In 1970, the U.S. federal government established the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) to charter and oversee federal credit unions. In that same year, Congress established the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF) to insure credit union deposits.
Credit unions' rapid growth outside the U.S. prompted the establishment of the World Council of Credit Unions. The WCCU's purpose was to promote progress and continued unity in the worldwide credit union movement.
In June 1971, the League held its 50th annual convention and voted to relocate its principal office to Albany, the state capital, by year end. The relocation was a strategic response to the growing membership and leadership of upstate credit unions, and an attempt to move closer to New York State's legislative operations.
This era also saw the birth of "corporate credit unions"–organizations that provide funds to credit unions. Until this time, credit unions requiring extra liquidity could turn only to other credit unions for funds, with lending efforts coordinated by the League's member-support consultants. The League, however, soon encountered difficulties managing all its coordination efforts in the face of fluctuating interest rates, and its board of directors determined that a central organization could more efficiently meet lending demands.
Empire State Credit Union was converted into a "credit union for credit unions" to this purpose. It would serve two distinct functions: to pool excess funds to provide a liquidity vehicle for credit unions, and to serve as a conduit between individual credit unions and its payment system.
Despite national economic woes, such as inflation, recession and high interest rates, the credit union movement grew in the 1980s. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter signed the Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act into law, which, among other things, allowed credit unions to offer deposits with check-writing capabilities. The act also complicated many of the activities of credit unions and as a result, credit unions in New York began to depend heavily upon the League for support.
In response, League President Charles Whitney (elected 1985), focused on expanding member services and concentrating on strategic business partnerships. The League relocated to a new building, the Credit Union Center, constructed specifically for it and its affiliates.
The League Marketing Group, renamed CUC Services in 1986, developed a division to manage credit unions' credit-card business. The following year, the League combined funds with CUC Services and Empire Corporate to found CUC Mortgage Corp. This new organization was created to help credit unions compete cost effectively in the mortgage market.
