The Little Man with the Credit Union Umbrella
Posted by LorMet Webteam on Thu, Jan 21, 2010 @ 03:44 PM
When the first credit unions started appearing in the United States, there was a curious little guy who contributed much to the public acceptance of credit unions. There isn’t really any official name associated with this mascot so he’s known variously as “The Little Man under the Umbrella,” “The Man with the Umbrella,” or any other titles synonymous with the idea of a man with an umbrella.
Created by Joe Stern of the Boston Globe in 1923, “The Little Man with the Umbrella” represented the idea and vision of the Credit Union perfectly. It shows a happy little guy with wide open eyes and a big smile, showing off his perfectly white teeth. Dressed in a black suit with a black tie, there’s a strong suggestion that he’s a businessman or executive of some sort. In his left hand, he’s seen to be clutching onto a package, presumably something valuable, much like how a football player clutches a football when he’s heading for the end zone. In his right hand, he’s holding a very big black umbrella with the words “CREDIT UNION” prominently displayed in white.
Why is “The Little Man with the Umbrella” using an umbrella? If you have guessed that it’s raining, you are partially right. It’s not only raining, but extremely heavily. You can tell it’s a fierce torrent by the way the rain drops are bouncing off the umbrella and the ground. Along with the downpour, you will see the words “HARD TIMES,” “SICKNESS,” and “FINANCIAL DISTRESS.” While the Great Depression would only set in a few years later, “The Little Man with the Umbrella” symbolized the sentiments and struggles of the American people in those times.
In World War II, the “Little Man” was drawn with a gun instead of an umbrella, as credit unions were offering war bonds. As credit unions became more globally accepted, the “Little Man” was drawn with a circular dot pattern and a globe to propagate CUNA’s “World Extension” strategy.
Sometime in the 1960s, the “Little Man” mascot was no longer used. However, the ideals of the Credit Union he so powerfully represented are still very much alive. Credit Union members in Lorain County, Ohio have been enjoying LorMet’s many products and services since 1936. Shouldn’t you?
Enjoy this video starring the Little Man and his credit union umbrella.