An Example for Today’s Credit Union Pioneers

An Example for Today’s Credit Union Pioneers

107 views
0

Republished from chipfilson.com

In 1925, Michigan passed its first credit union act. A brief article, published November 21, 1925 in the Grand Rapids Press, reported on efforts to implement this new authority with the following lead: “Roy F. Bergengren, Boston Secretary of the Credit Union National Extension Bureau conferred with several business men and Association of Commerce officials Saturday regarding organization of credit unions in Grand Rapids.”

The article then describes what credit unions are and their purpose, which was “to help members and give them good credit standing.”

The final paragraph records a powerful example of the cooperative’s appeal Bergengren used in his talk, “Fifteen telephone girls in Boston organized a credit union with $4.50 in total funds. The credit union now has 13,000 members and $280,000 in total funds.”

From small seeds

While learning the immediate reactions to his pioneering proselytizing would require more research, today Michigan has 219 credit unions headquartered in the state, serving over 5.5 million members and managing $67 billion in assets. Credit unions hold 20% of all financial deposits making Michigan one of the most heavily credit-unionized states in the country.

From a small seed mighty results have emerged. How might Bergengren react to the fruits of his labors almost a century later? With satisfaction? Or perhaps with questions such as:

  • Where are today’s credit union pioneers?
  • What seeds are they planting?
  • What partnerships are they building in their communities?
  • How have the members benefited from the growth of credit unions?

My sense is that he would be asking questions knowing that the answers will condition the future of the credit union movement in Michigan. While brief, the article illustrates several timeless factors necessary for today’s cooperative entrepreneurs who seek to further the work of the original Credit Union National Extension Bureau.

Author

  • Chip Filson

    A nationally recognized leader in the credit union industry, Filson is an astute author, frequent speaker, and consultant for the credit union movement. He has more than 40 years of experience in government, financial institutions, and business. Chip co-founded Callahan and Associates. Filson has held concurrent positions at the NCUA as president of the Central Liquidity Facility and Director of the Office of Programs, which includes the NCUSIF and the examination process. He holds a magna cum laude undergraduate degree in government from Harvard University. After being awarded a Rhodes Scholarship, he earned a master’s degree in politics, philosophy, and economics from Oxford University in England. He also holds an MBA in management from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School in Chicago.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *