And so begins the pitchman career of baseball phenom Evan Longoria. Tampa's GTE Federal Credit Union is promoting a new account called "U22" designed specifically for 12 to 22-year-olds. In other words, that slice of the market most likely to idolize Longoria who, in his second year with the Tampa Bay Rays, is the Major League leader in RBIs. So, that's a grand slam for the GTE credit union.

The U22 account gives teenagers and young adults some financial leeway and allows parents to monitor their child’s account activity.

GTE FCU is about to launch a major marketing campaign to promote U22 to existing and potential credit union members. Longoria, the Rays' third baseman, recently participated in a photo shoot at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg and also recorded 30-second U22 radio commercials that will air during the Rays’ home games.

(Photo courtesy of GTE Federal Credit Union)

--- Robert Trigaux, Times Business Columnist