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Background

Founded in 1969 by a group of Polish immigrants, POLAM Federal Credit Union was built on trust, community, and the belief that people can achieve more when they work together. Fast forward to today, and POLAM is still going strong — serving Polish Americans (and their friends and families) with full-service banking that’s rooted in cultural pride. 

President Jennifer Audette isn’t just running a credit union. She’s leading a mission. And as the first non-Polish employee in the organization’s history, she’s all in — attending more Polish events than most Polish folks she knows, keeping the traditions alive, and making sure POLAM’s members feel like family. 

But as the community grew, so did the need for a better way to stay in touch. 

The Challenge

Jennifer wears all the hats. One minute she’s fixing the copier, the next she’s reviewing a $1.1 million mortgage file, and somewhere in between, she’s managing marketing — with no formal team and a nonprofit-sized budget. 

She needed a way to: 

• Stay connected with members across time zones (including many who live part-time in Poland) 

• Share not just financial updates, but also community events like Polish festivals and church announcements 

• Do it all quickly, affordably, and without needing a degree in digital marketing. 

We don’t have money to waste. Every dollar has to benefit our members. So when it comes to marketing, I have to be sure it’s worth it.

Jennifer Audette, President, POLAM FCU

The Solution 

When Jennifer stepped into her role, she inherited GetResponse—and immediately saw its value. 

I’ve used Mailchimp before, and I was ready to go back to it. But GetResponse was just easier. It did everything I needed—and then some.

Jennifer Audette, President, POLAM FCU

Here’s how she’s using the platform: 

• Email newsletters that go way beyond banking—think new Polish restaurants opening, festival invites, or community updates. 

• Perfect timing feature so members get messages at the right time, wherever they are. 

• Remote access that allows her to communicate fast in case of emergencies—yes, it’s even part of her disaster recovery plan. 

• Room to grow with segmentation and analytics tools she’s excited to explore as POLAM expands nationally. 

I want to know — are we getting more traction in Chicago or Seattle? Those insights will help me decide where to focus next.

Jennifer Audette, President, POLAM FCU

The Results

Since using GetResponse, POLAM’s been able to: 

• Keep members engaged with regular, culturally relevant emails; 

• Cut outsourcing costs by doing more design and messaging in-house (shoutout to Canva + GetResponse combo); 

• Scale communications without adding complexity; 

• Reach a community that spans time zones, languages, and even continents. 

Some of our members live in Poland half the year — and they still get our updates without a hiccup.

Jennifer Audette, President, POLAM FCU

Looking Ahead

With national expansion on the horizon and more partnerships in the Polish community coming soon, POLAM sees GetResponse as a key part of the plan. 

They’re looking forward to using segmentation, improving targeting, and exploring automation — especially for pre-approvals and personalized offers.

It’s more than just email. It’s connection. It’s community. And it’s a tool that grows with us.

Jennifer Audette, President, POLAM FCU

Key Takeaways

• The challenge: Staying connected with a dispersed, multicultural community on a nonprofit budget. 

• The solution: Use GetResponse for email newsletters, time zone targeting, and scalable communications. 

• The result: Stronger community engagement, cost savings, and a marketing tool that keeps up with growth. 

I’m always telling other credit unions—stop overcomplicating things. GetResponse just works.

Jennifer Audette, President, POLAM FCU