Connex CU Logo

Dear Members,

Happy New Year! 

I hope you enjoyed a joyful and memorable holiday season with family and friends. As we begin 2026, I want to thank you for your continued trust in Connex, which was supported by your comments and scores in our recently received Net Promotor Survey results. I will share more details later, but let me say how grateful I continue to be to serve such a thoughtful and committed group of members like yourselves. Your membership allows us to invest in our people, our technology, and the communities we serve, while staying focused on our long-term strength and adding member value. 

As we close out this 85th year of our vibrant history of service, I am proud of what we have accomplished together and excited about the opportunities ahead. With your continued support, Connex enters the New Year well-positioned to grow, invest, and serve our members and communities even better than the last 85 years!

New Features Coming in 2026!

I am excited to share that we are in the process of redesigning our Digital Banking platform to make managing your money simpler, faster, and more personal. In this new experience, you can expect:

• Simpler navigation: Quickly find what you need without clicking through menus. Your most-used features will be front and center.
• Homepage customization: Personalize your dashboard by choosing which widgets and accounts you see first, organize and name it your way.
• Clearer alerts and messages: Stay on top of important updates and account activity right when you log in. 
• Quick insights and actions: View balances, recent transactions, and loan info at a glance and act on them instantly.
• Cohesive experience: Enjoy the same clean, consistent design across Online and Mobile Banking.

I am also pleased to announce that in the first quarter, we will be introducing the popular Zelle® application. Zelle is a quick and secure way to send and receive money with friends, family, and people you trust – all within our familiar Connex Online and Mobile Banking platform. With just an email address or U.S. mobile phone number, you can move money between bank accounts in just minutes. Best of all, it is completely free for our members, and there are no extra apps to download once you are enrolled. Your account details stay private, with only your recipient seeing your name, email, or mobile number. Keep an eye out for updates on how to enroll and start using Zelle with your Connex account. It’s just one more way we’re making your money move at the speed of life.

Our goal at Connex has always been to provide you with the best banking experience possible. These digital banking enhancements are just a few of the new features and benefits we are adding to improve your experience banking with us. Stay tuned for more updates on these and new features coming in the near future! 

Business Checking Accounts Can Now be Opened Online! 

I am also thrilled to share that you can now open a Connex Business Checking Account online! We understand your time is valuable and that you may not be able to get to a branch. We also understand that small businesses need flexible checking solutions without excessive restrictions or unnecessary fees. That is why Connex offers three Business Checking options designed to help your business move forward, all supported by powerful financial tools, valuable services, and dedicated local support in one convenient place. 

Select the business checking account that is right for you:

• Complete Business Checking: no monthly fee 
• Complete Business Checking Plus: no monthly fee with a $1,000 minimum balance (otherwise, a $14.95 fee applies) and balances earn 0.10% Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
• Complete Business Checking Non-Profit: no monthly fee and balances earn 0.10% APY 

Every Connex Business Checking account includes no fees for deposited checks or rolled coins, no cash deposit processing fees, access to Clover® Merchant Services, a free first box of checks, free online banking with bill pay, a free Business VISA® debit card, and a complimentary endorsement stamp. 

Please visit our website for full disclosures, more information, and now to open your Connex Business Checking account. You can also visit a Financial Advocate at one of our local branches and discover the best financial business solution for you and your small business. 

Orange Branch Upgrades

Renovations at our Orange branch, located at 212 Boston Post Road, are nearly complete! When you visit, you will notice a refreshed teller line along with new carpeting, paint, and furniture. These updates bring new energy to the space, enhance the overall member experience, and create a welcoming, modern environment for everyone who visits. We are excited to deliver this much-needed refresh, one that both our members and employees will enjoy equally.

Investments like these are made possible because of the long-term financial success of the credit union. We remain committed to strengthening our facilities and information systems while continuing to make meaningful investments in our employees as we build for the future.

Net Promoter Results 

As noted earlier, the needs of our members play a critical role in guiding how we invest our limited resources, which is why it is essential that we repeatedly ask how we are doing and where we can do better. Each year, we conduct a Net Promoter Survey centered on one simple but powerful question: “Would you recommend Connex to a family member or friend?” This survey gives our members a direct voice and provides valuable insight into how we can continue to improve.

Last quarter, I shared that I would be reporting back on the results of our annual Member Satisfaction Survey, and I am pleased to give you some additional details now. Thanks to your strong participation and thoughtful feedback, I am happy to report that Connex achieved a Net Promoter Score of 70.3%, well above the credit union industry average of 66.8% and significantly higher than the national banking average of 30.0%.

While survey responses continued to be led by long-tenured members with seven or more years at Connex, we saw encouraging gains among newer members. Satisfaction among members who joined within the past year increased from 66.5% to 73.6%, and among those who joined within the past one to three years, from 68.1% to 73.4%, reflecting meaningful improvements in the member experience. Additionally, ITM Live Teller Machines showed the most significant growth, rising from 69.3% to 78.4%, highlighting strong adoption and growing satisfaction with this service channel.

I would like to extend a warm welcome to our newest members and a sincere thank-you to everyone who took the time to share feedback. Your input truly helps shape Connex and ensures we continue to serve you, our members, well.

Members and Community Impacted by Government Shutdown 

During the recent government shutdown, some of our members faced financial challenges, and Connex stepped in to provide support through two helpful programs:

• Skip-a-Pay: Members with a Personal or Auto loan had the option to skip-a-payment, with the one-time application fee waived.
• Government Shutdown Assistance Loan: We offered a short-term loan at a low fixed rate of 2.99% Annual Percentage Rate (APR), with the first payment deferred for 60 days from the loan funding.

These programs were designed to provide relief and peace of mind during a challenging time, reflecting Connex’s commitment to supporting our members when they need it most.

We also saw firsthand how the shutdown impacted families across our area. Addressing food insecurity is a central part of how Connex supports our communities. Thanks to the generosity of our members and employees, we recently donated over six hundred pounds of non-perishable food to Master’s Manna, a local food pantry in Wallingford. Established in 2006, Master’s Manna provides vital assistance to homeless, near-homeless, and low-to-moderate income families throughout the greater Wallingford-Meriden area. Through partnerships like these, Connex is proud to help ensure that families in need have access to nutritious food and essential resources, reinforcing our commitment to strengthening the communities we serve.

Connex was also proud to sponsor Stuff-A-Bus once again, a longstanding community food drive benefiting Connecticut Foodshare. As part of this year’s efforts, Connex made an in-kind donation of $2,500 and a special delivery of twenty-five frozen turkeys to ensure that families facing food insecurity enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving meal. For many years, the Stuff-A-Bus campaign has brought together community members, local organizations, and volunteers to help fill Connecticut Foodshare’s shelves ahead of the holiday season. 

Other Awards and Community Efforts 

I am immensely proud to share that Connex received several awards during our 85th Anniversary year. First, we were voted America’s Best Regional Banks and Credit Unions 2025 by Newsweek, received Record-Journal’s Reader’s Choice 2025 award for Best Credit Union, and the Credit Union League of Connecticut’s Direct Marketing Award for our 85th Anniversary initiatives. We also received three awards from SIA (Service Industry Advertising): Gold for both Digital Video and Outdoor Home Loans Advertising, and Silver for Digital Video Advertising – Deposits. 

For more than 85 years, Connex has been proud to give back to the communities we serve, supporting local organizations, charitable initiatives, and programs that make a meaningful difference in the lives of our members and neighbors.

Connex announced a donation of $2,500 to Middlesex Hospital’s goPINK Program, supporting local patients in their fight against breast cancer. The funds were raised throughout October, recognized nationally as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, through a community-driven initiative that Connex members and employees joined in on.

To raise funds, Connex branches sold pink bracelets for $5, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting goPINK. To further the impact of member and employee contributions, Connex matched donations up to $1,000. In addition, employees showed their solidarity by wearing pink on October 24th to help raise awareness and spark meaningful conversations about early detection and prevention.

