Catalyst Corporate FCU is the corporate credit union for Arkansas' credit unions. They are located in Plano, Texas.

Catalyst Corporate FCU is a not-for-profit financial cooperative that serves retail credit unions within its field of membership. Corporate credit unions were organized for the express purpose of providing low-cost financial services and competitive investment and lending rates to their member/owners, and are guided by volunteer boards of directors.

Corporate credit unions are totally owned and directed by their member credit unions. Profit is not the driving force; rather, corporate credit unions exist solely for the benefit of their member credit unions -- a pivotal difference from other financial service providers.

Early on, credit unions placed utmost importance on making loans to their members that needed credit. As the credit union movement grew, alternative ideas to meet the liquidity needs of credit unions began to take shape. By the 1930s, central credit unions -- or credit unions for credit unions -- developed in several regions. Corporate credit unions evolved from those institutions and became the source of low-cost liquidity for credit unions. Also, with deregulation of the financial services industry in the early 1980s, corporate credit unions eliminated credit union reliance on banks and other vendors by providing products and services designed to meet the needs and safety standards of credit unions.

Catalyst Corporate FCU's history began in 1975 with a promise to address the needs of credit unions. In less than three years, Catalyst Corporate attracted more than a thousand members. New programs such as share certificates, money market certificates, credit card settlements and security safekeeping were introduced. 

In 1980, Southwest Corporate met the criteria of a "banker's bank" and the standards of the NCUA board, thus allowing approval by the Federal Reserves' Board of Governors as a pass-through correspondent for credit unions. By 1981, Southwest Corporate had topped the $100 million mark in assets. It asked members what they needed and responded with a Corporate Share Draft program and longer-termed certificates.

The continued introduction of new services - such as a Funds Transfer System, which provided an economical and efficient way for credit unions to transfer funds from bank accounts to Southwest Corporate - caused assets to top $500 million in 1982. Southwest Corporate announced a plan with Western Union in 1983 for a new automated funds transfer program. Southwest Corporate was the country's only financial institution to offer the service, utilizing Western Union's national network of agents.

By the mid-80s, the technology age was beginning to emerge. Southwest Corporate introduced Credit Union Financial System (CUFS) to provide online access to account information in an increasingly fast paced, more complex environment. Passing the $2 billion mark at the end of the 80s, Southwest Corporate began offering Asset/Liability Management Services in Arkansas, Louisiana and New Mexico in 1991.

During the early 1990s, the corporate recast its investment advisory service as Network Investment Advisory Service to reflect the status of serving 67 credit unions located across the country. Dealing with an increasingly complex financial marketplace gave rise to additional products and services. Southwest Corporate introduced CUFUND in 1992, the first time a credit union was authorized to directly advise a mutual fund.

The mid-90s saw Southwest Corporate turn 20 years old, and embark upon a period of dynamic change. In short order, the corporate acquired the item processing division from the Texas Credit Union League, moved its offices and prepared for the turn of the century. While Southwest Corporate began its preliminary work on Y2K in 1995, comprehensive, formal plans were developed in 1998.

But Y2K preparations didn't dominate the entire landscape during the second half of the 1990s. Southwest Corporate merged with the Oklahoma Corporate in 1997, the same year that check imaging services and a website were announced. Those activities were quickly followed by the introduction of a debit card program, Southwest Corporate Investment Services and TranZact, an updated and enhanced version of CUFS.

With the new century, came new challenges, emerging technology and increased complexity. Yet, pick any point along Southwest Corporate's timeline and the same thing could have been said. Southwest Corporate continuously has researched and developed financial products to help credit unions serve their members. This cooperative concept has helped enable credit unions to remain competitive and continue to flourish.

The American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL) is a voluntary membership association for credit union leagues which are members of the Credit Union National Association (CUNA).

The administrative offices of AACUL, reside within CUNA's League Relations department. We are dedicated to the ongoing success of leagues and their affiliated organizations and member credit unions.

CUNA (Credit Union National Association), based in Washington, D.C., and Madison, Wisconsin, is the premier national trade association serving America's credit unions. The not-for-profit trade group is governed by volunteer directors who are elected by their credit union peers.

In partnership with state credit union leagues, CUNA provides many services to credit unions, including representation, information, public relations, continuing professional education, and business development.

