OTTAWA - March 3, 2026 – Alterna Savings and Credit Union Limited (Alterna) has achieved an impressive milestone, being recognized as one of the National Capital Region's Top Employers for the 10th consecutive year. This achievement demonstrates our unwavering commitment to creating an exceptional workplace where our team members genuinely thrive. The announcement was made in the Ottawa Citizen and on the job search engine Eluta.ca.

"Reaching this 10-year milestone feels incredible," said Rob Paterson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Alterna. "What makes this recognition special isn't just the longevity – it's how our team continues to embody the collaborative spirit and excellence that defines who we are. While we've grown, with our recent acquisition of Tandia Financial and expanded our reach across Ontario, our focus remains on creating a workplace where people build lasting careers and make a genuine difference in our communities."

This decade-long recognition reflects the measurable impact of Alterna's people-first approach. Our commitment to fostering an exceptional workplace culture is evidenced through multiple indicators, from employee engagement to professional development outcomes.

Building on a foundation of excellence

Alterna's last engagement survey achieved an exceptional 95% participation rate – towering 23 points above the global average. The results showcase strengths that significantly outpace Canadian benchmarks:

• Team connection: 91% feel part of a team (+8 points above average)

• Leadership effectiveness: 84% rate managers as highly effective (+8 points above average)

• Employee value: 81% believe Alterna genuinely values their contribution (+9 points above average)

• Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging: 90% affirm our strong inclusive culture

Investing in our people's growth

Our commitment to employee development yielded impressive results, with 64 team members promoted to new levels of responsibility within the organization during the review period. This internal advancement reflects our belief that when our people grow, our entire community benefits.

Alterna provides comprehensive professional development opportunities, including membership to the Credit Union Executive Society (CUES) for all employees, access to Harvard ManageMentor resources, and full financial support for role-related education and certifications.

Evolving our culture together

Building on our strong foundation, Alterna embarked on an exciting cultural evolution in late 2024, with the launch of a purpose statement, motto and refreshed values in January 2026. This strategic transformation goes beyond traditional banking service to create uniquely memorable experiences for both our members and team members.

"We're not just maintaining our workplace excellence – we're pioneering what it means to build meaningful relationships in financial services," added Mr. Paterson. "This evolution empowers our teams to anticipate the needs of our members and colleagues, allowing us to make every interaction extraordinary."

Community impact that matters
Community involvement remains central to our identity and a key factor in employee attraction and retention. Our team's dedication to making a difference includes:

• Generating $4.37 in community impact for every $1 we loan through our award-winning Community Microfinance Program

• Disbursing over $10 million in microfinance loans since the program's inception in 2000

• Supporting over 100 financial education workshops and events

• Empowering employees with paid volunteer time to contribute to causes they care about

"At Alterna, we foster a caring, collaborative work environment that empowers our people and provides meaningful opportunities to build rewarding careers," said Paterson. "Guided by our proudly Canadian spirit and our motto – we connect, we listen, we act, we're proud of the positive impact our team makes both within our organization and throughout the communities we serve."

About The National Capital Region's Top Employers

The National Capital Region's Top Employers is an annual competition organized by the editors of Canada's Top 100 Employers. This special designation recognizes employers in the Ottawa-Gatineau metropolitan area that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work. Find out more by visiting CanadasTop100.com/Ottawa.

For more information about careers at Alterna visit www.alterna.ca/en/about-us/careers.

Media Contacts:

John Nevins

Director of Communications Alterna Savings | Alterna Bank 

E: john.nevins@alterna.ca