We also sponsored the Powerhouse Gym Berlin 5k Road Race on Thanksgiving morning. One hundred percent of our $2,500 sponsorship and race proceeds went to support Family Promise of Central CT, Major Steven Andrews Fishing Outreach Program for Disabled Vets, Training Motivation Center for underserved New Britain youth, Berlin VFW Post 10732, and the Berlin Volunteer Firefighters. 

And, as part of this year’s annual Holiday Give, Connex members and employees donated more than six hundred toys, clothing, personal hygiene items, and more, and made an in-kind donation of $1,500 to Family Centered Services of Connecticut. Family Centered Services of CT is proud to be the first agency to address domestic violence alongside child abuse. They help to create safe, nurturing homes where children can succeed. 

I am incredibly grateful to our members and employees for their continued dedication and commitment to making a meaningful difference in the communities we serve. Your trust, engagement, and passion for helping others are at the heart of everything we do. Because of your collective efforts, Connex can strengthen neighborhoods, support local families and businesses, and live out our mission of people helping people every day.

ConnexCares to Award Charitable Grants

As Connex’s official charitable entity, ConnexCares is dedicated to addressing critical community needs by promoting financial literacy, supporting educational financial assistance, improving children’s health outcomes, addressing food insecurity, and engaging in meaningful volunteer and philanthropic efforts throughout the greater New Haven area. To support this mission, Connex established a Charitable Donation Account with an initial investment of $5 million, with a goal of contributing at least $500,000 in investment earnings to ConnexCares over the next five years.

In 2023, ConnexCares launched its Grant Program to support nonprofit organizations that deliver programs or services aligned with at least one of its three core pillars: financial literacy, children’s health, and food insecurity, within the communities we serve. Since the program’s inception, ConnexCares has awarded nearly $200,000 in grant funding.

For the current grant cycle, we received dozens of applications from local, deserving organizations. The ConnexCares Board is now undertaking the thoughtful and challenging process of determining grant recipients. We expect to complete the review process and announce awards by the end of next month. Good luck to those that applied!

The next grant cycle will be open from January 1 and close on June 30, 2026. Eligible organizations are encouraged to visit connexcu.org and apply. We look forward to partnering with organizations that share our commitment to making a positive difference in our communities.

ConnexCares: Scholarships

The ConnexCares Board is happy to remind members that last year we increased our scholarship opportunities from four scholarships to fifteen. This wonderful initiative will undoubtedly have a significant and positive impact on recipients and the community. These additional eleven $2,000 scholarships reflect our commitment to supporting education and highlight Connex’s dedication to making a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals. Please look for more information on these scholarships on our website, connexcu.org, in the coming weeks. 

Connex Retirements

Debra Spalding, our dedicated Accounts Payable Specialist, has been an integral part of Connex for over 26 years. She began her career with Southern New England Telephone before joining Connex in the Core 1 department, where she handled mail and processed loan payments with care and precision. Her attention to detail and commitment quickly became evident, leading her to a long-standing role in Accounting, where she continues to support the organization with professionalism, expertise, and a steadfast dedication to her colleagues and the members we serve. Thank you, Debra, for your dedication and service to our members.

Kathleen O’Connor joined Connex Credit Union in 1984 as a part-time teller, anticipating a short-term role. Instead, she built a remarkable 40+ year career marked by dedication, growth, and leadership, ultimately retiring as Assistant Vice President of Lending. Over the course of her tenure, Kathleen held ten distinct roles across the organization, each contributing to the strength and evolution of Connex. Her professionalism, institutional knowledge, and unwavering commitment have left a lasting impact on both her colleagues and the members she served. Thank you, Kathleen, for over four decades of unwavering commitment, leadership, and genuine care.

As we are beginning a new year, I also want to assure you that your credit union is on a strong financial footing and is one of the most successful credit unions in the state. We expect to receive a “clean” audit opinion from our external accounting firm, Whittlesey, on our September 2025 fiscal statements.  

Thank you for your membership and for placing your continued trust in Connex. Your support allows us to grow, serve our community, and invest in the people and technology that helps us provide the best possible experience for every member. We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with you on your financial journey and remain committed to delivering value, stability, and service on which you can rely.