WASHINGTON–It’s July 4th. Independence Day. A day to celebrate America’s birthday, patriotism and more.
Credit unions have always been a mirror of the country, its heritage, its history, its people and its companies, and there may be no better example than July 4th.
Americanisms are embedded in the names of credit unions, beginning with America itself. There is 1st MidAmerica, America First, America’s, America’s Best Community, America’s Christian, America’s First, American, America 1, American Airlines, American Bakery Workers, American Baptist Association, American Broadcast Employees, American Chemical Society, American Eagle, American First, American Hammered, American Heritage, and American Lake.
There are also American Nickeloid Employees, American Partners, American Pride, American Southwest, American Spirit, American United Family, CommunityAmerica, Corporate America, Corporate America Family, Credit Union of America, First American, First Choice America, First Class American, ICI America, and Inter-American.
There are credit unions reflecting the ethnic heritage of the United States, including Italo-Amerian, Korean American Catholics, Swedish American and Selfreliance Ukrainian American.
And the list isn’t finished: there are also Luso-American, Mid-American, Midwest America, Mountain America, Pennsylvania-American Water, Personal Care America, Premier America, Spirit of America, and United America West.
The Declaration of Independence signed on July 5, 1776, is, of course, at the heart of the American ideal of freedom. Not surprisingly, there are three Freedom Credit Unions in the U.S., plus one Freedom Federal. There are also Freedom 1st, which is not to be confused with the two Freedom Firsts, Freedom Community, Freedom of Maryland and Freedom United.
The symbol of America is embedded in many a credit union’s brand, as well. There are American Eagle, Blue Eagle, a pair of Eagle credit unions, Eagle Can Employees, Eagle Community, Eagle Louisiana Eagle One, First Eagle, Golden Eagle, Northern Eagle, US. Eagle, and White Eagle.
Looking for a Patriot
No holiday is more associated with patriotism, as they can likely tell you at Patriot Credit Union and Patriot Equity Credit Union.
Two of the authors of the Declaration have been honored with namesakes across the country, and with those namesakes have come credit unions to serve them, including Jefferson Community, Jefferson County, Jefferson County Teachers, Jefferson CU, Jefferson Financial, Jefferson Parish Employees, and West Jefferson. Although every bit as important, his counterpart doesn’t get quite the same play in credit unions, with just two Adams CUs: Natchez-Adams Educators, and North Adams ME.
The better known Benjamin Franklin has fared better, with Franklin First, Franklin Johnstown, Franklin Mint, Franklin Regional Schools, Franklin Trust, Franklin-Oil, Franklin-Somerset, North Franklin, and Stephens-Franklin Teachers all still around to remind us of the value of a penny earned.
We would, of course, be remiss were we not to mention Independence and Independence Teachers credit unions.
So this Fourth of July, fly your Flag (Credit Union, Tallahassee) or even your Four Flags (Credit Union, Niles, Mich.). Sit back and have a slice of Apple (Credit Union, Virginia) pie, while washing it all down with the results of labor done by employees at Anheuser-Busch Employees CU.