KENNEWICK, Wash.— The $75-million Tri-CU said it has paid a second 50% APY special dividend in three months, with the $75-million credit union crediting roughly $20 to members who maintained an average balance of $500 in eligible primary savings and kids’ accounts during March.
The credit union said the payout follows a similar 50% special dividend distributed on Dec. 31, 2025, which also included primary checking accounts, excluding business accounts. Tri-CU said the back-to-back dividends underscore how smaller credit unions can return value directly to members when financial performance remains strong.
“As a not-for-profit cooperative, our job is simple: earn a healthy return, then give those profits back to our members,” said Doug Wadsworth, president/CEO of Tri-CU. “We’re financially strong and stable, which allows us to deliver meaningful value directly to the people we serve. This is what friends are for.”
Tri-CU also pointed to other member-focused benefits it says differentiate it in the Tri-Cities market, including no NSF fees, competitive loan rates and lower loan fees than larger institutions, along with strong online reviews and shorter phone wait times while operating from a single local office.
Wadsworth added that the special dividends also reflect the broader value proposition of well-run smaller institutions.
“We don’t need a large national footprint to return real value to our members," he said. "Healthy small credit unions have the ability to be incredibly responsive and generous with the people who own them.”