Desjardins CU Group Earnings Up 28% in3Q

LEVIS, Quebec - (11/15/04) The Desjardins credit union groupreported third-quarter surplus earnings before dividends to membersof $342 million, up by $75 million or 28% from the previous year.Desjardins said its overall return on equity rose to 19.8%. As ofSept. 30, total assets were up 8.2% to $104.3 billion, butdividends to members were $272 million through the first ninemonths of the year, compared to $332 million for the same periodlast year.