In 1993, Gene Johnson, Pete Crear, Sheila B. Montgomery, and Calvin Tucker organized an informal meeting with other African American attendees at the CUNA Governmental Affairs Conferences (GAC). The first gathering was a success, and a core group committed to an annual gathering during the GAC. During these meetings, the group began to discuss the feasibility of forming an association to cater to the specific needs of African Americans in the Credit Union Movement.

 

The African-American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC), was formally organized in 1995 at one such meeting in Washington, D.C. The Coalition was created to initiate a platform that would increase diversity at all levels of the credit union movement and provide an avenue to exchange ideas and experiences to bring value to the movement. Sheila Montgomery was elected as the first AACUC President, Byron Taylor was elected Vice President, and Shirley Jenkins was elected Secretary/Treasurer.

 

The AACUC became a legal entity in 1999, and held it's first annual meeting in St. Louis, MO.

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Many individuals played a part in the organization of the AACUC, from participating in the first meetings at the GAC to serving as the first officers and board members of the organization.​