One of the founding members of the Williams Lake and District Credit Union was honoured this month as part of International Credit Union Day celebrations on Thursday, Oct. 15.
Reg Norberg, one of the original 100 members who started the local credit union, was there for the celebration.
With a chuckle Norberg said the credit union was formed as an alternative to the “big bad banks.”
Basically, he said those first 100 members put $100 down and pledged $10 a month to get the credit union started and it has been growing stronger since then.
“It’s been a pretty good ride,” said Norberg who was born in Williams Lake in 1930 and was living here when the credit union opened in 1952.
Over the years he says the credit union has had some great managers.
“The big bad banks were not the friend of ordinary people,” Norberg said. “It was a place where you could come to discuss your woes and get a sympathetic answer.”
In those early days he said Earl Brown started the credit union in his furniture store on First Avenue.
Today there are more 57,000 credit unions in 105 countries worldwide that serve 217 million members.
Since 1948, International Credit Union Day has seen credit unions joining forces to celebrate the day in their local communities. The day recognizes the contribution of credit unions as a force for positive economic and social change, encouraging the success and well-being of member owners, staff and community.
