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inside :

For more informationsee page 3

4 Greener LifestylePowering SociallyResponsible Investing

8 Vote for your Alterna CSR Idol

11 Business Solutions:A Recipe for Success

Winter 2008

Big Interest Now Investment

Savings Account4%*

ALTERNA BIG PICTURE THINKING...BIG INTEREST

NOW AND LATER

*No minimum balance required. Interest calculated on daily closing balance and paid monthly. Interest rate is subject to change at any time.

Happy Birthday Alterna!

In 2008, we are 100 years old. ThisSpecial Edition SCOOP Newsletterintroduces some of the upcomingevents and activities we haveplanned for the celebration. It alsotells the story of how we came tobe, and presents a timeline to guideyou through the innovations,developments and milestones thatmark our history.

See pages 5 to 8.

AnniversaryA Century ofCooperation

th

Do you prefer to receive this newsletter electronically? Email scoop @alterna.ca

2 ALTERNA SAVINGS

Last November, 165 membersattended the Town Hall meetingsheld in Ottawa, Toronto,Pembroke and Kingston.

The goal of the sessions was toensure that you, our member-owners, had an opportunity toprovide your input into the futuredirection of your credit union.The meetings began with anintroduction and “state of thecredit union” address from JohnLahey, President & CEO.

Following that, members wereasked to break out into groups todiscuss their vision for Alternaover the next 10 years. Membersprovided their ideas as they relateto products and services,community involvement andwhere and how they do business.The feedback that we collected isexactly the kind of honesty thatwe were looking for.

Participants said they would liketo see an increased focus on theyouth market. Many members alsostressed the importance ofmaintaining the personal serviceand attention from our staff. All ofthe results of these brainstormingsessions will be considered by theBoard of Directors and SeniorManagement Team as part of theirannual planning cycle.

To quote one member, “The effort which a credit unionsuch as Alterna puts into memberinvolvement is a preciousinvestment. Thank you for yourwork”. While we appreciate thiscomment, we should be thankingyou, the member, for yourcandour. As a member-owned co-operative, we are accountableto you.

To that end, we thank allparticipants for taking the time to help us shape the future of Alterna.

MemberDemocracyat Work –Town Hall Meetings

Spare Changeand DonationsRemember to ask us about theSpare Change program if you don’talready contribute. Also, watch forthe list of donation recipients inour next newsletter.

Organizations wishing to beconsidered for the next round ofdonations must submit applicationsby April 30, 2008.

For more details, see:

Earl Campbell

John Lahey

From YourBoard Chair

From YourPresident & CEO

Dear Members:

In 1908, a small group of civil servants founded the Civil Service Savings and Loan Society, the first Canadiancredit union outside of Quebec. That credit union evolved and has become what we know today as AlternaSavings. This means that the year 2008 is a very memorable and significant one for us all, as we celebrate our100th anniversary.

With this extended special edition newsletter, we launch our series of special events and activities planned tohighlight the occasion. I would like to invite you to take part in the celebrations. You will see our themementioned throughout the year: "A Century of Co-operation". It serves to remind us of our deep roots withinthe community, of our long term commitment to our members and of our continuing engagement in thevalues and philosophy of the co-operative movement. To help us mark the occasion, we have a designatedemail address for you to share your memories and stories. Please send them to: celebration@alterna.ca.

I also take this opportunity to invite you to join us on Monday, April 21, 2008 for our Annual GeneralMeeting. On display will be memorabilia, photos and other artifacts representing many of the credit unionsthat formed Alterna Savings. You will find information about the AGM on page 8 of this newsletter.

In advance of this year’s AGM, you will have the opportunity to vote electronically or in-branch betweenMarch 10 and April 15, 2008. The vote will include the election of Directors and the Alterna CorporateSocial Responsibility Idol, along with some changes to our by-laws. These are the result of a number of Boardrecommendations adopted as part of our continuing journey to streamline and improve governance, thusincreasing the effectiveness of the committee structure. The Board is also pleased to have recently approved its2008-2012 Strategic Plan, 2008 Annual Operating Plan and 2008 budget.

I invite each of you to participate in this special AGM and 100th anniversary celebrations.

Yours co-operatively,

Earl CampbellChair, Alterna SavingsChair_President@alterna.ca

Happy New Year to you and yours!

I am very excited about starting this new year as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Alterna group. I join Earl Campbell, Chair of our Board of Directors in extending a special invitation for you to take part in the commemorative events which will occur throughout the year.

I am also happy to say that Alterna is starting the year as a fully integrated credit union, operating together asone. In November, I had the opportunity to meet many of you in Toronto, Ottawa, Pembroke and Kingstonduring our Member Town Hall meetings. I was impressed with your engagement and I enjoyed the insightfulcomments and suggestions that you brought forward. All ideas have been provided to the Board and SeniorManagement Team as input into the operational plan for 2008 and beyond.

Another activity that took place at the end of last year was Alterna's United Way fundraising campaign. Onceagain, employees joined forces to collect funds to benefit the communities we serve. Money was raised throughemployee and member contributions, and during many events that took place in our branches and corporateoffices. I am very proud to report that our employees’ contribution for 2007 exceeded $42,000.

I look forward to 2008, as our plans for the year focus on improvements to services across the organization.We continue to be committed to providing an excellent experience for our members and clients.

Sincerely,

John LaheyPresident & CEOAlterna Savings and Alterna BankCEO_President@alterna.ca

3INVESTMENT & RETIREMENT PLANNING

Keeping an eye on your big picture is easy at Alterna. We deliver big interest on short term savings and

exceptional advice on long term planning. Whether you are a seasoned investor, or a first time contributor,

Alterna has the products and expertise to meet your needs.

Ms. JonesStarts investing at: 25Stops investing at: 30Investment Amount: $3,000/yearAssumed annual rate of return: 6%

Investment Amount: $15,000RRSP value at 65: $137,780.48

$15,000

$137,780.48

Mr. SmithStarts investing at: 35Stops investing at: 40Investment Amount: $3,000/yearAssumed annual rate of return: 6%

Investment Amount: $15,000RRSP value at 65: $76,935.90

$15,000

$76,935.90

Big Interest Now Investment

Savings Account4%*

ALTERNA BIG PICTURE THINKING...BIG INTEREST

NOW AND LATER

*No minimum balance required. Interest calculated on daily closing balance and paid monthly. Interest rate is subject to change at any time.

That’s Alterna’s Big Picture Thinking

The value of starting to invest earlyMs. Jones and Mr. Smith both investthe same amount ($3,000 per year for5 years for a total of $15,000) andthey both have the same annual rate ofreturn (6%). But Ms. Jones startedinvesting when she was 25 years old. At 65, she will have accumulatednearly $61,000 more than Mr. Smithwho started investing at age 35.

