January was, once again, dividend distribution season forDow Chemical Employees' Credit Union, just as it had been forthe past 50 years.

However, this year, the $1.4 billion Midland, Mich., institutionmade headlines for the amount of wealth it redistributed to its57,000 members. On Jan. 1, members in good standing were set toreceive a rebate of 75% of the total interest they paid on eligibleloans during 2014, an additional 75% of dividends earned on sharesand deposits during 2014 and check card rebates that included0.125% of signature-based transactions and one cent for eachPIN-based transaction made last year.

In real dollars, that meant a member payday of some $13.2million, according to Dennis Hanson, DCECU's president/CEO. Thisamount was ahead of both 2012, when the credit union issued totalrebates of $11.6 million, and $11.3 million in 2013.