For Immediate Release December 15, 2014 Chinook Credit Union finishes fiscal 2014 with strong results and shares a 5% dividend with members Brooks, AB – Chinook Credit Union finished fiscal 2014 with its best financial results in corporate history and shared a 5% dividend with members. Total loans grew by $15 million, reaching just under $729 million. The book of business, which includes loans, deposits, off balance sheet loans and wealth management funds, grew $55 million throughout the year, reaching just over $1.7 billion! Total net earnings from operations, before taxes was $4.9 million for fiscal 2014. Chinook Credit Union’s dividend program shared a 5% dividend payment on common shares, or $2.2 million, with members. “2014 was an historic year for Chinook Credit Union, culminating the amalgamation with First Calgary Financial to create Connect First Credit Union,” said Connect First Credit Union CEO, Paul Kelly. “I’m really humbled by our members’ overwhelming, and continued, support for the credit union and our recent amalgamation, as well as the hard work all of our employees do every day to show the ‘Chinook way’ in every interaction.” Chinook Financial (formerly Chinook Credit Union) is a division of Connect First Credit Union. Chinook Financial has 11 retail branches in 15 communities across southern Alberta with 200 employees serving 20,000 members. Over the past 75 years, Chinook Financial has grown from its modest beginnings in the agricultural industry to the leading financial institution in the communities it serves. More information about Chinook Financial is available at chinookcu.com. - 30 Media Contact: Alison Archambault Director, Communications & Stakeholder Relations Connect First Credit Union Ph: (403) 736-4015, Cell: (403) 473-3676 Email: [email protected]