NextLeft helps HFS Federal Credit Union achieve digital marketing success across all branches with targeted strategy.

Client Story: HFS Federal Credit Union

Industry

Credit Union Marketing

Location

Big Island, Hawaii

Services

Content Strategy Technical SEO Google AdsMeta Ads

"Their knowledge is impressive and we've seen lots of great results, but they're also a joy to work with."

— Jesica Carriaga, Marketing Coordinator, HFS FCU

Key Results

SEO Keywords

Increase Google Keyword Page 1 Rankings Over Time

46%

Increase in New Users

61%

Increase in Page 1 Ranks

20x

Improved Ad CTR

76%

Reduction in CPC

Challenges

HFS FCU is Hawaii Island's largest credit union, established in January 1937. With over $800 million in assets and 50,000+ members sharing a common bond to the island, they sought to evolve beyond traditional marketing methods to meet ambitious growth goals.

HFS FCU partnered with NextLeft to transition from traditional marketing campaigns and community outreach to a comprehensive digital strategy. While the credit union had a strong physical presence with six branches across Hawaii Island, their in-house marketing team needed specialized expertise to leverage digital channels effectively.

The credit union faced several specific challenges that required strategic solutions:

Needed to increase asset size and grow loans by at least 5% year-over-year
Wanted to attract a younger demographic as their next generation of members
Required a content strategy directly connected to measurable growth goals
Lacked clear tracking and reporting mechanisms to measure campaign success
Needed to generate positive ROAS on core products including checking accounts, auto loans, home loans, and branch walk-ins

The 85-year-old institution recognized that while their traditional approaches had built a strong foundation, digital transformation was essential to continue serving their community effectively in today’s marketplace.

The Results

SEO Performance

61% increase in Page 1 keyword rankings, with referring domains growing by 150%

Local SEO

120% growth in Total Views for highest-performing location (Kona Coast)

Google Maps

276% increase in Map Views and 35% increase in Search Views

Content Marketing

40% growth in Organic New Users to blog content

Campaign Efficiency

76% reduction in cost-per-click through campaign and branded keyword optimization

Website Traffic

46.3% boost in New Users to loan pages with Sessions increasing by 54.2%

Referring Domains

Increase in SEO Backlinks Over Time (Referring Domains)

Growth Summary

NextLeft developed a comprehensive digital strategy that transformed HFS FCU's marketing approach. By focusing on SEO optimization, local search visibility, and targeted digital advertising, NextLeft helped the credit union connect with both existing members and potential new customers across all demographics.

The strategic optimization of Google My Business listings for all six locations dramatically increased visibility, with the Kona Coast branch seeing the most significant improvements. This enhanced local presence directly supported the credit union’s goal of driving more branch walk-ins and new account originations.

Content strategy focused on creating valuable, relevant information targeted at both current and prospective members, with special attention to topics that would appeal to younger demographics. The 40% increase in organic traffic to blog content demonstrated the effectiveness of this approach in building engagement with this key audience segment.

Through meticulous campaign management and optimization, NextLeft achieved remarkable efficiency improvements, reducing cost-per-click by 76% while simultaneously improving click-through rates by 20x. This allowed HFS FCU to maximize their digital marketing budget while driving substantial growth in loan applications and account openings.

The success of this digital transformation positioned HFS FCU to continue their 85-year tradition of excellent service to Hawaii Island residents while meeting modern expectations for digital engagement and convenience.