Advice and Planning –Where it all beginsOur Credential® Investment Professionals are here to listen and help you develop a plan toreach your goals. Wherever you are at, we will takethe time to review your big picture and point yourinvestment strategy in the right direction.

RRSPs and Term Deposits Alterna offers a range of RRSPs and termdeposits with a variety of features and benefits. Let us assist you in finding the product that suits your needs.

Big Interest NowNew! Investment SavingsAccount-4%*

We are pleased to introduce our Investment SavingsAccount. Earn a very big interest rate! And moregood news: there’s no minimum balance required and your funds can be accessed at any time. It’s alsoRRSP and RRIF eligible.

Mutual Funds and Socially Responsible InvestmentsBenefit from a wide variety of options includingsocially responsible investments (SRI) and thousandsof leading mutual funds**, through Credential AssetManagement Inc. or Credential Securities Inc. atAlterna. We can help you create an investmentstrategy that fits your values, based on SRI expertiseyou can trust.

Growth and Security with the Market Tracer+

Like the stock market, but not the ups and downs?Our Market Tracer Index Linked Term Deposit maybe perfect for you. You’ll get the security of aguaranteed investment with the highest returnpossible through exposure to the markets.

Investing for tomorrow with an RRSP Line of CreditBorrowing to invest may be a smart decision (withrates as low as Prime), and it’s a simple application process. We have a variety of optionsavailable including RRSP Lines of Credit that youcan access each year without having to reapply. Talkto us about your unique financial situation.

My Big PictureTest your financial knowledge at alterna.ca and enterfor your chance to win a $500 Alterna term deposit^to kick-start your investments!

Call us or drop by your local branch to talk aboutyour big picture today.

1.877.560.0100Toronto: 416.252.5621Ottawa: 613.560.0100Gatineau: 819.595.6980mybigpicture@alterna.caalterna.ca

^ Complete contest rules available at alterna.ca.

RRSP Deadline: February 29, 2008

4 SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT

By Eugene EllmenExecutive DirectorSocial Investment Organization

Canadians are switching to greenerlifestyles in record numbers, withsales booming in hybrid cars,organic food, fair trade coffee andenergy-efficient lighting.

This revolution is being felt in thefinancial industry, with growingnumbers of investors putting theirmoney where it counts for bothpersonal wealth and a better world.

This trend, called sociallyresponsible investment (SRI), isgrowing dramatically in Canada,partly driven by consumers who areconnecting their purchasing powerwith their investing power.

Research earlier this year by theSocial Investment Organization –the national voice for SRI inCanada – found $503 billion inassets invested in Canada accordingto SRI guidelines, an incredibleincrease from only $65 billion twoyears earlier.

Most of this increase was due tolarge public pension fundsadopting SRI guidelines. But asignificant share of this increasewas also due to increased demandfor SRI by average Canadiansmanaging their personal savingsand investments, including RRSPs.This growth is a direct result of thechoices that Canadians are makingto support sustainable and socially

responsible goods and services.Canadians, as consumers, arefeeling increasingly empoweredthrough their ethical purchasingdecisions. As a result, they arebeginning to question why thesame kinds of decisions can’t bemade in other areas of their liveswhere they make economicdecisions. This is leading them tolook for socially responsibleinvestments that respect theenvironment and create betterhuman communities.

A survey published this pastOctober by Investors Group foundthat 82 per cent of Canadians planto change their behaviour andadopt green practices. One of thedrivers of this new mentality is thegrowing link between what’s goodfor the globe and what makes sensefor the pocketbook.

As numerous observers havepointed out, products and serviceswith a sustainability focus makefinancial sense. Often products thatreduce energy, use fewer resources,or are manufactured from recycledmaterials cost less or last longerthan similar non-sustainableproducts. Sustainability and socialresponsibility don’t necessarilyinvolve trade offs with theenvironment or human well-being.

This is fueling the boom in homeenergy savings, for example. TheInvestors Group survey showedthat 63 per cent of respondents

said they would be willing to spendup to $10,000 on homerenovations to reduce annualenergy costs by 25 per cent.

Investors Group found that thischange in consciousness is havingan impact on the investmentintentions of Canadians. Morethan three-quarters (76 per cent ofthose surveyed) said that investingin renewable energy is the morallyright thing to do, while 64 per centalso said such investments makefinancial sense with the potentialfor good returns.

In further research, InvestorsGroup found that the majority (56per cent) of respondents believethat environmental considerationsare important when choosingresponsible investments. Otherfactors ranked as important whenmaking socially responsibleinvestment decisions includeprohibitions against: child labour(79 per cent); poor human rightspractices (70 per cent); weapons(53 per cent); and alcohol ortobacco investments (42 per cent).

Many so-called “experts” in thefinancial community believe thatsocially responsible investment is aniche that appeals to a smallminority of left-leaning Canadians.As the Investors Group researchshows, SRI is very much amainstream trend, appealing to thecore values of Canadians.

Yet, SRI still represents only afraction of the total money undermanagement. The SocialInvestment Organization studyestimates that – even at more than$500 billion – SRI barelyrepresents 20 per cent of totalfunds under management inCanada.

So why is there such a largedisconnect between whatCanadians would like from theirfinancial services, and the reality ofwhere their assets are invested? Inbasic terms, it looks like thefinancial industry simply hasn’tasked Canadians what they want.

In a study done three years ago bythe respected opinion researchcompany GlobeScan, 66 per centof Canadian investors said theyhave never discussed the corporatesocial responsibility performance ofthe companies in their portfoliowith their financial advisor.

Thirteen per cent said they hadbrought it up with their advisor; 11 per cent said they hadconsidered it but not brought itup; two per cent said they didn’tknow and one per cent said boththey and their advisor brought itup.

Only eight per cent of respondents– about 1 in 12 – said their advisorbrought it up with them.

With growing numbers ofCanadians connecting the dotsbetween ethical purchasing andsocially responsible investment, it’s time that the financial industryasked Canadians whether theywould prefer investments thatlinked bottom line results andglobal betterment. The answerwould be a resounding YES!

Eugene Ellmen is ExecutiveDirector of the Social InvestmentOrganization, the national associationfor socially responsible investment.Alterna Savings is a sustainingmember of the SIO. For more information, visitsocialinvestment.ca.

Greener lifestylespowering socially responsible investment

Kristen MacKean, BCommInvestment AdvisorCredential Securities Inc.410 Progress AvenueScarborough ON416.438.9652kristen.mackean@alterna.ca

Julie MacMillan-Sehel, CFPInvestment AdvisorCredential Securities Inc.400 Albert Street Ottawa ON613.560.6643julie.macmillan@alterna.ca

Jeff Squire, CFP, CIM, FSCIInvestment AdvisorCredential Securities Inc.2909 Queen Street EastBrampton ON905.452.9483jeff.squire@alterna.ca

Iliya Markovinovic, CFPInvestment AdvisorCredential Securities Inc.800 Bay StreetToronto ON416.506.9333iliya.markovinovic@alterna.ca

We will be happy tomeet you at the branchlocation mostconvenient for you.