CUNA also works with related organizations to provide products and services to credit unions. CUNA Strategic Services, Inc. (CSSI) partners with league service corporations to offer products, services, and technology that credit unions need to compete in the modern financial market. When credit unions leverage their cooperative buying power through CSSI, the result is high-quality, low-cost services for credit union members.

The CUNA Councils Are:

An Individual Membership Organization
Councils provide resources, information, networking and professional development to credit union professionals. Membership is open to credit union employees who have responsibilities related to six key areas of credit union management. Councils are about helping individuals handle the day-to-day challenges as well as planning for future successes

A National Network
Councils include individuals across the United States from credit unions large and small. Geographic and demographic diversity means lots of people to turn to for ideas, advice and answers.

Targeted & Relevant to Credit Union Management
Membership and programs are focused on specific management disciplines. Each Council has its own national conference, dedicated website and targeted resources. That means members can rely on a community based upon similar interests, people who talk their lingo and a network that’s not only willing to share expertise and experiences, but resources and contacts that are actually relate to their specific responsibilities.

Executive Focused
Ninety-five percent of members are senior or mid-management level employees in their credit union. Members are paid credit union employees --no vendor members, no credit union board members. While those people play their own important role, the Councils are meant to be place where credit union executives can openly share in a tightly focused community of peers.

Run By & For Credit Union Executives
The Councils are led by a dedicated community of credit union professionals who care about the success of their peers, their credit unions and the industry as a whole. There’s no for-profit entity with its own agenda, just not-for-profit devotees looking to help others and support the movement.

CUNA Mutual Group is the leading financial services provider to credit unions and their members worldwide. Our mission is creating financial security, and our vision is to be the best at serving credit unions and their members.

We offer insurance, investment and technological solutions through strategic relationships and multiple service channels. No other company in the world offers so many credit union-specific products.

Pioneers of the credit union movement established the CUNA Mutual Insurance Society in 1935. CUNA Mutual Insurance Society is the parent organization of all the companies that together form CUNA Mutual Group.

We are dedicated to scientific and thoughtful analysis about issues affecting the future of consumer finance and credit unions. Through Filene, leading scholars and consultants analyze managerial problems, public policy questions, and consumer needs for the benefit of the credit union movement.

Our name honors Edward A. Filene, the father of the U.S. credit unions. Known as a brilliant businessperson and wise philanthropist, Filene relied on solid, innovative research when encouraging credit union development. His spirit lives on as we pursue knowledge that benefits credit unions, their members, and all consumers of financial services.

We're governed by an Administrative Board made up of credit union CEOs, the CEOs of CUNA & Affiliates and CUNA Mutual Group, and the Chairman of the American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL). Our research priorities are determined by a national Research Council comprised of thirty five credit union CEOs and the President/CEO of the Credit Union Executives Society.

The Filene Research Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Our research and innovation programs are made possible by more than 1,500 members.

The National Credit Union Administration, governed by a three-member board appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, is the independent federal agency that charters and supervises federal credit unions. NCUA, with the backing of the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, operates the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF), insuring the savings of 80 million account holders in all federal credit unions and many state-chartered credit unions.

The Texas Credit Union League is the official state trade association serving credit unions in Texas. Organized in 1934, the Texas Credit Union League provides credit unions with valuable resources, products, services and programs to meet present and future challenges.

Credit unions are not-for-profit, member-owned, volunteer directed cooperatives that promote the economic well being of all people, including those of modest means. The Texas Credit Union League represents the state's credit unions - which in turn are owned by more than 6.5 million consumers.

Credit unions pay dues to belong to the Texas Credit Union League. In return, the League provides them with education and training, lobbying activities, legal assistance, technical assistance, research and new product development, marketing ideas, and public relations services.

As a worldwide representative organization, World Council of Credit Unions, Inc. (WOCCU) is the world's leading advocate, platform for knowledge exchange and development agency for credit unions.

Members of the World Council include regional and national credit union associations, cooperative associations and business service organizations. Organizations and individuals can also support World Council through its Supporter program.

Our vision of "Quality Credit Unions for Everyone" enables millions of people to grow by providing access to affordable financial services.

Today, credit unions in 93 countries provide more than 112 million people worldwide with an opportunity to grow through access to safe savings, affordable credit and the chance for a better tomorrow.