For The Golden 1 Credit Union in Sacramento, Calif. e-statementsoffer not only a selling point to environment conscious Californiaresidents, but saved the credit union more than $1 million in paperand postage last year.

"Last year our members saved about 60 tons of paper usingelectronic statements. That's the equivalent of two average-sizedgray whales," said Teresa Halleck, president/CEO of The Golden1.

Ron Daly, president/CEO of DigitalMailer said that he estimatesthe nation's credit unions with more than $50 million in assetshave a total of about 12.5 million e-statement users who eachgenerate 50 cents to 75 cents per month in savings. That added upto $75 million a year in industry savings.

"I came back from vacation last week and there were six newcontracts on my desk," Daly said. "With the way the economy is andpostage rates and gas and paper, everybody's doing it."

Daly added that DigitalMailer is looking to expand its dailynotices, alerts, disaster communications systems, surveys, secureWeb forms, e-marketing campaigns and online board elections.

For more articles on ways that credit unions are saving bothmoney and the environment see our Arbor Day section in our April 28print issue of Credit Union Times.