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Dear Members,

Connex is more than a place to do your banking; it’s a community. As a credit union, we know our strength lies in our members, employees, and communities. For more than 85 years, we have been committed to helping individuals, families, and small businesses along their journeys to reach their financial possibilities. I am proud of the impact Connex has had in the first quarter of 2026 and am excited to share some of our work with you.

Member and Community Impact Report

Our fourth Member and Community Impact Report (MCIR) is nearly complete and will be available this week on our website at connexcu.org under “Member Info & Resources.” Unlike a traditional financial statement, our MCIR highlights the impact Connex has had on our members, employees, and the communities we diligently serve, while also outlining several areas on which we will continue to focus.
 

A highlight of our MICR is the total member giveback of more than $11 million, including ATM refunds, dividends, fee refunds, and more. We also proudly helped 118 families achieve the dream of homeownership, with 23% of those being first-time homebuyers and 25% representing low- to moderate-income households. In addition, Connex contributed more than $172,000 in charitable donations, and our employees volunteered over 1,000 hours in the communities we serve.
 

I hope you will take a few moments to review our MICR and learn more about these accomplishments and others. The MCIR demonstrates how Connex, with you as an owner-member, remains committed to supporting all our members and strengthening our communities. Our entire staff believes that when you bank better, you can live better.

ConnexCares: Scholarships

We are continuing to invest in our younger members by offering $30,000 in scholarships to college-bound students. We’re awarding fifteen $2,000 scholarships next month: the Nicolas G. Hackett Memorial STEM Scholarship, the John R. Edwards Community Involvement Scholarship, the Arthur B. Haesche Memorial Scholarship, the Dave F. Clark Arts & Music Scholarship, five Merit Scholarships for those who live in New Haven, West Haven, and Hamden, and six Merit Scholarships for those who live in Hartford, Middlesex, New Haven, and Fairfield counties. These are awarded to deserving student members who can use the money toward tuition or other school-related expenses. I encourage you to look for our announcements in the coming weeks and I will keep you posted on the winners after their names are announced.

ConnexCares Awards $30,000 in Charitable Donations

As the official charitable entity of Connex, ConnexCares works to address community needs by promoting financial literacy, supporting educational opportunities, improving children’s health, and addressing food insecurity – all the while engaging in volunteer and philanthropic efforts throughout the greater New Haven area. With an initial investment of $5 million from Connex, we expect that ConnexCares will continue to make at least $500,000 in donations over the next five years.

During our recent grant application cycle, ConnexCares received dozens of submissions from well-deserving local nonprofit organizations. Our ConnexCares Board faced the challenging task of selecting which organizations would receive grant funding – a decision that was made with great care and consideration. Ultimately, six nonprofit organizations were selected, and ConnexCares awarded a total of $30,000 in charitable grants. I’m proud to share the recipients of these grants with you: All Together Healing, Wealth Beacon Group Foundation, Trachouse Cares Foundation, Inc., The National Veterans Council for Legal Redress, Engineering Science University Magnet School, and Children in Placement. Congratulations to all the grant recipients and thank you for the work you do in our community.

As President and CEO of Connex, I am grateful to the ConnexCares Board for their thoughtful work in reviewing the many applications and making these difficult decisions. I am proud that we can support so many outstanding nonprofit organizations in their tireless efforts to strengthen and give back to our communities. There is more to come, and ConnexCares is currently accepting new grant applications. Please visit connexcu.org and click on the ConnexCares tab to submit your application.
 

Business Checking Solutions

For our small business members, we’ve recently helped many owners transition their banking relationships to Connex after experiencing high fees, high minimum balance requirements, and poor service elsewhere. We understand that business owners need a flexible checking account that supports their operations without unnecessary restrictions or excessive fees. Connex offers three Business Checking accounts designed to help move your business forward, providing financial tools, convenient services, and dedicated support all in one place.

All Connex Business Checking accounts can be opened online and include no fees on deposited checks or rolled coins, no fees for cash deposit processing, access to Clover® Merchant Services, a free first order of checks, free online banking with bill pay, a free endorsement stamp, and a free Business VISA® debit card. You can also link your Connex Business Debit Card to VISA® SavingsEdge® at no cost and turn everyday spending into savings. Once your card is linked, you’ll gain access to hundreds of cash back offers to help reduce business expenses and everyday purchases—from gas and restaurants to business services and more.

Choose the business checking account that fits your needs:

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

Also, watch for our business specials coming in May to recognize National Small Business Month. Visit connexcu.org for full disclosures, to apply online, or speak with a financial advocate at one of our local branches to find the best financial solution for your small business.

