On Friday, August 17, 2018, Mid-Rivers Communications mailed capital credit checks of $1,022,500.00 to its cooperative members and patrons. The 2018 distribution of capital credits includes 17% of the remaining unretired balance for the year 1994, as well as 5% of the 2017 patronage allocation.

Receiving capital credit checks is just one of the many benefits of utilizing the services of a cooperative. A cooperative business is owned and democratically-controlled by its member patrons. Any profit is distributed to patrons in proportion to their use, or “patronage,” of the cooperative's services. Mid-Rivers uses both the “first-in, first-out” and the percentage methods of distribution, to allow both new and past patrons the opportunity to share in the benefits of the cooperative by receiving capital credit checks.

Payment of capital credits is made only if the financial condition of the cooperative permits, as determined by the Board of Trustees. Mid-Rivers' financial condition has allowed regular and substantial payment of capital credits in recent years. Long-term financial forecasts, however, include declining revenues due to regulatory and other changes in the industry. Combined with the need for additional member capital to extend fiber facilities in rural and remote areas, this may affect Mid-Rivers' ability to continue to make regular or substantial capital credit payments in future years.

Including the 2018 payment, Mid-Rivers has returned approximately $42.7 million in capital credits to its members.