We started out as the Decatur Caterpillar Employees Credit Union in 1956. Back then people couldn't borrow money from banks, only businesses could. It was hard to save enough to buy a house or car (still is). So, they organized a credit union where they could deposit part of each paycheck (in a shoebox). The credit union would loan that money out to other employees in need. The loans would be paid back with a little from each check. The interest they paid on the loans was returned to the savers as dividends.