Credit Union Assets Gain 5 Percent for Arkansas Best

Arkansas Best Federal Credit Union in Fort Smith, the largest credit union in Northwest Arkansas, saw its assets climb about 5 percent from $72.9 million in 2002 to $76.6 million last year. The organization, which boasts 15,060 members, is by far the largest in the state’s six-county northwest corridor.

Ranked No. 5 statewide, was only one of two local credit unions that made Arkansas’ Top 10. The University of Arkansas Federal Credit Union checked in at No. 10 with $33.1 million in assets (see list, p. 40). UARK Credit union has 11,022 members including CEO Gina Williams.

For the local market, the 10 credit unions in Northwest Arkansas saw their collective assets rise more than 3 percent from $157.9 million in 2002 to $163 million last year. Their combined membership was down about 1.6 percent from 41,395 to 40,706.

Arkansas Best’s group accounts for about 40 percent of the area’s credit union customers.