AJ stands for Andrew Jackson, our 7th president. His reputation for toughness earned him the nickname "Old Hickory." A hero of the War of 1812, Jackson has appeared on the $20 bill since 1928.

Little Man goes global

The technology and communications advances after World War II were bringing citizens of the world closer together, and credit unions began to spread around the globe.

In 1954 the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) created an international services department called the World Extension.

We Are The World

In 1954, World Extension decided to extend CUNA's reach beyond North America.

The rapid growth of credit unions in countries across the world, including emerging nations, created the need to form the World Council of Credit Unions.

In 1970, CUNA returned to a "national" organization, and instead joined the other credit unions around the world as members of the World Council.

The World Council emphasizes overall progress and continuing unity of the worldwide credit union movement.

Close

To reflect this expansion, designers encircled the little man with a dot pattern and a globe.

Little Man retires

88% of credit union members trust credit unions more than banks.

In the 1960s, CUNA retired the Little Man. Credit unions felt his style was outdated:

• He was difficult to use on signs or letterhead.
• The rain drops made him difficult to cut out.
• He was hard to see when reduced in size.
• The words "hard times," "sickness," and "financial distress" didn't mean much anymore.

The U.S. economy was expanding. People were getting married and having children at an unprecedented rate. Credit unions wanted a symbol that showed they had changed with the times.

After trying and discarding several concepts, hands lifting a globe with people in it became the official new symbol of the credit union movement.

The symbol emphasized the uplifting aspect of credit unions as well as their global reach and member focus. Credit unions officially adopted the new symbol in 1966.

The Little Guy

The Little Guy is a hit on YouTube.

In 2007 CUNA created an all-new Little Guy—not to replace the Little Man, but to persuade members of Congress to support credit unions legislatively.

The Little Guy resembles Flat Stanley, the children's book character who was flattened by a bulletin board and decided to make the best of the situation by mailing himself to a friend.

The Little Guy comes complete with a video that has become a hit on YouTube.The video features a cardboard-cutout Little Guy in pursuit of a small business loan.

After being turned down by a live-action banker—rejected because he is "just...a little guy," he finds help at a credit union—only to learn that federal law limits credit unions' ability to help members with this type of credit.

As CUNA's CEO Bill Cheney says, "Credit unions stand up for the Little Guy and Little Gal—the 92 million hard working Americans who belong to credit unions."
 

Michigan First Credit Union Michigan First has a Vision - To be the best and most highly regarded financial institution for our members. Our Mission is to be the only financial institution for our members. This includes you!