President Jimmy Carter died Sunday, Dec. 29, at the age of 100. Carter served as the 39th president from 1977 to 1981 and since then worked on numerous humanitarian causes around the world. 

“President Carter was a friend to credit unions and someone who lived the ‘people helping people’ philosophy throughout his life in public service and in his beloved community of Plains, Georgia,” said America’s Credit Unions President/CEO Jim Nussle. “He leaves an incredible legacy of service to humanity, particularly those from marginalized communities. While gone, he remains an inspiration as we all move forward and build on his work." 

Carter signed the Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act (H.R. 4986) which gave credit unions the right to issue share drafts, in March 1980. The bill was enacted following a credit union-led “Save our Share Drafts” campaign, which generated more than 150,000 grassroots messages to Capitol Hill following a court decision that found credit union share drafts were illegal.