If you would like to know more about socially responsible investments, talk to your Alterna Credential® Investment Professional

Your Story

5100TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

In 2008, Alterna celebrates a very special milestone:“A Century of Cooperation”. Several special eventsand activities will take place throughout the year tomark our credit union’s centennial.

We are quite proud to say that we were the firstCanadian credit union to be established outside ofQuebec. From the very beginning, in 1908, it wasthe spirit of mutual effort, harmony and assistancethat drove our founders to persevere as theyrealized their vision.

With this newsletter, we introduce the specialAlterna logo and theme that will help us make thisa memorable year. The theme and logo portray our

deep and long-time roots in the communities weserve, along with the co-operative spirit on whichthese were built. Read our story – The Birth ofAlterna – on the next page to learn more abouthow it all started.

Throughout the year, also watch the website andother venues for stories and facts about our first 100 years in the community. We have put together a 100th Anniversary Committee composed of Boardmembers, employees and members at large. Theyhave planned several activities and events tocommemorate the occasion and bring ourextensive history to light.

Anniversary Celebration Events

Our birthday is on Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008. This day marksthe founding of Alterna Savings. Mark your calendars, as specialevents will be taking place throughout our communities around that time. More information will be available in the Spring. We sincerely hope that you will join us.

We invite you to join us at ourupcoming Annual GeneralMeeting on Monday, April 21,2008 (see p. 8 for details). This year’s theme is built on the 100th anniversary and willinclude special speakers andactivities to mark this event. We are very excited to have theopportunity to sharememorabilia, photos and otherartifacts that we have recently re-discovered in our archives.These are rarely seen objects, sowe especially encourage anyhistory buffs to visit ourhistorical display at the AGM.We are also preparing a specialCentennial Annual Reportwhich will include moreinteresting tidbits, historicalfacts and stories of our past.

AnnualGeneralMeeting

th

CS CO-OP employees – 1960s

Ronald A. Hydeclarke, Manager, 1953-1975

Throughout the year, we will be collecting stories, picturesand memorabilia of the creditunions which created Alterna.We would love to hear yourstories about the credit union.

• Do you remember when youopened your first account?

• What things were like “back then”?

• Are you a retired employee orformer member of the Board?

• Do you have a story or aninteresting piece ofinformation about yourbranch?

• Do you have old pictures,cheques, mortgage documents,annual reports or otherartifacts you could share with us?

Please write to us with your

story at celebration@alterna.ca.

Major events, breakthroughs and innovationsshaped and coloured Alterna Savings over thepast 100 years.

1908 - The Civil Service Savings and LoanSociety is founded on September 3, 1908.

1928 - The Society is incorporated as The CivilService Co-operative Credit Society, Limited(CS CO-OP) by the legislative assembly ofOntario and granted “Charter No. 1” under theCredit Unions Act (the charter was in effectuntil 2005).

1933 - The federal government grants salarycheque deduction privileges to CS CO-OP.

1949 - The University of Toronto Employees’Credit Union (later to evolve as Metro CreditUnion) is formed with 111 members and$1,012 in assets.

1950 - Jet Power Credit Union (later to mergewith Metro Credit Union) is formed for theemployees of A.V. Roe working in Malton.

1953 – The Canadian Parliament offers a loanof $100,000 to CS CO-OP after it declares ashortage of $135,000. New measures areimplemented and the loan is never used.

1956 – Secul Savings & Credit Union Limitedbegins serving Scarborough’s teachers.

1966 - CS CO-OP opens for business in itscurrent premises at 400 Albert Street.

1973 - University of Toronto Employees’ CreditUnion change their name to University andColleges Credit Union (Toronto) Limited.

1975 - University and Colleges Credit Union isnow referred to as Unicoll.

1976 - Ryerson Polytechnical Credit Unionjoins Unicoll.

1977 - CS CO-OP’s by-law amendmentsremove geographical limits, making anyemployee of the federal government or anapproved agency eligible for membership,regardless of employment location.

1978 - The Ontario Share and DepositInsurance Corporation is set-up to insure eachcredit union member’s account up to $20,000.

1982 - CS CO-OP introduces the first ABMnetwork in the Ottawa region.

1983 - Unicoll purchases the Sherwood Bondof Association which allows anyone in theToronto area to join the credit union.

1985 - Through the acquisition of the FederalCivil Servants Credit Union (North Bay), CS CO-OP establishes its first location outsidethe National Capital Region.

1986 - Unicoll acquires Tech Toronto.

1987 - Unicoll acquires the staff of the TorontoBoard of Education Staff Credit Union.

1988 - Unicoll acquires Etobicoke CommunityCredit Union.

1990 - Unicoll introduces off-line Interacservices and Mastercard, and acquires HolyAngels Parish Credit Union.

Alterna Through the Years

6

The Birth of Alterna

“Two Hundred Per Cent”In May 1908, a periodicalpromoting the interests of theemployees of the civil servicefeatured a stirring article. Titled“Two Hundred Per Cent”, itoutlined the astronomical interestrates charged by private lenders –the infamous “loan sharks”. Thearticle’s author pled for theprotection of our civil servantsbecause these loans had suchdisastrous financial implications forits victims. Banks and loancompanies often preferred to spendtheir time, energy and sympathyon large loans rather than mere$100 loans.

At the time, Gabriel-AlphonseDesjardins worked with the federalgovernment. He was already apioneer of the credit unionmovement in Quebec and wasamong the senior members of thecivil service who formed a

committee to remedy the situation.Four months after the articleappeared, The Civil Service Savingsand Loan Society became Canada’sfirst credit union outside ofQuebec. In its early years, it wasoften referred to as “the Society”until it became The Civil ServiceCo-operative Credit SocietyLimited (“CS CO-OP”) in 1928.

UprisingAt first, it took great effort for theSociety to receive legal status.

The difficulty was with the Charterthat the Society received from theprovince of Ontario in 1908. Itwas simply not suitable for a co-operative organization. Noother provincial legislation orCharter existed to meet the needsof the Society. Since legislation wasalready in place in Quebec, officialsconsidered establishing their headoffice in Hull, just across the riverfrom Ottawa. However, some feltthat this would not be a boldenough approach and theysearched for other solutions.

