BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. – City County FCU insists there's no catch, its new User's Credit Program doesn't cost members any money to use. In fact, it's just the reverse. CCFCU will pay members a bonus for using the credit union's services. It's a way for the $270 million credit union-the eighth largest in the state-to motivate its nearly 43,000 members to use CCFCU's services, and to reward those members who use mostly CCFCU products. The program, says the credit union, can earn members hundreds of dollars annually. Actually, members receive credit points that are calculated monthly. In November, the points are converted to cash and deposited into members' share savings accounts. Members can track how their points are accumulating by referring to their monthly or quarterly account statements. To be eligible to receive user's credits, members must sign up for the program. There is no age limit to belong. Points are calculated only after an account is set up for the member on the program. No points are given before then. It's the old 80/20 rule, said Kim Gibbs, CCFCU's assistant vice president of electronic services, 20% of our members do 80% of the business. "The User's Credit Program is a way for us to say thank you to this 20% of our members, while encourage those members who aren't part of the 20% to become part of that tier." At press time, Gibbs said about 16% of CCFCU's members had registered for the User's Credit Program. -

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