ST. GEORGE, Utah – On the heels of rapid growth experienced last year, Southern Utah Federal Credit Union recently issued a $120,000 dividend to its members. The dividend was paid on regular savings accounts, Smart Savers accounts and individual retirement accounts, the $118 million CU said. Because it grew nearly 25% last year, the CU had to keep the dividend rates down. Despite having several options for higher-yielding accounts, some of its account yields "have remained quite low," according to the CU. "As you know, credit unions do not have the option to go out and get an infusion of cash when we need capital; we have to get it the "old-fashioned way," we have to earn it," the CU told members on its Web site. "However, at the end of the year we felt that we could give back to our members." Dividends were distributed based on a percentage of the dividends members had received since January 1, 2005, the CU said. Southern Utah FCU serves more than 18,000 members.