Your Security Is Our Priority

In recent months, we’ve been alerted that some Connex members have received phone calls from individuals posing as employees of Connex. These calls may appear legitimate, even displaying our name and phone number, but caller ID can be easily manipulated and should not be relied upon to verify a caller’s identity. In some instances, fraudsters may also trigger a “push notification” on your mobile device and ask you to respond.

Please remember: Connex will never contact you by phone, email, or text message to request sensitive personal information. This includes your PIN, passwords, security codes, account numbers, usernames, Social Security number, date of birth, or any other confidential details.

To further protect you, we’ve enhanced security for Online and Mobile Banking. Our multifactor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of protection against fraud and identity theft by verifying your identity using both your login credentials and your device. If we don’t recognize the computer or mobile device you’re using, you’ll be asked to confirm your identity via a one-time verification code sent by text or voice call. This ensures secure access while still allowing you to log in from any device.

When enrolling in Online or Mobile Banking, you’ll need to provide a phone number to receive your access codes. You can register up to two phone numbers, and you’ll need access to one of them each time verification is required.

We are committed to safeguarding your information and continuously work to educate both our staff and members about evolving fraud risks. If you ever suspect a call or message may be fraudulent, hang up and contact us directly. If you believe your account may be at risk, please call us immediately at 1-800-CR-UNION or (203) 603-5700.

Our Newest Features

In January, we introduced the popular Zelle® funds application. Zelle is a quick and secure way to send and receive money with friends, family, and people you trust 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 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. For more information and to enroll, visit connexcu.org/Services/Zelle. It’s just one more way we’re making your money move at the speed of life.

I also hope you’re also enjoying our newly redesigned Digital Banking platform. It’s built to make managing your money easier, faster, and more personalized. With this enhanced experience, you can:

• Easily navigate and find what you need quickly, with your most-used features at your fingertips—no extra clicks required
• Stay informed with improved alerts and clear, timely updates as soon as you log in
• Customize your homepage by selecting the widgets and accounts you want to see first, organized your way
• Enjoy a seamless experience across both Online and Mobile Banking
• View balances, recent transactions, and loan details at a glance, and take action instantly

I’m also pleased to remind you about Goal Builder, a free digital savings tool available through your Connex Online and Mobile Banking accounts. It makes it easy to set aside money for specific financial goals, all in one secure, convenient place.

In just a few simple steps, you can start saving for what matters most, whether it’s a vacation, education, a rainy-day fund, or something uniquely yours. Choose from ten preset categories or create a goal of your own. Goal Builder supports both one-time contributions and automatic recurring transfers, giving you flexibility and control. You can track and manage your progress anytime from your desktop or smartphone, making it easy to see your savings grow and your goals come to life. Goal Builder is just one of the many tools now available through our new core processing system, designed to deliver a more powerful and personalized banking experience.

At Connex, our goal has always been to deliver the best possible banking experience. These enhancements are just some of the many improvements we’re introducing to better serve you.

Promotions at Connex

In late January, André Johnson was promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer, reporting directly to me. This promotion recognizes André’s significant contributions to Connex, as well as the growing strategic role technology plays in financial services, especially as we advance our digital strategy in the months ahead.

As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, André and I have already been working closely together on initiatives that enhance our member experience, strengthen operational efficiency, and support long-term growth. This title and reporting update formally reflect the leadership, expertise, and impact he brings to Connex each day. We’re excited about the continued momentum this alignment will bring to both our organization and our members.

Most Valuable Advocate (MVA) – 2025 Winner

Our Most Valuable Advocate (MVA) program honors an employee whose interaction made a meaningful difference in a member’s experience. MVA recipients exemplify our

Advocacy Promises:

• We act in our members’ best interests
• We partner with members to understand their financial needs and provide solutions that enhance their lives
• We deliver service that is responsive, simple, fast, and friendly

Congratulations to our 2025 MVA Winner, Trinity Ferraiolo, who was also recently promoted to Branch Manager in Meriden. Trinity demonstrated exceptional dedication by truly understanding members’ needs, delivering tailored financial solutions, and providing outstanding member experience.

Thank you, Trinity, for helping our members achieve their financial possibilities.
 

Annual Meeting

The 2026 Connex Annual Meeting will take place virtually via Zoom on Friday, April 24, at 11:00 a.m. As customary, we will provide reports from representatives of the Board of Directors and the Supervisory Committee. These members, who selflessly volunteer their time to help oversee and monitor your credit union, will present their reports to the membership. In addition, the results of the Board elections will be formally announced and recorded.

If you would like to attend, you must register for this event on our website by April 21, 2026. To register, you must be at least 18 years old and have been a Connex member as of December 31, 2025, with a minimum balance of $25 in your share savings account.

As we end the first quarter of the 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 received 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.