Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto…
IC Federal Credit Union caught The Teller’s attention recently when it uploaded a YouTube video entitled “Credit Unions – vs – Big Banks.”
The animated video is funny enough. It features a giant robot operated by five emotionless, sunglasses-wearing, Mitt Romney look-alike big bankers. The robot descends upon a quaint small town and begins snatching up old ladies.
That’s how big banks get all those customers. They kidnap them off the street and suck the cash right out of their hands. It’s all part of the mission to grow as large as possible at any cost.
At least, that’s how they did it before 2017, which is when the video says big banks simply went too far.
Yes, in the time of flying cars and “remote control broccoli dicers,” banks once again made a play for some serious market share by sending in the robot.
Of course this was after 2011’s “Bank Transfer Day,” which the video represents with a $100 bill with Ben Franklin’s face inked to appear as if he’s wearing a Guy Fawkes mask. Because really, if there’s one thing with which credit unions should align their efforts to snatch dissatisfied customers from big banks, it’s some crazed, dirty radical who was busted in an attempt to blow up British parliament a few hundred years ago.
Anyway, The Teller appreciates the effort, and the ominous monotone voice of the big bank robot, which explains that small town institutions are too puny and weak to deserve any customers.
“I wouldn’t be the size I am today if I had concerned myself with my customers,” the robot says.
The friendly little robot that represents credit unions – and the Teller assumes he represents IC Federal specifically – really hams it up, though. He counters the big bank robot’s argument with a speech about “passion.” Passion for the community, passion for customers, you get the idea.
And this is the first time The Teller had any doubts about the little guy’s motives.
The smug little tin can goes out of his way to tell the corporate robot that he and his credit union mates have a lot to do, like donate some canned goods to the local food pantry.
The Teller knows big banks do that kind of thing, too. Perhaps they do a poor job of getting the rest of us to notice their good deeds, or maybe such efforts just seem crass, calculated and manipulative when they do it.
But it’s not “passion” that drives credit unions to do good stuff. They’re motivated by the same forces that motivate their colossal nemesis: Name recognition, a good name in the community, customer recruitment and – gasp! – money.
The Teller has one other gripe about this otherwise cute video. Where on earth is it supposed to take place?
IC is based in Fitchburg, and the rolling green hills and quaint little downtown buildings in the video are certainly not part of the Fitchburg The Teller has visited on the occasions when he’s been in need of some…well, never mind.
Perhaps the scene is meant to represent one of the other towns in IC’s territory, Ayer or Westminster, perhaps.
Either way, it’s a solid, if flawed effort. In fact, the Teller is kind of a credit union guy, and has a couple credit union accounts.
We even got a car loan over the phone through one credit union, which is itself pretty passionate about getting its monthly payment on time.
