... and disappearing.
Badin Employees Federal Credit Union used to be tucked up against the Uwharrie Mountains on the banks of the Yadkin River, about 40 miles east of Charlotte - the hometown of banking giants Bank of America,Wells Fargo and Truist.
The Uwharries are thought to be the oldest mountains in the U.S. These mountains are well-worn and rounded; the Rockies they ain't! Uwharrie is an old Indian word. It's a bit tricky to pronounce, much like La Jolla, Yakima, Albuquerque, and Butte. "Yew-whar-eee" is correct; "you're hairy" is not.
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Been
searching for years for the original Indian meaning of that name. Recently, a friend told me he knew the origin. He said, it's in the
dictionary: "Uwharrie" means "unknown". Really? Asked him for a
copy of that reference for my files. Sure enough, the following week, in came a copy of the dictionary definition. It said: "Uwharrie - adj., probably from an ancient tribal name; meaning unknown." Perhaps I just need to pick better friends....
Badin is a company
town. In 1917, Alcoa dammed the Yadkin River to generate hydroelectric
power for a new aluminum ingot plant. The lake and town which sprang
from those efforts are quietly picturesque - but, all
things revolved around the plant. Driving into town, down
Falls Road, under an unwashed denim sky, is a journey home, a
journey back in time The town is just two blocks long, but
makes the most of it.
"Downtown" the candy-striped awnings and improvised handicap ramp of Badin Town Hall and
Police Department adjoin the Masonic Lodge #637. Then comes the
post office with its single window, fleet of post office boxes, and well-used community bulletin board. Shading the post office is Memorial Park, flanked by a cedar tree honor guard for the seven Badin soldiers who died in World War II. And, out of sight up a short dirt road, is the best named
roadhouse on the planet: The Bottom of the Barrel Disco and Cafe;
now vacant, having recently burned to the ground.
Bet that last party was a great one. Sorry to have missed it!
But, the center of attraction in town was the
Badin Employees Federal Credit Union. The Credit Union was housed in a one story, red brick
building with blue shuttered windows and a bright, "no-way-to-miss-it",
burgundy door. The Credit Union always closed for lunch from 12:30 to 1:30
pm, but you could sneak a look into the office through the partially
drawn, real-wood Venetian blinds. It was a comfortable, inviting looking
place. The kind of place you could sit a while, have a cup of coffee, talk to the
manager, y'know
think it through a bit.
Badin Employees Federal Credit Union was prosperous with assets reaching $4 million, capital 18%, loans available to all, delinquency negligible. Everyone in town was a member; no local banks remained.
Badin Employees FCU had achieved "market dominance" without ever spending a penny on "engagement, member experience, or passions of self-importance". The "word around town" took care of all that. Yep, folks in
Badin had a strong opinion about their Credit Union. They were the kind of folks - as you might suspect - who didn't need "thought leaders", "X", or talk radio in order to form an opinion!
The beauty of Credit Unions used to be something you couldn't easily wrap, bottle, or "spin". Badin FCU
is no longer there to make a difference - gone the way of merger. There are no longer any banks or credit unions in Badin. The aluminum plant, too, is gone.
... are we getting close to the Bottom of the Barrel on a lot of important things in our Country, including credit unions?
