As of September 15, 2025, Peoples Telephone Coop has shifted to a Last-In, First-Out (LIFO) method of patronage distribution. Meaning, the most recent allocations – in this case from 2024 – are distributed first.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss your specific account, please contact our capital credits support team at 903-878-9989 or capitalcredits@gopeoples.net.
Capital Credits
You become a member of Peoples Telephone Cooperative when you purchase telecommunications services from Peoples.
Each year, after expenses are paid, Peoples calculates margins (leftover funds).
These margins are used to pay down debt, invest in network and improve projects and allocate to members as capital credits based on patronage.
If financial conditions allow, Peoples retires (returns) capital credits to members on a Last-In, First-Out method.
FAQ’s
Cooperative members are subscribers within the Peoples Telephone Coop footprint. Subscribers within the ‘gray’ areas would qualify for membership.
As a cooperative, we are owned by our members. Your capital credits are your amount of patronage capital which is the margin or profit left over each fiscal year after Peoples pays all its expenses. This is allocated in proportion to your billings.
Patronage capital is allocated and assigned to members as capital credits based on the amount of business they conduct with Peoples during the year. The more business a member does with Peoples during the year, the larger their portion of the patronage capital will be.
Capital credits must remain with your cooperative for a certain amount of time. They are used to pay operating expenses and to invest in new technology and services while providing quality services to our members.
To collect capital credits for an estate, contact our team for the necessary paperwork. If you would like to simply donate the balance on the capital credit account to the Peoples Impact Foundation, we will be happy to send you the donation form.
Allocations are the amount of capital credits that will be due to you at a later time. This amount is based on your patronage with Peoples. When the Board of Directors approves a retirement of capital credits, they will determine the fiscal year(s) and portion to distribute.
Capital credits that were allocated during the time you were a member will be retired (returned) to you as they are approved for distribution even if you are not an active member. So be sure to update Peoples with mailing address and contact information.
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