Every financial institution knows the holidays put real financial pressure on consumers. The institutions that capture the loan volume that comes with it are the ones that show up first—with a relevant offer, in a high-visibility placement, before consumers go looking elsewhere.
That’s exactly what happened for one SavvyMoney partner.
At a Glance
- $1.2 million funded loan volume
- 7x more loans closed during the campaign compared to a competitor solution
- Less than 1 day median time to funding
About the Credit Union
- 29,300 digital banking users
- $510 million in assets
- SavvyMoney partner since February 2020
Opportunity
The holiday season is one of the few moments when a lending offer aligns with a widespread, immediate consumer need. Consumers are stretching budgets, weighing options, and actively looking for financial solutions.
For financial institutions with lending capacity, it’s one of the biggest opportunities of the year—if the right offer reaches the right borrowers before they go elsewhere.
One mid-sized credit union knew the demand was there. What they needed was a way to surface a targeted, pre-approved offer to qualified members at exactly the moment those members were already thinking about their finances.
That’s the problem SavvyMoney’s Pre-Approval Marketing solution is built to solve.
“It was the most efficient loan campaign we’ve ever run. The volume speaks for itself—but so does how simple it was on our end.”
Solution
Working with SavvyMoney, the credit union launched a personal loan campaign running from December 2 through January 15—a 45-day window strategically timed to capture demand during peak holiday spending and the post-holiday recovery period.
The offer featured an unsecured personal loan with a high credit limit displayed upfront. This approach addressed one of the first questions consumers often have when evaluating a loan offer: Will this actually be enough?
The campaign reached members through two connected channels:
Embedded Digital Banking Offers
The pre-approved offer was surfaced directly within the SavvyMoney Credit Score experience inside digital banking. Members encountered the offer during active sessions without needing to search for it, navigate elsewhere, or respond to cold outreach.
Supporting Email Campaigns
A coordinated email sequence directed members back into the digital banking experience, helping capture additional engagement from consumers who did not act on their first exposure to the offer.
The credit union’s loan origination system (LOS), integrated with SavvyMoney, handled underwriting and funding, creating a seamless path from click to funded loan.
“The widget put the offer exactly where our members were already paying attention. Nobody had to go looking for it—and once they said yes, the funding moved fast enough that they didn’t have time to second-guess it.”
Impact
The campaign delivered exceptional end-to-end conversion results.
Nearly every eligible member saw the offer. Close to 1 in 5 clicked through, more than 7 in 10 applicants completed an application, and over half of those applicants funded a loan.
The credit union had set an internal goal of a 1% response rate, equivalent to approximately 155 funded loans.
The SavvyMoney campaign delivered:
- 3.86% response rate
- 598 funded loans
- Nearly 4x the original goal
The results demonstrate the impact of placing the right offer in front of the right consumer and eliminating friction throughout the application process.
Stronger Performance Than Email Alone
The embedded offer outperformed email across nearly every stage of the funnel.
Consumers who encounter a pre-approved offer inside digital banking are already engaged and thinking about their financial needs. The path between recognizing a need and submitting an application becomes significantly shorter when the offer is presented in a trusted, familiar environment.
Faster Funding Drives Better Outcomes
Speed was another key factor.
The median time from application to funding was one day or less, reducing the opportunity for second thoughts and increasing conversion from approval to funded loan.
Seven Times the Loan Volume
Perhaps the most compelling comparison came from the credit union’s own results.
During the same timeframe, another marketing solution funded approximately 80 loans.
The SavvyMoney campaign funded:
- 598 loans
- $1.2 million in funded loan volume
- 7x the volume of the competing solution
All within just 45 days.
Conclusion
By combining targeted pre-approved offers, embedded digital banking placement, and a streamlined path to funding, SavvyMoney helped this credit union exceed its lending goals and generate meaningful loan growth during one of the most competitive lending periods of the year.
The results highlight the power of meeting consumers with relevant offers at the exact moment they’re most likely to take action.
