“Thank you.”

“We appreciate your business.”

How often – and how sincerely – does a company say these things to you?

When we say our success wouldn’t be possible without the loyalty and cooperative spirit of our members, we mean it. That’s why it’s such an honor to announce our 2015 Member Reward.

For the eleventh consecutive year, Ascend Federal Credit Union’s volunteer, unpaid Board of Directors has voted to give money back to members in the form of bonus dividends and loan interest refunds. But this year’s giveback is a little different. We’ve set a minimum to ensure everyone receives a more substantial reward. Plus, we’ve added a $25 bonus for members who are registered for electronic statements, or e-statements.

Let’s face it: Dividend rates are at all-time lows, and a bonus dividend might not have the highest perceived value right now. So, we wanted to reward another aspect of membership, like the selection of e-statements versus the paper version.

When you choose to receive your statements electronically, you help the environment and you save Ascend money. When you bring your loan business to Ascend, the interest you pay for that product helps us make loans to other members. And, your checking and savings account help make Ascend become your primary financial institution. In other words, you’re establishing loyalty.

The member return – which is never guaranteed – rewards loyalty. Members with higher savings receive a larger bonus dividend, and those who have more loans receive a larger loan interest refund.

The 2015 Member Reward is estimated at $6 million. It caps a year of tremendous prosperity for Middle Tennessee’s largest federally-chartered credit union – prosperity that’s once again being shared with the members who made it possible. And it pushes the total dollars given back to Ascend members to more than $60 million over the past 11 years.

“After acquiring the naming rights to Nashville’s new amphitheater, reworking our entire website, planning more convenient financial centers for members, being named ‘Federal Credit Union of the Year’ by the National Association of Federal Credit Unions and so much more this year, people want to know the secret of our success,” credit union President and CEO Caren Gabriel said. “It’s simple: We are successful because of our members, and for 11 years, our Board has voted to share that success with Ascend’s member-owners.”

The 2015 Member Reward will appear on members' December statement.

November 09, 2015