For Third Quarter in a Row, Tri-CU Pays a Special Dividend, as it Also Names New CEO

KENNEWICK, Wash. – For the third quarter in a row, Tri-CU Credit Union paid a special dividend to its members.

Tri-CU noted it wrapped up 2025 by delivering 50% APY paid on the first $500 in every eligible primary savings and checking account, including children’s accounts, for the month of December. The credit union explained that totaled up to about $40 per member if they kept $500 in both savings and checking through the previous month. It then paid 50% APY on the first $500 again on March 31st as special dividends on primary savings and kids accounts. It made a similar payout on June 30.

“Although credit unions are tax-exempt financial cooperatives, it has been increasingly rare for these institutions to pay special dividends in recent decades (at least in the Tri-Cities,” the $75-million credit union said.

Tri-CU has approximately 5,609 members.

‘True Cooperative’

“This is the essence of what sets a true cooperative apart,” Trevor Galey, the newly appointed CEO, said in a statement. “As a not-for-profit financial institution, we don’t answer to distant shareholders or chase bank-like profits. Instead, our mission is to return excess earnings to our members, who are the owners. Despite being the only small credit union in the Tri-Cities, we are also financially very healthy, and committed to our tax-exempt cooperative structure, giving our excess profits back to our members.”

Doug Wadworth will remain president of the credit union until his retiremement in approximately nine months.

In addition to being the only small credit union in the Tri-Cities–and the only one that has been paying special dividends to members–Tri-CU said it is also the only credit union hasn’t charged any NSF Fees, since 2020, while most institutions charge $25-$30.