FAIRFAX, Va. – The board of directors of Credit Union Mortgage Association wanted to say thank you to their shareholders for making the last couple of years successful ones for the multiple-owned CUSO. At the Oct. 20th board meeting, the CUMA Board declared a special dividend of 18-cents a share to be paid to shareholders of record as of Oct. 1, 2004. CUMA is a full-service mortgage CUSO owned by 37 credit unions in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Founded in 1978, the CUSO declares a regular annual dividend to shareholders in December, but President Scott Toler said this is the first time CUMA declared a special dividend. "We had put aside money in our reserve last year that we didn't use. The last couple of years were good for the CUSO, and we wanted to say thank you to our shareholders," said Toler. The checks for special dividend were mailed to shareholders the week of Oct. 25.