An article written in the 1920s byOtto Waugh /James Lawler(“Pioneer Credit Co-operators”)recounts that after hearing that theSociety was looking foralternatives, an official in Torontothreatened to take the directors tojail if they operated outside of theircharter. One of the directorsresponded that “it would be the

finest thing in the world to go tojail for the crime of helping hisfellow citizens and for taking partin a campaign which the provinceof Ontario was waging against loansharks”. This very threat encouragedmany to take part. As the storygoes, within 10 minutes, enthusiastshad covered the table with chequesand bills to back and support theSociety.

In the end, directors chose to waituntil the province created a charterappropriate to their needs. Untilthen, they operated as a voluntaryassociation and individualmembers took-on the risk andresponsibility of operating afinancial institution.

Crisis AvertedDespite the Great Depression, thecredit union managed to growsteadily. Success was partlyattributed to salary cheque

deductions. This privilege wasgranted to the Society by theFederal Government in 1933 fortwo purposes. Deductions ensuredthat loans were repaid regularly andon time; members could also movefunds to their accounts to save “ina painless way”. Real trouble struckin 1953 when the Society declareda shortage of $135,000. Aninvestigating committee made upof senior government officialsrecommended that the CanadianParliament provide a loan of$100,000 to rescue the Society.Despite the bail-out offer, theSociety put in place a deficitfinancing program, appointedmore efficient administration andadopted a new set of by-laws. Thedeficit was eliminated within twoyears, the credit union was onceagain solvent and the loan wasnever used.

100TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

The University of Toronto Employees’ Credit Union became known as UNICOLL Credit Union in 1975Gabriel-Alphonse Desjardins

The number of members jumpedshortly after World War II andcontinued to increase steadilyafterwards.

It took 42 years for savings to reachthe first $1 million in 1950 but,just 14 years later, savings hadexpanded to an impressive $15.6million.

“The promise of great things”

At about the same time, othergroups of employees in differentparts of the province were realizingsimilar dreams. Jet Power CreditUnion was formed in 1950 for theemployees of A.V. Roe working inMalton. A.V. Roe was the home ofthe famous “Avro Arrow” andexpanded to serve many airline andrelated industry employees in theWest End of Toronto.

In Scarborough, Secul Savings &Credit Union Limited beganserving Scarborough’s teachers in

1956 and continued to do so forthe next 38 years.

Another credit union, theUniversity of Toronto Employees’ Credit Union, was founded onAugust 13, 1949. In his openingremarks at the first Annual GeneralMeeting the following year,President Bill Brown commentedon the great accomplishments of itsmembers during a very short time:

“The growth of the Credit Unionhas far surpassed the wildestdreams of the optimists, and hasastonished the reasoning of thepessimists. Starting withabsolutely nothing but faith in anideal, our members have savedover $13,000 [in one year] whichin turn has permitted over$10,000 to be used by them forprovident and productivepurposes. That only by theunstinted services of a few of theirfellow employees can such aproject get started so that all may

reap the benefits of co-operativebanking and that the future holdsthe promise of great things in theco-operative way of living”.

After just a little more than 25years of operations, the Universityof Toronto Employees’ CreditUnion became the University andColleges Credit Union. Shortlythereafter, it was referred to asUnicoll.

A Growing FamilySome of the optimism of the earlyyears waned as credit unions faceda challenging economic period inthe late 1970s and early 1980s.However, these co-operativesremained committed to the spiritof cooperation and that “faith in anideal” on which they were allfounded.

Throughout the 1970s, 80s and90s, CS CO-OP, Unicoll and JetPower Credit Unions continued to grow. As smaller credit unions

dissolved and joined theseorganizations, their bond ofassociation expanded to accept a wider group of members overlarger territories.

When Secul merged with Unicollin 1994, the new entity becameMetro Credit Union. Jet PowerCredit Union and Metro CreditUnion merged four years later and,finally, Metro Credit Union andCS CO-OP joined forces in 2005to become… Alterna Savings.

Today, Alterna is a proudcontributor to the communities itserves. Approximately 85 cents ofevery dollar deposited into thecredit union is reinvested into ourlocal communities in the form ofpersonal and small business loansand mortgages. We pride ourselvesin the manner in which we canfacilitate global thinking whileallowing members andcommunities to bank locally.

1991 - Unicoll goes on-line with Interac andacquires Graphic Communications CreditUnion.

1992 - CS CO-OP introduces electronicservices cards that give members access toInterac Direct Payment.

1993 - Unicoll acquires Crown Life EmployeesCredit Union and introduces Ethical Funds®. CS CO-OP introduces MagicTouch telephonebanking and the Flexi Term Mortgage.

1994 - Unicoll merges with Secul Savings &Credit Union, new CEO, Howard Bogach joinsthe team and, on November 1st, the creditunion name is officially changed to MetroCredit Union Limited. CS CO-OP opens theMerivale branch in Ottawa and becomes thefirst custodian selected by the Government ofCanada for a self-funded leave program.

1995 - Metro Credit Union acquires Lakeshore(Etobicoke) Community Credit Union. CS CO-OP launches its first web site.

1996 - CS CO-OP partners with the CanadianSpace Agency and the Canadian Snowbirds tointroduce Air Miles on regular and goldMasterCard plans.

1997 - Metro Credit Union launches FinancialAdvisory Services and the TeleService Centre.

1998 - Metro Credit Union merges with JetPower Credit Union. CS CO-OP celebrates its90th birthday and opens membership tovirtually all Ontario residents.

1999 - Metro Credit Union celebrates its 50thanniversary and acquires Oshawa Group CreditUnion and Jumbo Credit Union. CS CO-OPacquires the Pembroke branch of the CaissePopulaire Ste-Anne-Laurier d’Ottawa Inc.Flagship South Keys branch offers CS CO-OP’sfirst drive-through ABM.

2000 - Metro Credit Union relocates the 245College Street branch to 800 Bay Street,consolidates its corporate offices to 165Attwell Drive and introduces HouseholdRelationship Pricing. CS CO-OP converts its

subsidiary CS Loan Corporation into a ScheduleII Bank called CS Alterna Bank.

2001 - The newest CS Alterna Bank branchopens in Gatineau, joining existing branches inOttawa, Hull and Aylmer.

2002 - CS CO-OP joins THE EXCHANGE® ABMnetwork, providing members access to over1,300 ABMs across the country; CS CO-OPalso issues Preferred Shares to raise $15.6million.

2003 - A re-branding initiative trims the nameCS Alterna Bank to Alterna Bank and gives bothorganizations a facelift.

2004 - Metro Credit Union and CS CO-OPconclude successful merger negotiations toform Alterna Savings and Credit Union Limited.

2005 - April 1st –Alterna Savings opens forbusiness offering services to members acrossOntario.

2008 – Alterna celebrates its 100thanniversary.

