars to combat the people that screamed "Get good credit!" but did nothing to explain what good credit really is. We have developed Credit Strategies Seminars to be of use to you, the college student. In one section we actually show a scorecard that shows how a loan officer evaluates applicants. We also give you an address that allows for you to get transaction recorders FREE!
We also offer a Campus Merchant Program which is a is a locally based, premium discount coupon program that is specific for each college that we market at. Discounts range between $100 to $250 per coupon book. Student users receive the book entirely free of charge so long as they have a visa/mc card. Users are not required to use the visa/mc card. The CMP has received much positive press because it saves college students extra money over normal campus coupon books. Since 1989, we have saved 7,500,000 students 2.4 billion dollars. UCMS has the goal of saving students 3.25 billion dollars by 2000!
Top Stories | Ideas | Statistics | Releases | UCMS PR
We have interview tape and b-roll.
UCMS Corporate HQ
2021 Midwest Road, Third Floor
Oak Brook IL 60521
UCMS
5612 N. Scottsdale Road
Scottsdale AZ 85253
Media Relations
Jennifer Hicks
jhicks@ucms.com
Top Stories | Ideas | Statistics | Releases | UCMS PR
History of UCMS Saving Students Money
Vision and corporate mission
We have the vision of marketing credit cards in a manner that adds value for the college student consumer. Our current programs springboard us ahead of typical sales promotions. Unlike "purely solicitory" sales approaches, we interweave credit education into the sales process. This profoundly simple concept has bolted us to credit industry prominence and recognition. Here are the changes we see developing within the following segments.For the campus environment
Our educational programs help students stay financially healthy. With education, students can avoid mistakes that have crippled others in the past. We feel a responsibility to offer credit education not only those who might sign up for a credit card, but everyone! Even if they have applied elsewhere we still welcome them to one of our live seminars on campus.
Our goal is to offer credit education to everyone at four-year colleges. Although logistically it is near impossible to do live seminars, the collegevisa.com site allows for us give seminar information through our web presentation. Also, we work with general media people to expose us to three other critical youth segments: small four-year schools, two-year schools and technical colleges and high school students.
Rules and laws for college marketing are changing
College administrators are growing less and less tolerant of "purely solicitory" tactics on campus. Many campuses restrict tabling promotions. The trend has been for college administrators to impose more and more regulations. Some schools University of Minnesota at Twin Cities, Northwestern University at Evanston, and University of California at Irvine prohibit "table top" card marketing entirely.
Representatives Joe Kennedy from Massachusetts and Carolyn Maloney from New York are working on legislation that curtails marketers, "that sign up college students for credit cards without providing pre-credit education".
Both trends build attendance to UCMS' Credit Strategies Seminars, differentiate us from marketers and add momentum to current success. Recently, our efforts have moved online to reach a greater population and streamline our efforts.
Developing value added programs for our partners
Our president stated in an interview, "Generating a properly filled out application is just the tip of the iceberg". UCMS has been a leader in developing valued added programs for its partners. In addition to Credit Strategies Seminars, UCMS offers the Campus Merchant Program, which is a coupon book developed for each particular college campus.
With the increase in college segment competition, our bank partners will rely upon usage and retention programs to firm up their customer base. We also want to acknowledge and thank Visa for supporting us through the years.
Top Stories | Ideas | Statistics | Releases | UCMS PR
- Credit educated over 25,000,000
- Conducts 10,000 plus credit seminars annually
- 8,000,000 students November of 1998
Top Stories | Ideas | Statistics | Releases | UCMS PR
Top Stories | Ideas | Statistics | Releases | UCMS PR
- First to conduct live seminars on campus (Univ. of Illinois, 1989)
- First to offer credit education via credit seminars on diskette 1990
- First college marketing
company to offer single digit interest rate product
(B of A, 1993) - First to offer a no annual fee college product (First Chicago, 1989)
- First to do credit seminars at Spring Break (March 1990)
Top Stories | Ideas | Statistics | Releases | UCMS PR
|
|
Article Archives / UCMS Previous Placements
- Atlanta Journal/Atlanta Constitution
- Cincinnati Enquirer
- Chicago Tribune
- Dayton Daily News
- Denver Post
- Florida Today
- Greensboro News and Record
- The Hartford Advocate
- Houston Chronicle
- The Orange County Register
- Ottawa Citizen
- Sun-Sentinel Ft. Lauderdale
- Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine
- Bank Letter
- Bank Advertising News
- Bank Rate Monitor
- American Banker
- Card Marketing
- Credit Card Management
- Nilson Report
- Fort Worth Star
- Portland Oregonian
(Copies are available through written requests only)
Top Stories | Ideas | Statistics | Releases | UCMS PR
- "College-Why Issuers Are Targeting America's Youth"
- "Credit Where Credit Is Due?"
- "College Credit Cards Outlawed? How NY and Mass Might Curb Marketers"
- "Credit Education 101: A Sales Pitch With a Plus"
- "Issuers Face a Visit To The Dean's Office"
- "Students See Red Carpet Treatment From Banks"
Top Stories | Ideas | Statistics | Releases | UCMS PR
- "Negotiate Your Way To A Lower Rate Credit Card"
- "Avoid Common Pitfalls That Plague College Students"
- "Turn That Piece Of Plastic Into A Financial Tool"
- "Learn What Credit Industry Insiders Want To Keep Secret"
- Save $1,500 to 2,000 on a car loan using previously unpublished techniques
Top Stories | Ideas | Statistics | Releases | UCMS PR
When using our information please cite us as a source.
National average charge-off rates:
4.5% of receivables
UCMS Charge off average:
2.2% of receivables
Average balance owed on credit cards:
$725
Students who pay 100% of their bill and have zero balance:
55%
Percentage of students without a credit card:
47%
Percentage of students with their parents' card:
38%
Number of students enrolled at four-year colleges:
9,200,000
Average number of cards per student:
2.8
Number of issuers that sell cards to students:
35 of top 50
Number of card solicitations students receive:
15 to 20 per semester
Company Statistics:
|
Sales: |
$14,200,000 |
|
Employees: |
360 |
|
Start Date: |
January 1989 |
|
Visitors per month: |
2,500,000 - 3,000,000 |
|
Dollars saved students: |
$2,400,000,000 |
|
Headaches saved due to credit problems: |
Countless |
Top Stories | Ideas | Statistics | Releases | UCMS PR
News Releases | Contact UCMS Public Relations
For up to date news releases, please contact:Media Relations Coordinator
Jennifer Hicks
jhicks@ucms.com
Top Stories | Ideas | Statistics | Releases | UCMS PR
© 1989-2005
United College Marketing Services. All Rights
Reserved.