For Immediate Release:
January 20, 2009

For more information, contact:
Francine Patella Ryan
ESL Public Affairs Manager
fpatella@esl.org
585.336.1089 or cell 585.336.1381

ESL FEDERAL CREDIT UNION ANNOUNCES THIRTEENTH OWNERS' DIVIDEND

Rochester, NY -- More than 212,000 ESL Federal Credit Union members are eligible to share in the credit union's 13th consecutive Owners' Dividend payout, which was dispersed on January 15. Since instituting the Owners' Dividend in 1996, ESL has distributed more than $68 million to qualifying members.

"We are extremely pleased to continue to share our earnings growth and success with our members," said David L. Fiedler, ESL's President and Chief Executive Officer. "ESL remains committed to providing exceptional service to our loyal members who are both customers and owners. Our top priority continues to be delivering a superior banking experience and the Owners’ Dividend is just one of the many unique ways we accomplish this for our members."

An ESL Owners' Dividend is determined by adding the total dividends earned on share accounts at ESL to the total interest paid on ESL loans throughout the year. The total amount is then multiplied by a percentage determined by the board of directors each year. This year, a member with a typical mortgage will receive a payout of more than $214.00 All dividend payouts were made to members via direct deposit on Thursday, January 15.

Founded by George Eastman in 1920, ESL Federal Credit Union is a full-service financial institution with $3.4 billion in assets. ESL employs more than 600 people locally and has more than 290,000 members world-wide. Access to the credit union includes 18 branch locations and more than 40 ATM locations, a Tele-Banking Center, and Internet and online banking channels. The company is headquartered at 100 Kings Highway South in Rochester and can be found on the Internet at www.esl.org.