7100TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

Jet Power Credit Union is formed in 1950 for the employees of A.V. Roe working in Malton Metro Credit Union celebrates its 50th anniversary in 1999 CS CO-OP boardroom

If you are a member of AlternaSavings, you are part of ademocratic organization thatembraces the co-operativeprinciples and philosophy. AlternaSavings’ Annual General Meetingis the perfect opportunity toparticipate.

A Century of Cooperation

This year marks the 100thanniversary of the credit union.For the occasion, we will havespecial events including anhistorical display where you canview memorabilia, pictures andartifacts of the many credit unionswhich formed Alterna. Reminisce

about the past and see how it allstarted.

Time and Location

Mark your calendars for Monday, April 21, 2008.Pre-AGM activities begin at 4:30.The AGM meeting is at 7pm.

Ottawa:Ottawa Congress Centre, Congress Hall, 55 Colonel By Drive.

Toronto: Metro Toronto ConventionCentre, Constitution Hall,North Building, 255 Front Street West.

Voting

This year, we are asking ourmembers to vote on some changesto our by-laws. For yourconvenience, you can cast yourvote electronically in advance ofthe Annual General Meeting.Between March 10 and April 15,2008, visit any branch location orvote online at alterna.ca. Of course, you can also exerciseyour democratic right in person atthe meeting. More informationabout elections and voting will beavailable in March.

Seminar

Learn from the experts themselvesat the pre-AGM seminar. Hostedby Alterna’s Financial AdvisoryServices, this is a popular event.Advance registration is required.

Community Information Fair

To share the co-operative spiritand connect with other memberbusinesses and organizations, whynot visit the Community

Information Fair? To register yourorganization, please emailsusan.henry@alterna.ca beforeMarch 31st, 2008.

More Information

Information packages includingthe meeting agenda and financialstatements will be available 10days prior to the meeting on ourwebsite. Watch for completeinformation about the meeting,elections and electronic votingpasscodes. You can check yourstatement, alterna.ca or yourbranch in March for all the details.Registration also begins in March.

We look forward to seeing you atour Annual General Meeting!

You’re Invited:Annual General Meeting April 21, 2008

In our last edition of SCOOP, we introduced the Alterna Corporate SocialResponsibility (CSR) Idol Program. So many Alterna employees dedicatetheir spare time and effort to improving the communities where we liveand work. For our centennial year, we have launched a new program torecognize one of those exemplary individuals.

The deserving person, the “Alterna Idol” will be chosen by you, ourmembers.

Travelling with the Canadian Co-operative Association, this will be achance of a lifetime for the winner to work with a credit union in adeveloping country and share knowledge and experience.

A panel of judges has selected the top three nominations. Now it’s your turn. It’sup to you, our members, to decide which nominee will be the Alterna Idol. Readon to learn about our nominees. Then, between March 10 and April 15, 2008,cast your vote as part of the 2008 AGM.

8

Francine Dick, Estate Planning/Insurance Specialist,Financial AdvisoryServices:

Chair of ParkdaleCollegiate Institute’sSchool Advisory

Council, Francine has organized the council’sbusiness meetings to include a series of mini-forums for parents for the upcoming year onInternet Safety, What Next After High Schooland more. Francine is also very active in theJewish Community in West Toronto. Sheconducts services for children on Rosh Hashanahand Yom Kippur. She also conducts a PassoverSeder for the community. She has coachedrookie ball at the local park and leads hikesthroughout southern Ontario for an outdoorclub. She is a member of the Roncesvalles-Macdonell Residents’ Association and in 1988ran for Toronto City Council.

Francine’s co-workers said:

“Francine is the definition of community.Francine’s biggest contribution was starting acommunity pot-luck Passover Seder that attractsanywhere from 60-70 people. The tone is one ofinvolvement, warmth and fun. Francine makesthe old stories meaningful and relevant to ourmodern world. Francine is also a single momwho has done an amazing job bringing up herthree children who are now mostly in university.I’m not sure how she found the time to care forher children, go to work and for her community.”

Jill Henry, Payroll Representative,Human Resources:

In addition to herregular duties asPresident of theNational Capital KinClub two years

running, Jill has assisted with a skate-a-thon onthe canal, with fundraising gift wrapping atWestgate Mall and organized and led a FallLeadership Conference for the Kin Service Club.She has also assisted with a Bicycle ExchangeProgram and a Bowl-a-thon in support of CysticFibrosis research. Jill serves as Chairperson andTreasurer for her Church where she leadsmeetings and performs accounting/bookkeepingthroughout the year. She is also the Chairpersonof the Annual Church Picnic in her community.She is a very active volunteer in her smallcommunity and is seen helping out at everylocal fundraising initiative.

Jill’s colleague at the Kin Club said:

“To use the words dedication and commitmentwould be an understatement to describe Jill’sinvolvement in the community. Jill has alwaysbeen there doing whatever is needed to make adifference. Jill is reliable and dependable andmirrors what it truly means to be a volunteer.”

Cathy McLeod, Fraud Analyst, Finance Department:

For the past 7 years,Cathy has volunteeredas a front line workerat the Distress Centreof Ottawa and Region,

a 24 hour confidential telephone service thatassists individuals who require resources, supportor who are experiencing a crisis. Cathy is also amember of the Crisis Intervention Team whichprovides back-up to volunteers on the line, crisisdiffusion and liaison with outside agencies. Inaddition, she is a Peer Tutor at Sage Youth, acharity that provides literacy, academic and life-skills instruction to high risk youth throughoutthe school year. Cathy has also organized, playedand coached 3 different teams registered in theOttawa Sport and Social Club league.

Cathy’s manager at the Distress Centre said:

“Cathy is a dedicated, conscientious member ofour team. She has a highly developed sense ofgiving back to the community. She knows thatwhat we do has a tremendous impact onpeople’s lives. At the ultimate, this service saveslives. In order to do that we need people likeCathy to listen to those who are in pain and in their darkest hour. Cathy is truly attentive toothers and is willing to put their need before her own.”

Francine Dick Jill Henry Cathy McLeod

Vote for your Alterna CSR IdolYour vote

counts!

100TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

We often get asked: “Is Alterna abank, or is it a credit union?” Wellthat’s a very good question, andthe answer is… well… we’re both.

We started as a credit union, built on the co-operative principlesand the vision of our founders 100years ago. Today, we are still acredit union based upon the sameprinciples envisioned by ourfounders. Alterna Savings’ 150,000members also own a bank calledAlterna Bank. A short review ofour history will help explain why.

