Faculty, staff, and students on the Washington State University Pullman campus will soon have the option of getting a CougarCard that doubles as a Washington State Employees Credit Union (WSECU) debit card.
A new five-year partnership between the WSU CougarCard Center and WSECU will let CougarCard holders link their WSECU checking account to their card, creating a debit card that will work in ATMs and anywhere debit cards are accepted.
The partnership with WSECU comes as the CougarCard Center’s contract with US Bank is set to expire on June 30. The CougarCard Center invited financial institutions to submit a proposal for a partnership, and WSECU was selected as the apparent successor from three institutions that submitted proposals.
“It is clear to us that WSECU is very dedicated to serving our students and the entire WSU community,” said Sean Greene, interim associate vice president for facilities and operations in the Division of Student Affairs. “We are excited to work closely with them on this new venture.”
Although the US Bank contract is expiring, anyone with its card (CougarCard Maxx) will be able to continue using it as a CougarCard and debit card until the expiration date on the card.
The partnership with WSECU is the second time the CougarCard Center has collaborated with a financial institution on a joint CougarCard/debit card. Ann Flannigan, WSECU’s vice president of public relations, said she and her colleagues are thrilled for the opportunity to deepen the credit union’s relationship with WSU and its students.
“Getting the chance to build on that and bring our supportive member service philosophy to the CougarCard program is a great fit,” Flannigan said. “We can’t wait to get started.”
Investing in campus life
As part of the agreement, Greene said WSECU will provide WSU with a $325,000 signing bonus and $370,000 per year in each of the five years of the contract.
The money will be used to support and enhance the services provided by the CougarCard Center. Additionally, WSECU will devote $30,000 a year to marketing its programs, services, and special events to the WSU community.
Flannigan said that although the card is at the center of the partnership, WSECU is excited to explore new ways it can invest in campus life.
“We can bring a lot to the table: student financial workshops, solid relationships already built by our CUB branch, a track record of giving to the community, especially in the area of education, and more,” Flannigan said.
A longtime presence on campus
While dedication to customer service and financial support of the partnership were key factors in WSECU’s selection, Greene said the institution’s longtime presence on campus – the credit union has had a branch in the Compton Union Building (CUB) since 1979 – also played a role.
The contract with WSECU begins this summer, but the new card will not be available to the WSU community until late fall, giving time for the CougarCard Center and WSECU to establish the program, design and name the card, and develop marketing strategies.
“Once we are up and running, the CougarCard Center will be able to print and distribute the card instantly,” Greene said. “I think the WSU community will be very pleased with the services provided through this partnership.”
At this point, the partnership is available only on the Pullman campus.
