Originally Published on Sports Business Journal

Combine all the disparate entities under financial services/fintech and its easily the biggest sponsorship category. A recent study from L.A.-based Innovative Partnerships Group suggests that credit unions may be the red-headed stepchild within this large sector.

Consider that around 135 million Americans now belong to a credit union. Half of the credit unions with naming-rights deals surveyed by Innovative Partnerships Group said category exclusivity was not crucial to them, along with a greater need for branding than the large legacy financial services that have traditionally invested in sports marketing.

And it gets even more interesting.

"Credit unions are the best-kept secret in the biggest sponsorship category," said Innovative Partnerships Group CEO Jeff Marks. "They've been growing considerably since the 2007-2008 financial crisis and have a need to differentiate, which sponsorship can serve well. And they don’t have to create a community platform -- credit unions are community platforms. The trend we’re seeing is that legacy banks have gone to fewer bigger sponsorships, and fewer naming rights. That’s left a void we expect credit unions will continue to fill."

Click here to read a summary of our findings

How does a boutique sponsorship agency in LA land FC Barcelona as a major client? Listen to Jeff Marks, Founder and CEO of the Innovative Partnerships Group tell the story, and yes, they are exactly what the name implies! Based in Los Angeles, IPG has brand clients, rights holder clients and is one of the leaders in brand, sponsor, client, rights holder integration. Their best know client? FC Barcelona in Spain. Listen Up!

Listen Here: Jeff Marks is Founder and CEO of the Innovative Partnerships Group.