CS CO-OP, one of our creditunion predecessors mainly servedemployees of the federal publicservice in Ottawa. However, manyof those public service employeesalso lived and worked just acrossthe river in Gatineau, Hull andother neighbouring communities,in the province of Quebec. Creditunions are legislated underprovincial regulations therefore areonly allowed to operate within oneprovince. To ensure that we couldoffer mortgages and loans tomembers living in Quebec, CS CO-OP created a subsidiarycompany named CS LoanCorporation.

In 2000, CS CO-OP turned CSLoan Corporation in to a ScheduleII Bank called CS Alterna Bank(which now operates under thename “Alterna Bank”). CS CO-OP was among the firstcredit unions in the country toown a bank. Since banks areregulated under federal legislation,they can operate throughoutCanada. With its Bank, CS CO-OP could now reachpeople living in Quebec and offerservices similar to what wasavailable to their colleaguesthrough the credit union inOntario. We could now offerservices to people living in otherprovinces who wished to takeadvantage of the Alterna difference.

When CS CO-OP, the creditunion, merged with Metro CreditUnion in April 2005, the newentity adopted the name “AlternaSavings and Credit UnionLimited” (operating as “AlternaSavings”) and continued itsownership of Alterna Bank.Although legally separate, AlternaSavings and Alterna Bank operateday-to-day as one entity called theAlterna Group. We serve themajority of our members throughthe credit union - the parentcompany.

So, if you are a member of AlternaSavings, you own Alterna Bank. Ifyou are a “client” of Alterna Bank,you’ll be happy to know that yourbank is built upon the same co-operative principles as the creditunion.

Although most Alterna Savingsand Alterna Bank products andservices are similar, there are somedifferences. For example, AlternaSavings’ members can only usebranches located in Ontario whileAlterna Bank’s clients can use theAlterna Bank branches located inthe province of Quebec and ourAlterna Savings agency branches inOttawa (more Alterna Bank agencybranches will be coming toOntario in the future).Additionally, some offerings andcommunity programs are onlyavailable in one or the other entityand deposit insurance is slightlydifferent (see below). Finally, onlymembers of Alterna Savings canvote at the Annual GeneralMeeting (AGM).

If you are wondering whether youshould open an account withAlterna Savings, Alterna Bank – or both – give us a call. We willreview your banking needs andhelp you decide if Alterna Savingsor Alterna Bank is best for you.

Kudos to our Alterna Bank employees in Gatineau and Hull! OnNovember 25, 2007, they received an award for their communitycontributions from Marc Bureau, mayor of Gatineau at the 4th annual“Gatineau Ville en Santé” (“Gatineau, Healthy City”) gala. This eventtook place at the salle Odyssée de la Maison de la culture, in front of acrowd of over a 100 along with dance and musical numbers.

The ceremony is a testament of the contribution of individuals, groupsor organizations who “refuse to be spectators but who engage inconcrete action to establish a project that improves the quality of life ofGatineau residents”. Our team of employees was selected by acommittee of members of the media who recognized Alterna Bank asan organization that went beyond its core mission.

The judges were impressed with a fundraising barbeque Alterna Bankemployees held in 2006 to benefit the Journée de rêve Roger Monderie.Roger Monderie is a well-known local hero who, each year, makesdreams come true for children and families in need. The barbequeorganized by Alterna Bank received local media coverage which alsohelped raise awareness.

Alterna Bank employees were pleased to contribute to this initiativebecause it can change the lives of deserving children who most need it.Roger Sauvé, Regional Manager, Alterna Bank Quebec explained thatthey decided to organize this fundraiser because they were touched bywhat Mr. Monderie has been doing. “The “Day of Dreams” isorganized for the children of the region and Mr. Monderie needs thesupport of as many people as possible so that he can give them specialtreats and make the dreams of even more children come true. AlternaBank’s participation not only provides financial support but we hopethat it will also encourage the public and other businesses to getengaged.”

Ted Brown Appointed Manager, Community Account Services

It is with pleasure that we inform you that Ted Brown joined the Alternateam as Manager, Community AccountServices at the beginning of January, 2008.

As you may know, Ted was a former employee of Metro Credit Unionwhere he established, built and maintained our Cooperative HousingInvestment Pool. He was also the account manager for our non-profitmembership segment. Over the last few years, Ted has served Alternaas a Board member. Ted submitted his resignation to the Board and isworking out of our Bay Street Community Banking Centre serving theneeds of our cooperative membership. We are very pleased andfortunate to have someone of Ted’s caliber on our staff to providemembers with an exceptional level of member service.

9

Alterna:Credit Union or Bank?

Gala Hommage

Ted Brown

Lynne Mallette, Roger Sauvé, Sylvie Dagenais, Jennifer Edgar and Jeannine Sicard

ALTERNA BANK

One advantage of doing businesswith Alterna is that we can helpyou plan your investmentportfolio to maximize yourdeposit insurance protection. Thisis helpful, especially if you havehigh levels of savings and youwish to split them betweenAlterna Savings and Alterna Bank.

Alterna Savings is a member ofthe Deposit InsuranceCorporation of Ontario (DICO)while Alterna Bank is a memberof the Canadian DepositInsurance Corporation (CDIC).It is not necessary to apply fordeposit insurance because your deposits are automatically covered

according to the conditions andmaximums that are in place andaccording to whether yourdeposits are with Alterna Savingsor Alterna Bank. DICO andCDIC have different eligibilityrequirements (i.e. not all types ofdeposits are covered) and someadditional conditions may apply.Visit www.dico.com andwww.cdic.ca for all the details.

Your Alterna Credential®

Investment Professional can alsohelp you understand depositprotection and plan yourinvestment portfolio for peace ofmind. Contact us today.

Maximizing your deposit insurance protection with Alterna

10 IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Alterna Savings and the PublicService Alliance of Canada (PSAC)have recently partnered to addressOttawa’s affordable housingshortage. The pension fund ofCanada’s largest federal publicservice workers’ union has invested$2 million at Alterna Savings tocreate the “Alterna CommunityAlliance Housing Fund”.

The first such investment by apension fund in the country, thefunds will be invested at Alternainto a 5 year term deposit. Theywill then be used for 2ndmortgages for developers or othergroups to build, maintain orexpand affordable housing projectsin the National Capital Region.

The Ottawa Community LoanFund, a non-profit organizationthat provides community-focusedfinancing, will be responsible forscreening the projects to ensurethey meet the following criteria:

• Affordable to those most in need of housing

• Affordable in the long term• Constructed by unionized

workers

Other preferred criteria includeenergy efficient housing andwheelchair accessibility.

Ottawa has been suffering from anaffordable housing shortage, withthe waiting list for social housingcurrently at over 11,000. The Cityof Ottawa is also far from meetingits affordable housing target of25%, with less than 15% ofhousing being affordable forfamilies with an annual incomeunder $58,000.

