The $3.3 billion DFCU Financial in Dearborn, Mich. paid membersa $21.8 million Special Patronage Dividend on Jan. 3, the creditunion announced.

|

The amount equaled half of the credit union’s 2012 earnings andbrought its total dividend payout amount over the past seven yearsto more than $130 million, the suburban Detroit institutionsaid.

|

Members received 0.5% of their average yearly loan and depositbalances, including all savings accounts and loan balances, witheach qualifying member receiving at least $50. This year’s averagepayout was $220 per member, DFCU Financial said.

|

“The DFCU Financial team works hard daily to operate anefficient, member-centric organization,” said Mark Shobe,president/CEO for the 214,000-member DFCU Financial. “We prudently manage every aspect of ourbusiness and we commit ourselves to operational excellence. Thiscommitment to excellence is what allows us to pay out half ourearnings and reward members with the Special PatronageDividend.”

|

DFCU Financial said the annual payout has given its members,such as 31-year member Marc Gayeski, a much-appreciated bonus.

|

“In a household of five, receiving the dividend is veryimportant,” Gayeski said. “Some may think the dividend is only acouple of cents, but it’s a significant amount. Last year, I wasable to pay half our car payment with the dividend. This year, itwill help to pay for a trip to Arizona to visit my wife’s90-year-old aunt.”

Complete your profile to continue reading and get FREE access to CUTimes.com, part of your ALM digital membership.

  • Critical CUTimes.com information including comprehensive product and service provider listings via the Marketplace Directory, CU Careers, resources from industry leaders, webcasts, and breaking news, analysis and more with our informative Newsletters.
  • Exclusive discounts on ALM and CU Times events.
  • Access to other award-winning ALM websites including Law.com and GlobeSt.com.
NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

Natasha Chilingerian

Natasha Chilingerian has been immersed in the credit union industry for over a decade. She first joined CU Times in 2011 as a freelance writer, and following a two-year hiatus from 2013-2015, during which time she served as a communications specialist for Xceed Financial Credit Union (now Kinecta Federal Credit Union), she re-joined the CU Times team full-time as managing editor. She was promoted to executive editor in 2019. In the earlier days of her career, Chilingerian focused on news and lifestyle journalism, serving as a writer and editor for numerous regional publications in Oregon, Louisiana, South Carolina and the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition, she holds experience in marketing copywriting for companies in the finance and technology space. At CU Times, she covers People and Community news, cybersecurity, fintech partnerships, marketing, workplace culture, leadership, DEI, branch strategies, digital banking and more. She currently works remotely and splits her time between Southern California and Portland, Ore.