SEATTLE — It's been a year of overwhelming flux for Ronnie McCabe, president/CEO of Claver Federal Credit Union.
The $3 million CU was one of many CUs in New Orleans that sustained major damage to its facility and the displacement of many of its more than 1,800 members. McCabe shared her experience with attendees during a Saturday session at the African-American CU Coalition's annual meeting here. Most of Claver's members relocated to other states while the CU's one branch was damaged beyond repair. Help soon came from the AACUC, working closely with the Louisiana CU League and the National Federation of Community Development CUs. Through grants, Claver was able to get new equipment and $5.7 million Barber & Cosmetologists CU in Metairie, La., has provided free office space for nearly a year. Frank Brown, from NASA FCU, assisted with locating members and other efforts.
"I can truly say I really needed AACUC's support," McCabe said. "I know personally I would not have been able to do it by myself."
Recommended For You
McCabe said the CU is making new loans to offset loans that were lost. She also said that Katrina forced the CU to turn a corner. "Angel" was the word she used to describe Hubert Hoosman, AACUC funding chairperson and president/CEO of Vantage CU and Helen Godfrey Smith, AACUC mentorship chairperson and president/CEO of Shreveport FCU. Both spearheaded the effort to get Claver on the road to recovery.
"Being a small, confined credit union, I now see ways to grow," she said. "When you have support and people backing you, you feel you can fly."
© 2025 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
