Credit unions have to print and mail countless thousands of member communications monthly. And, while those communications don’t cost much to send individually, those costs add up. One way to cut down on costs is to qualify for bulk postage rates.

So, can credit unions qualify for bulk postage rates?

There’s a short answer and a long answer. Out of respect to your time, we’ll give you the short answer first. And, if you want to see how you can reduce your shipping costs even further, read on for the long answer!

Can Credit Unions Qualify for Bulk Postage Rates?

In short, yes.

However, “yes” tells only part of the picture. Read on to find out more.

Bulk Postage Rates Are Only the Beginning

Unfortunately, a large number of people still haven’t moved to e-statements. It’s too bad. E-statements save a lot of time, money in printing and postage, and paper waste. Nevertheless, some people don’t have reliable internet access—or they just like the feeling of holding paper notices in their hands.

Regardless, it leaves credit unions with hefty bills and an unfortunate addition to their ecological footprint. So, how can credit unions save money on their member communications?

Well, it starts with bulk postage, of course!

As you probably know, bulk postage rates are available to any person or business that sends a large quantity of mail every year. This means that you’ll pay less per piece of mail sent, saving you considerable sums.

Why Qualifying for Bulk Postage Might Still Cost Too Much

One of the largest cost reductions from bulk postage rates comes from pre-sorting mail. Pre-sorting is the practice of standardizing addresses and forms so that they’re arranged by zip code.

If you have the ability to pre-sort in-house, you’re in good shape! To pre-sort in-house, you’ll need to print and insert all materials in envelopes first. After that, make sure that every piece of mail is sorted by zip code. Finally, you’ll need to print a specialized barcode on each envelope that qualifies your credit union for additional pre-sorted savings.

This little bit of extra work cuts off an extra 2–4 cents per item. In the long run, that amounts to a lot of savings.

Why Mail When You Could Email?

If only it were easier to convert paper statement members to e-statements! The easiest way to save money on shipping costs is to keep everything digital. If you can convince more members to opt into e-statements, you’ll save a lot more money overall.

Sorry to say, but it’s not in the scope of this article to talk about how to convert members to e-statements. However, that particular issue is one that can be solved without much intervention…

Outsourcing Member Communications for Bulk Postage Rates

One way to cut through all the hassle of shipping is to pay someone else to do it. There are many statements vendors with decades of experience who specialize in credit union member communications, like XDI. Not only can they handle a wide range of electronic and print collateral, but they can save you money in the long run.

For example, if you’re designing, printing, stuffing, and mailing in-house, then you’re paying for (probable) non-experts to handle your important member communications. Vendors typically manage that process much more quickly.

Moreover, vendors like XDI pass their bulk postage rates and pre-sorted savings onto your credit union. So, not only is outsourcing usually faster and more efficient, but they’re able to help credit unions save more money with bulk postage and pre-sorting.

Finally, just like your credit union, vendors don’t want to send mountains of paper forms. They’d rather send e-statements as well. To that end, they do their best to incentivize members to switch from paper to e-statements when they can.

Additional Reading

Credit union member communications aren’t the most glamorous thing in the world. But by golly, they’re necessary. You, your members, and several regulatory bodies are all well aware of their necessity. With that in mind, you might as well make sure you have the best resources at your disposal.

Check out our blog for regular updates about how you can get the most from your member communications. And, if you’d like to read more about how outsourcing printing and mailing can help your credit union, follow the links below!

What Kinds of Member Communications can Credit Unions Outsource?

Why Credit Unions Should Consider Statement Printing Outsourcing

What Kinds of Member Communications can Credit Unions Outsource?