EDMONTON, Alberta–The winner of $1 million from a credit union here is 24 years old and just graduated from the University of Alberta.
Andrew Buchner won the Servus Credit Union Big Share Contest, which challenged Albertans compete to save money. The more members saved, the more contest entries they earned.
As CUToday.info reported earlier, Buchner was presented with a $1 million donation into his account during a ceremony at the credit union’s headquarters.
Buchner told Global News he started saving money when he was 10 and was on vacation in Montreal when he got the call telling him he won the contest. He said at first he thought the credit union was calling to tell him there was an issue with his account, the publication reported.
“It’s still kind of hard to describe how you’re feeling,” Buchner told Global News.
Buchner is an engineer who is working in the construction industry. He said he recently graduated from college debt-free and he plans on saving the money for the future.
“More than anything this mean security, it means not having to worry about anything that might come up in the future. It also means a little bit more freedom to do what I want or what I need down the line. It’s security,” Buchner told Global News.
About the Contest
As CUToday.info reported earlier, The Big Share contest ran from January 2019 to April 2019 and encouraged Albertans to save and invest in themselves. Servus Credit Union said it created the Big Share, which offered the $1 million prize simply for saving and taking advantage of Servus' “Profit Share Rewards Cash” program, which rewards members for their relationships with the CU.
“Although the contest is unique and we are changing one member's life, we give away millions of dollars every year through our Profit Share Rewards Cash, so all of our members are winners when we work together,” the credit union said.
It added The Servus Big Share Contest will return in 2020 to keep encouraging Albertans to save.