Retired Calgary Truck Driver Named Next Servus Millionaire
June 20 2024 - 11:32AM
Keith Ogston, a 73-year-old retired truck driver based in Calgary,
AB became the city's newest millionaire this morning. As the winner
of the 2024 Servus Big Share® contest, he saw $1 million deposited
into his Servus Credit Union (Servus) account.
Servus Big Share® is an annual savings contest aimed at
encouraging Albertans to save money and ultimately adopt healthy
financial habits. For every $500 that a Servus member's savings and
investment balances grew between February 1 and April 30, 2024,
members received five entries into the random draw for $1 million.
At a time when economic headwinds, like inflation and elevated
interest rates, are putting pressure on Albertans' spending, Servus
Big Share® encouraged everyone to remember that even small
contributions to savings add up over time.
For members like Ogston, a relatively new member of Servus, the
winnings from the Servus Big Share® contest help him ensure a
stable future. "I was shocked to learn I won the $1 million," says
Ogston. "I was doing well before, but this is going to make
retirement much simpler for me."
For Ian Burns, President and CEO of Connect First and Servus
Credit Union Ltd., the credit union arising from the May 1, 2024
merger between Servus and connectFirst Credit Union, the contest
reflects Servus's deep commitment to reimagining member financial
fitness.
"Financial fitness means that our members' money management
behaviours – which include planning, saving, borrowing and spending
– help them feel in control, resilient and able to pursue
opportunities that matter to them," says Burns. "Servus Big Share®
is a part of that, encouraging members to save even a little,
regardless of what's happening in the economy."
Ogston is delighted his saving habits translated to a big win.
"How often do you win money for just banking?" says Ogston, who
plans to invest most of the money. "But, first, I'm going to do is
plan a trip somewhere fun this summer."
During the 2024 Servus Big Share® contest, Servus's over 470,000
members, including over 7,000 new members who joined during the
three-month contest period, increased their savings, collectively,
by over $320 million.
Servus Big Share® is one way through which Servus shares its
profit with members. In 2023, Servus also paid a record amount of
more than $68.1 million in Profit Share® to members, who are also
owners, which enables every Servus member to receive a percentage
of profits by way of cash and dividends. Since starting the Profit
Share® program in 2009, Servus has returned more than $760 million
to Albertans.
Servus and connectFirst credit unions merged on May 1, 2024,
creating Connect First and Servus Credit Union Ltd., Alberta's
largest credit union. Together, the newly formed credit union has
more than 3,000 employees and serves approximately 500,000 members
across 140 branches in 80 Alberta communities. The combined credit
union is under unified leadership, but Servus and connectFirst
continue to operate largely as they have while integration efforts
are underway.
Servus and connectFirst are trade names of Connect First and
Servus Credit Union Ltd. All rights reserved.
About Servus Credit Union Ltd.Servus Credit
Union has served Albertans for over 80 years with a full line of
secure financial services. The financial institution has more than
100 branches in 61 communities throughout the province as well as
options for online, mobile and telephone banking. Servus's noble
purpose is to help members reimagine their financial fitness so
that they feel good about their money. For more information about
Servus, call 1.877.378.8728 or visit servus.ca.
Media Contacts:Servus Credit
Unionmedia@servus.ca(825) 402-0740