First Technology Federal Credit Union has teamed up with the Portland Trail Blazers in a multiyear promotional agreement starting with the 2017-2018 season, according to announcements from both organizations.
The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the Trail Blazers did say the credit union’s name will appear on signage inside Portland’s 20,000-seat Moda Center, where the team plays. The deal also involves digital media promotions linked to game broadcasts and team social media platforms. In addition, First Tech will sponsor a special seating area in the arena.
Mountain View, California-based First Tech Federal Credit Union has $10.6 billion in assets and 488,000 members. The credit union also has significant operations in Oregon. Nearly half of the credit union’s members are in the Pacific Northwest, it said.
“This is a history-making opportunity for the Trail Blazers to bring aboard a new financial services partner serving a different segment of banking customers and Trail Blazers fans,” said Steve Scott, Senior Vice President for Revenue for the Trail Blazers and Rose Quarter. “We’ve now created an entirely new partner category with First Tech as the inaugural ‘Official Credit Union Partner’ of the Trail Blazers.”
“First Tech and the Trail Blazers may seem like uncommon partners, but at our core we share similar values,” First Tech Chief Retail & Marketing Officer Brad Calhoun added. The partnership was an opportunity to build the credit union’s fan base and bring national attention to the credit union movement, he said.
According to the announcement, First Tech plans to issue a Trail Blazers-branded debit card in 2017 and a new affinity credit card in 2018. It also plans to introduce youth financial literacy programs and sponsor a series of technology networking events, as well as a Trail Blazers “Tech Night” game sponsorship and a special technology bracket in the team’s annual “Rip City 3-on-3 Tournament.”
“Individually, the Trail Blazers and First Tech are both tremendous supporters of the local technology industry,” said Skip Newberry, President and CEO of the Technology Association of Oregon. “With this partnership, we can look forward to even greater opportunities to showcase the innovation and entrepreneurship occurring in Oregon’s tech sector.”
