PODCAST: A credit union born during World War II

The founders of National JACL Credit Union, members of the Japanese American Citizens League, felt compelled to help members of their community who were moved to internment camps in 1942 following the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Eighty years later, the $39 million asset credit union in Salt Lake City continues to serve. National JACL Credit Union President/CEO Dean Hirabayashi joined the CUNA News Podcast to take listeners through the motivation for and formation of the credit union, which fights for financial well-being and Asian Americans' civil rights.

Hirabayashi shares how National JACL formed to assist in the reassimilation of those living in the internment camp, how the credit union has carried the "members helping members" philosophy forward, what Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month means to him, where the movement can improve diversity efforts, and what it's like leading a small credit union.

You can listen to the CUNA News Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and Stitcher Radio.

Learn more about Hirabayashi and National JACL Credit Union.

In this episode:

1:50: Introduction to Dean Hirabayashi

3:00: Introduction to National JACL Credit Union

5:04: How National JACL Credit Union formed

6:50: How internment camps impacted the Japanese American community

9:00: Who National JACL serves today

9:44: What AAPI Heritage Month means to Hirabayashi

11:45: Diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace

13:15: Technology and small credit unions

14:28: Hirabayashi's interests