HERNDON, Va. – E-statement provider DigitalMailer claims that the postage-rate increases effective Jan. 8 will translate to an additional savings of $1.5 million for its customers over the course of 2006. This figure takes into account only members of DigitalMailer's "Biggest Losers Club." The company defines members of this club as those customers that have achieved an e-statement adoption rate of 9.2% or greater. This figure is determined by simply dividing a credit union's total number of members by its total number of e-statement enrollees. "With some 6,000 of our members receiving e-statements, we've saved more than $41,000 in the past three years, and we expect the savings to grow even more this year." said Chris Mazuran, e-commerce director at 75,000-member First Financial Credit Union, West Covina, Calif. "Our members are happy, too. They get on-time delivery, and the e-statements are well-organized and easy to read." With a current e-statement adoption rate of 12.5% , the credit union is a member of the "Biggest Losers Club." "Most credit unions know that e-statements can provide tremendous benefits over paper statements – convenience, efficiencies, and cost savings," added DigitalMailer President Ron Daly. "But now, with the recent jump in postage costs, credit unions can add another reason to consider switching to e-statements." While all the costs associated with paper statements – postage, paper, handling, etc. – continue to rise, the cost of providing e-statements to members remains relatively constant.