Anyone who’s heard me speak over the years has probably heard me tell the story of Tennessee’s first credit union, born on Monteagle Mountain more than a century ago.
It started with a small group of dairy farmers who believed that by working together, they could achieve something far greater than any one of them could alone. They pooled their resources, determined to free their neighbors from the grip of local loan sharks and provide fair, community-based financial support. From those humble beginnings in a small community house on the mountain, the credit union movement took root. This movement now spans billions of dollars in assets and touches millions of lives across our nation.
A Day to Reflect and Recommit
International Credit Union Day gives us the chance to pause and reflect on what makes this movement so special. Credit unions are more than financial institutions—we are partners in the lives of our member-owners.
We understand that every member’s story is different: a young family buying their first home, a small business owner seeking to grow, or someone who just needs two new tires to get to work safely. Whatever the need, credit unions have always been there, ready to step up, listen and serve.
As I reflect on this movement, I am reminded of some of the remarkable individuals who contributed to its development. Names like Betty Hobbs, Wayne Hope, Jeff Gray, Blake Strickland, L.H. Daniels, Bill Jenkins, Charlotte McNeil, Calvin Ridenhour, Linda Childs, Sandy Lingerfelt, John Holloway, Gary Land, Flo Wooten, Tom Hipps, Donna Bruce, David Wilson, Geraldine Cardwell, Judy Mills, Jerry Arnold, Sam Miller, Lamar Eaker, Alwin Girdner, Tom Gaines, Becca Montgomery, Charles Brock, Jim Phillips, Roy Pruitt, Harvey Overstreet and Wanda Mason—just to name a few.
Each of them worked with one thing in mind—helping their members. They did it without fanfare, often without pay that matched the effort and with hearts full of service. They stayed late, worked weekends and showed up wherever their members needed them. I know I’ve left out many deserving names. There are thousands of unsung heroes who made today’s credit union system possible. I’d love to hear from you about the names and stories that should be added to this list, because remembering them keeps our movement grounded in its purpose and inspires the leaders of tomorrow.
The Ripple Effect of Service
Our movement is built on cooperation, compassion and community. Together, credit unions form a system that ensures our friends and neighbors have access to financial services that truly improve their lives.
I often think about the many credit union professionals who retire each year and wonder if they truly know the depth of their impact. They might remember the family they helped keep their lights on or the member who finally qualified for that long-awaited car loan, but what they may not see is the ripple effect of their service.
Every loan, every word of advice and every act of kindness has changed lives in ways that can’t be measured. Here in Tennessee alone, 2.5 million members belong to credit unions. But when you consider the families, businesses and communities they touch, the reach extends into the tens of millions.
Honoring Our Pioneers and Building Our Future
As we celebrate this day, let’s remember those dairy farmers on Monteagle Mountain and the countless pioneers who came after them. Let’s carry their spirit forward by continuing to dream boldly, serve faithfully, and never accept limitations on what we can do for our members.
Working in this movement has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I can’t imagine my career—or my life—without the people who make it what it is.
So, on this International Credit Union Day, I simply want to say thank you for your commitment, your compassion, and your belief in the cooperative spirit that defines us. Together, we’ll not only celebrate the next hundred years, we’ll make sure the credit union movement continues to thrive for generations to come.
Your friend and fellow credit union member,
Fred Robinson