“Alterna Savings is very proud to be working with PSAC andOCLF to address this growingcommunity need in Ottawa. Wewould love to see the fund grow to$100 million dollars over time,and look forward to other pensiongroups and foundationsparticipating in this program,”said Kimberley Ney, Senior VicePresident, Marketing,Communications and CorporateSocial Responsibility, AlternaSavings.

If you are interested in obtainingmore details on the program,please contact:

Kimberley Ney atKimberley.Ney@alterna.ca.

The partnership between theOttawa Community Loan Fund(OCLF) and Alterna to offermicro-credit in Ottawa wasofficially announced at an eventon October 23rd at Ottawa CityHall. Alterna has been workingwith the OCLF since February2007 to provide small loans tomicro-businesses, socialenterprises and new Canadiansfor educational training.

Over 60 community memberswere in attendance, includingCity Councillors, members of theOttawa Chamber of Commerce,local leaders in the non-profitsector, and program participants.Two recipients of loans spokeabout how micro-credit hasbenefited them: entrepreneurNoel Tarabocchia of XSCREAMVideo and Andre Schauz whoreceived a training loan for aprogram at Crossroads TrainingAcademy. He shared his story:

“Thanks to the loan, I couldafford the costs of a trainingprogram. I circulated my resumeless than twelve hours aftergraduating and, within a fewhours, three employers called toset-up a job interview. My firstinterview led to a job and I amnow able to repay the loan toAlterna Savings. Today, I canbetter support myself and mychildren. I was able to see and

experience first hand how thiscommunity works together tohelp others make a positivechange.”

John Gordon, President of PSAC,also announced the AlternaCommunity Alliance HousingFund at that time. A tastybreakfast was provided byKrackers Katering, a socialenterprise and several local mediaoutlets covered the event.

Micro-credit provides financingto individuals, business andorganizations who would not otherwise be able to obtain creditthrough traditional sources.Micro-loans help local residentsreach their potential andcontribute to a strong economy.

“Our partnership with OCLF is part of our commitment todeveloping the communities weserve. Micro-credit is a powerfulanti-poverty tool used around theworld, and it can make adifference in Ottawa andToronto,” says Susan Henry,Alterna’s Manager of CommunityEconomic Development.

The Community Micro LoanProgram has been operating inToronto since 2001. To date, it has issued 433 loans for a total of $1.4 million to micro-entrepreneurs.

Alterna and PSAC Partner to Create Affordable Housing Fund

In the Greater Toronto Area Join all GTA Alterna Savings employees and “Do Right in White” bywearing something white and donating $4 on Thursday, January 31,2008. One hundred per cent of the proceeds from this innovativeawareness campaign will support Windfall Clothing Service, one of theGTA’s most cost-efficient, anti-poverty charities. As Canada’s only newclothing bank, Windfall collects and distributes – free of charge –clothing and other basic-needs items to over 90 social service agencies.Visit www.ww4w.ca for an updated list of “Do Right in White” eventsthroughout the month of January. Donations can be made at any AlternaSavings branch in Toronto or online at www.ww4w.ca.

WW4W Wedding Dress Auction – Getting married and on a budget?

Join the WW4W team on January 18 to 20, 2008 for its AnnualWedding Dress Auction at the Total Wedding Show at the InternationalCentre (International Centre - 6900 Airport Rd. Mississauga). Stunningdesigner wedding gowns, mother-of-the-bride dresses, flower-girl dressesand bridal accessories will be up for grabs at incredible prices – 50% to70% off. Save money, help those in need and look beautiful on yourspecial day!

In the National Capital Region:

Alterna has once again partnered with Ottawa’s Majic 100 radio stationto salute exceptional teachers in the National Capital area. Majicreceives many worthy nominations from parents, students and co-workers for special educators who go above and beyond to make adifference. Once a week, a teacher is chosen from these nominations toreceive the Golden Apple Award. Alterna Savings grants these winners a$500 bursary to put towards a school club, sports team or activity oftheir choice. Congratulations to this year’s winners!

Recent Golden Apple Recipients:

Mrs. Kelly Hamilton, Vincent Massey Public School, Ottawa

Ms. Carole Sweeny, Immaculata High School, Ottawa

Matthew Minter, Sir Wilfred Laurier Secondary School, Orleans

Lorraine Carriere, Fallingbrook School, Orleans

Mrs. Sharon Doggett, St. Joseph’s Catholic High School, Nepean

Madame Josée Huneault, St. Luke School, Nepean

Mrs. Wendy Armstrong, Stonecrest Elementary School, Woodlawn

Mr. Craig Gibson, Fitzroy Centennial Public School, Kinburn

The program continues until the end of the school year. To nominate a teacher, go to www.majic100.fm.

Community Micro Loan ProgramOfficially Launched with Ottawa Event

goldenapple award

Working with Community Partnersfor Social Justice in Ottawa

11NEWS AND TIPS

There are so many simple ways to reduce your environmentalfootprint. From turning off the lights when you leave the room tocomposting, everyone can take part. But when you are ready tomake some bigger changes to your home, the Ontario Ministry ofEnergy and Natural Resources Canada can help you save money.Below are some of the ways you can make your home moreenergy efficient and be eligible for a home retrofit grant.

1. Replace your hot water system with a more efficient unit.

2. Install a solar powered hot water heating system.

3. Install a drain water heat recovery unit.

4. Replace your heating equipment with a geothermal heat pump.

5. Install a heat recovery ventilator that is certified by the Home Ventilating Institute (www.hvi.org).

6. Install an efficient heating and cooling system.

7. Improve home insulation in your attic, exterior walls, basement and crawl spaces.

8. Perform air sealing to improve the air tightness of the home.

9. Replace doors, windows and skylights with models that are ENERGY STAR® qualified.

10. Replace your toilet with a low-flush or dual-flush toilet.

To be eligible for a grant, you must contact a licensed auditorbefore you undertake any changes. A list of auditors can be foundat www.energy.gov.on.ca.

Alterna also offers special rates to help you finance energyretrofits and upgrades. Please contact us for details.

Information courtesy of Village Technologies

Anyone who visits Ottawa has not truly experienced the city untilthey have tasted a BeaverTail® pastry. No, don’t call PETA, they arenot serving up pieces of our national emblem, only deliciouslyunique whole wheat pastries based upon a family recipe stretched tothe size and shape of a beaver’s tail. They are served fresh and pipinghot with your choice of toppings from cinnamon and sugar to garlicbutter and cheese.

Grant Hooker and his wife Pam sold their first BeaverTail in 1978 ata music festival they helped organize. Since establishing a permanentlocation in Ottawa’s ByWard Market, their franchise company,BeaverTails Canada Inc. has expanded to over 100 sites in Canada,the US and abroad.

As owners of a growing business, the Hookers often felt like they hadno identity with the big banks. When Alterna sponsored a festival atwhich Grant Hooker was selling his wares, he was thrilled to discovera credit union to meet his needs. The Hookers found that the valueof their “sweat equity”was finally being recognized.

The Hookers are very pleased with the warm service they receive.“Alterna stepped up to the plate in a spectacular way and financedour restructuring with a line of credit that helped me sleep at night,”said Grant Hooker, “and now, thanks to that support, I am happy toreport that we don’t need it!”

Alterna is very proud of BeaverTails Canada Inc.’s success and isthrilled to count them among our business members!

www.Beavertailsinc.com

BusinessSolutions:A Recipe forSuccess

SaveMoney –

and the Environment too

We are pleased to inform you that members who hold Series 1 Class A Investment Shares (former CS CO-OP) received adividend in September 2007. Future dividend payments will bemade each year subject to declaration of the dividend by theBoard at a minimum rate of 5.63%. In January 2008, memberswith Series 2, Class A Investment Shares (former Metro CreditUnion) also receive a dividend of 5.63% paid on balances as ofDecember 31, 2007. In addition, Alterna Savings will pay a 1%dividend on Bonus Shares to be paid in the form of more BonusShares to eligible former Metro Credit Union members. Thedividend will be calculated on year-end balances, and will be forthe period January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007.

Special Shares Dividends

Grant Hooker, president of BeaverTails Canada Inc.

Card payment processing is vitalto your business. Our partner,Moneris Solutions, offers a singlepoint of contact for acceptingVisa^^, MasterCard®, Amex®

and Interac® payment. Withcompetitive credit and debit cardrates and reliable service andsupport, Moneris offers businessesof any size, type, or industry, avariety of cost-effective solutionsto enhance the customerexperience and build your bottomline. Whether you want to acceptpayments face-to-face, over thephone, or online, Moneris has thesolutions to meet your needs.

Find out more about howMoneris products and servicescan help your business.www.moneris.com, or 1.866.382.7947

®Moneris, the Moneris Solutions logo, and eSELECTplus are registered marks of Moneris Solutions Corporation.^^Registered trademark of VisaInternational Service Association; Moneris is a licensed user. ®MasterCard is a registered trademark of MasterCardInternational Inc. ®Interac is a registeredtrademark of Interac Inc. Used underlicense. ®Amex is a registered trademark of American Express Company.

CardPaymentProcessingMade SimpleAlterna business members: it’s easy to accept cardpayments from your customers.

Ottawa Corporate Office

400 Albert StreetOttawa, ONK1R 5B2

Toronto Corporate Office

165 Attwell DriveToronto, ONM9W 5Y5

Alterna Savings TeleService Centre

Toll Free: 1.877.560.0100Toronto: 416.252.5621Ottawa: 613.560.0100

Alterna Bank TeleService Centre

Toll Free: 1.866.560.0120Gatineau: 819.595.6980Ottawa: 613.560.0120

Website and Online Banking

alterna.ca

FoundingMember of CBSROntario

build my businesswith AlternaBusiness Investment Savings Account 4.25%++

i will

*Interest is calculated daily and paid monthly. Rate is subject to change at any time.

**Mutual funds are offered through Credential Asset Management Inc. and mutual fundsand other securities are offered through Credential Securities Inc. Commissions, trailingcommissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fundinvestments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Unless otherwise stated, mutual fundsecurities and cash balances are not insured nor guaranteed, their values change frequentlyand past performance may not be repeated. Unless otherwise stated, mutual fund securitiesand cash balances are not covered by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation or by anyother government deposit insurer that insures deposits in Credit Unions. Using borrowedmoney to finance the purchase of securities involves greater risk than a purchase using cashresources only. If you borrow money to purchase securities, your responsibility to repay the loanand pay interest as required by its terms remains the same even if the value of the securitiespurchased declines.

Credential Securities Inc. is a Member-CIPF. ®Credential and Credential Securities are registered marks owned by Credential Financial Inc. and are used under licence. ®Ethical is a registered mark owned by Ethical Funds Inc. and is used under licence.

+The return or “interest” you earn on the Market Tracer® is based on the growth of arecognized market index. Returns are not guaranteed. The Market Tracer is a 3-year non-redeemable term deposit with a minimum investment of $500.

Alterna Savings is a member of the Deposit Insurance Corporation of Ontario.

CS Alterna Bank is a member of the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Alterna refers to Alterna Savings and Credit Union Limited (“Alterna Savings”) and its wholly owned subsidiary CS Alterna Bank (“Alterna Bank”).

January 29th 6:30 – 8:00 Lynda Morris (Niclyn Consulting) ontechnology, bookkeeping and taxation

February 25th 6:30 – 8:00Steve Hopkins (Motivational Speaker) on working with different personalities inyour business setting

March 26th 6:30 – 8:00Lynda Morris (Niclyn Consulting) on selling on line

April 28th 6:30 – 8:00Laurie Stephens on how to get the media to promote your business

May 27th 6:30 – 8:00Pamela Stewart, Director Marketing &Communications (Alterna Savings) on branding.

Immediately following our key notespeakers, we will be working with theMentors Circle to share ideas and formbusiness connections.

All sessions are at the Centre for SocialInnovation, 215 Spadina Ave. Suite 400Toronto, ON

Register in advance with Susan Henry,Manager Community EconomicDevelopment, by emailingSusan.Henry@alterna.ca or call416.252.5621

Profit from the power of teamwork and learn how to buildbusiness support groups at no cost to you.

�Business Networking Café

Alterna has more than 4,000business members who benefitfrom a wide range of Alternaproducts and services. And whatwe offer are products and servicesspecifically designed to help ourmembers meet their businessobjectives.

Thanks to our local expertise,you can also count on personaland responsive advice to fit yourneeds, whether you have 100employees or none at all. Alternaemployees work and live in thesame community you do, so weknow the particular challengesyou face in your market.

At Alterna, we also understandthat you need to focus on yourbusiness. That’s why we focus onhelping you do that.

We recently introduced theBusiness Investment SavingsAccount to help your investmentsearn you more money. Thisaccount delivers an exceptionallyhigh rate of return and yourfunds are not locked-in++. There isno minimum balance and it isflexible – you can easily accessyour money when you need it.

Alterna’s suite of products andservices includes everything elseyou need: custom mortgages

specifically designed for yourbusiness, loans and lines of credit,business accounts and cardpayment processing (see Monerisright). But being a businessowner is also about you! We willgive you advice on selecting thepersonal account to fit you.

You can learn more about thecredit union difference for yoursmall or medium business at:canadascreditunions.com.

Or, make an appointment withus today.

++some conditions apply.Interest rate subject to change.

BUSINESS SOLUTIONS