BIMI for Credit Unions

Why Credit Unions Need BIMI

Credit unions are prime targets for phishing and email impersonation. Members trust emails that appear to come from their credit union, making them especially vulnerable when attackers spoof the credit union's identity. BIMI solves this by displaying the credit union's verified logo directly in the inbox — a visual signal that's impossible for phishers to fake.

The Problem

Without BIMI, a phishing email from "yourcu@fakecreditunion.com" looks identical to a legitimate email from the real credit union. Both show a generic initial or avatar. Members — especially older adults who are frequent targets — can't tell the difference.

What BIMI Does for Credit Unions

• Visual verification — Members see the credit union's official logo next to every legitimate email, making phishing attempts visually obvious
• Member trust — Branded emails build confidence in digital communications, reducing call volume from members asking "is this real?"
• Regulatory alignment — BIMI builds on DMARC enforcement, which regulators increasingly expect from financial institutions
• Higher engagement — Branded emails see up to 10% higher open rates, improving the effectiveness of member communications

How to Get Started

1. Enforce DMARC — Set your DMARC policy to p=quarantine or p=reject. DMARC Report can help you get there safely.
2. Create your BIMI logo — Convert your credit union's logo to SVG Tiny 1.2 PS format. BIMIHosting does this for free.
3. Publish your BIMI record — Add a DNS TXT record pointing to your hosted logo.
4. Get a VMC/CMC (optional) — For Gmail and Apple Mail display, purchase a Verified Mark Certificate from DigiCert or Entrust.