The populist anger against credit card companies and large banks is building around the country. We have been spreading the word about how small business owners are being harmed by high interchange fees that punish them while directing large profits to credit card companies and banks.

These small businesses recently traveled to Washington to communicate with policy makers directly.  And earlier we illustrated a part of our campaign that used coasters to drive the point home during Super Bowl weekend.

But John Clinton Tuttle of Seattle, Washington has taken the creative marketing aspect a bit farther.  The Huffington Post has the story of how Clinton has turned his frustration into a “guerilla warfare” campaign:

John Clinton Tuttle of Seattle, Wash. is waging guerrilla warfare against high interest rates and other depredations of the credit card industry. He’s literally sticking it to ‘em — he’s launched a campaign to encourage angry consumers to put bank-bashing stickers on ATMs.

“The credit card business is unethical,” said Tuttle, 60, who told HuffPost he put 40 stickers on ATMs in Seattle last Thursday. The stickers say “Stand up to the rich bankers!” and direct ATM customers to Tuttle’s website, www.creditcardrevolt.com, where he makes the case for five basic reforms for the credit card industry, including a 15 percent interest rate cap, better disclosure of rates and fees, and clearer contracts.

Clinton also calls for transparency on interchange fees. And rightfully so given that Credit card swipe fees cost American consumers $48 billion in 2008 alone – triple the level in 2001

Policymakers should see this type of grassroots action as a symbol of the need for reform.  The CARD act is approaching its effective date and consumers are likely to benefit. But interchange fee reform needs to be address if we are to consider financial reform complete.

We aren’t asking you to put stickers on ATM machines or act in YouTube videos but why not communicate with your representative in Washington on this important issue?

Let them know that interchange reform is a necessary part of any financial reform package