Seven more credit unions have returned $57.5 million to one million members in the past two months with more than half coming from ESL Federal Credit Union of Rochester, N.Y.

ESL ($9.9 billion, 462,162 members) paid members $30 million Jan. 16 as an Owners' Dividend. The amount represents about $67 per member and 0.32% of its average assets, compared with a 0.82% return of on its average assets for the 12 months ending Sept. 30.

President/CEO Faheem Masood said the amount of $30 million was chosen to honor the 30th anniversary of the ESL Owners' Dividend

Faheem Masood

"For three decades, the Owners' Dividend program has represented our commitment to share our financial success with our members," Masood said. "This milestone is a direct reflection of the trust our members place in ESL and the strength of our cooperative model."

Owners' Dividend payouts are based on members' financial activity throughout the year, including account balances, card usage and relationships with ESL wealth management teams, with all eligible members receiving a base payout.

The $57.5 million payout from the seven credit unions represents about $57 per member and 32 bps of their ROA of 0.72% for the 12 months ending Sept. 30. The other six were:

  • Tyndall Federal Credit Union of Panama City, Fla. ($1.9 billion, 111,093 members), which paid members $16 million Jan. 16 as a Relationship Rewards. The amount represents about $140 per member and 83 bps of its ROA of 0.55% for the 12 months ending Sept. 30.
  • CommunityAmerica Credit Union of Lenexa, Kan., 15 miles southwest of Kansas City ($5.4 billion in assets, 380,564 members), which paid members $10 million Jan. 14 as a Profit Payout. The amount represents about $30 per member and 20 bps of its ROA of 0.67% for the 12 months ending Sept. 30.
  • West Virginia Central Credit Union of Parkersburg, W.V. ($318.6 million, 23,513 members), which paid members $1 million in January as a special year-end dividend. The amount represents about $44 per member and 33 bps of its ROA of 1.06% for the 12 months ending Sept. 30.
  • Michigan Legacy Credit Union of Detroit, ($214.4 million, 19,949 members), which paid members $319,275 throughout 2025 as a Patronage 365 dividend. The amount represents about $16 per member and 15 bps of its ROA of 0.73% for the 12 months ending Sept. 30.
  • Elevate Credit Union of Brigham City, Utah, 60 miles north of ($248.5 million in assets, 15,182 members), which paid members $56,726 Dec. 31 as a bonus dividend. The amount represents about $4 per member and 2 bps of its ROA of 1.29% for the 12 months ending Sept. 30.
  • Wakota Federal Credit Union of St. Paul, Minn. ($45.6 million, 3,790 members), which paid members $75,000 Dec. 15 as a Patronage Dividends. The amount represents about $20 per member and 17 bps of its ROA of 0.99% for the 12 months ending Sept. 30.

"Returning earnings to our members is at the heart of who we are," Wakota President/CEO Mary Matheson said. "This patronage dividend shows that when our members borrow, save, and use our products and services, the entire financial cooperative benefits. We're proud to give those dollars right back to the community."

Mary Matheson

So far this season, CU Times has tallied 42 credit unions ($123.5 billion, 6.1 million members), which have announced $287.2 million in special dividends. The amount represents about $47 per member and 24 bps of their 12-month ROA of 0.88%.

Credit unions interested in sharing their special dividend announcements can email them to Jim.DuPlessis@arc-network.com.

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