Born on a farm in Albany, Ga., in 1934, Barbre founded his first credit union at age 20 in his hometown. He went on to establish four others in Albany and Dalton, Ga., from 1960 to 1972.

James C. Barbre

He joined the Associated CU board in 1978, later serving as its chair and on its credit committee.

In a news release, Associated CU cited major contributions he made to its success:

• Barbre helped coordinate the largest merger at the time with Federal Employees Credit Union.
• He developed the largest base of member companies in Georgia.
• He helped expand financial products to include business and home loans.
• He insisted on annual financial training and testing before the NCUA mandated basic financial education. His educational advocacy even inspired Associated CU to recruit board and committee members who fill expertise gaps.

He also served on the boards of numerous regional, state and national credit union organizations, including serving as a member and chair of the board of CUNA Mutual Group.

Associated CU said some of Barbre's most notable accomplishments include merging CUNA Mutual Group with Century Life, passing the CUNA Mutual Group 12-year term limit and eliminating the 65-year-old age limit, establishing global credit unions and developing a three-year financial plan for state support organizations.

In 2015, CU Times honored Barbre with a Trailblazer Award for his years of volunteer service to credit unions.

In a 2015 interview with CU Times, he said he was inspired to found his first credit union in 1954 because a fair banking alternative was needed.

"Bankers at the time were preying on the weak and employees couldn't afford banking. The credit union was a great way help to them," he said.

Barbre said he learned at an early age the importance of helping.

"My mother would say to us, 'If you don't have anything to give, the main thing you always have to share is your time, which is worth more than wealth,'" Barbre said. "I've tried to always live by that."

"I think every board member should find ways to be available and be a part of any change that will benefit others," he said. "Our challenge today is to find those people who have the desire and who really want to work and serve their credit union or the industry."