Member referrals are kind of like vending machines—a tool that’s always on, one that requires minimal maintenance and drives member growth over time. For some credit unions, they’re a workhorse for organic growth—especially when paired with the right incentive. For others, they slowly churn out numbers more like the tortoise, rather than the hare.

Member referrals are often paired with the standard incentives, a dollar amount deposited into your account and to the individual’s you refer—and they’re usually left at that. But for a small credit union in central Oregon, the idea of a member referral program was imagined into something much bigger—something more along the lines of a campaign of goodwill, community, sustainability and growth. In this case, the word growth can be taken literally.

The 2020 western states wildfire season was one for the books. News headlines clearly displayed the damaging fires burning throughout California, Oregon and the mountain states. Millions of acres and thousands of homes were destroyed. As the smoke began to settle, Oregon’s Heritage Grove Federal Credit Union knew they needed to help. With so much destruction in their backyard, the credit union decided to team up with the Oregon Department of Forestry to assist reforestation efforts. But how could the credit union better engage with its members and prospects to supercharge the efforts?

The answer: a member referral program like no other.

We worked with Heritage Grove to combine their community enthusiasm with an actionable member referral webpage that grows membership and replants trees in Oregon. In partnership with Heritage Grove, the Oregon Department of Forestry and The Santiam State Forest, each new member referral delivers $25 directly to local reforestation efforts. $25.00 means around 25 trees get planted in The Santiam State Forest. It also gives $25 to the credit union member and $25 to the referral.