Plot Twist: Martin's Been Centric All Along

Some stories are worth sharing because they're inspiring. Others are worth sharing because they remind us who we are.

Many people know Justin Martin from Duck Dynasty and Duck Dynasty: The Revival. But around Centric, Justin's story begins long before television.

At the heart of his journey is his mother, Joleen Martin, whose dedication to Centric Credit Union has touched generations of members. For 49 years, Joleen faithfully served our members with compassion, integrity, and a genuine desire to help others achieve financial success. Today, she continues that commitment as a member of our Board of Directors.

Her legacy isn't measured simply by the years she served—it's reflected in the relationships she built, the trust she earned, and the countless lives she impacted along the way.

Justin grew up with Centric as part of his everyday life. As a lifelong member, he experienced firsthand the values that have guided our credit union for generations: putting people first, serving our community, and building lasting relationships. Those same values were reinforced every day at home through his mother's example.

The lessons she taught about faith, humility, hard work, and serving others became the foundation of the man Justin is today. While his career has taken him to places few could have imagined, those core values have never changed.

At Centric, we believe our greatest stories aren't about buildings, products, or financial services. They're about people. They're about the families who grow with us, the generations who trust us, and the communities that become stronger when we invest in one another.

Justin's story is a reminder that legacies aren't built overnight. They're created through years of showing up, doing the right thing, and caring for the people around you.

We're proud to celebrate not only Justin's journey, but also the incredible legacy Joleen has built through nearly five decades of service. Together, their story reflects what has always been at the heart of Centric: family, community, and a commitment to making a difference that lasts for generations.

Transcript

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Welcome And The Surprise Connection

Kelli Green 0:02

Welcome to the Live Better Podcast. I'm Kelly, your host, and you will never guess. What if the person you know from TV has actually been a part of our story all along? Today we're sharing the real connection between Centric and Justin Martin, or better known to you as Martin of Duck Dynasty and why it matters where you bank. Thanks for joining us, Martin. It's an honor to have you join us today. Let's get into it.

Growing Up In A Credit Union

Kelli Green 0:27

Well, welcome, Martin. It is great to have you as a partner here with Centric.

Justin Martin 0:32

It is so good to be here. It is uh it's kind of a uh full circle moment for me. So I grew up in the credit union. And I know there's a lot of people that probably don't know that, but like my formative years from well, until my brother could drive, like we spent every afternoon at the credit union, which was really cool that they they fostered an environment like that that let my mom, a working mom, um, have us there in the break room. Now we didn't get to, you know, we weren't running amuck. If we did, we we got in plenty of trouble, if you know Jolene. So you kind of stayed to the break room and you did all your things, but it was cool because you got to be able to do your homework. And like for us as kids, we were done. So when we got home, we got to go fishing, we got to go do whatever because all of our stuff was done from sitting in the break room watching Judge Judy, you know. Because y'all only had like four channels at the time, so yeah, it was the basic of basic cable in the break room. So uh that was my whole childhood.

Kelli Green 1:34

Um was you just really cut your teeth on credit unions.

Justin Martin 1:37

I did, I did, and I was there for the long nights too. I mean, there were nights that you know I always uh, and this is part people don't know, but you guys have auditors come in every year to make sure y'all are doing your job. So for the people listening, if you're wondering, I don't know if they're doing, trust me. I know the checklist that they have to go through. All your stuff is fine, but those nights would go to 8:30, 9 o'clock. So I'd be in there asleep in the chair, just just asleep, you know, waiting to go to school the next day, kind of mom coming there, wake us up, and then we'd we'd zip off to the house and do all that stuff.

Kelli Green 2:11

So it's so wild, you know. A lot of people don't realize, you know, the the connection that you've had with Centric from just birth, essentially. And, you know, working with your mom, I had the pleasure of doing that for over 10 years, and she taught us so much about the the benefits and the our purpose is serving at the credit union is serving others, and that really goes back to our faith, you know, and saying that's part of what we're called to do is to serve others, and she just displayed that so well. She's raised you guys to have that very same foundation. Um, and I think that's probably why you felt so like this is a great connection in a way, and for you to even give back to the credit union as well.

Justin Martin 2:52

Yeah, absolutely. Like we love, and I say we, I'm talking about everybody at the Duck Commander Duck Dynasty family, love our local community. Uh realize that, you know, most of the time life takes us out of our local community. Um doing what we do. We're traveling, we're doing all this, we're doing give backs for everywhere but here. Right. Uh so when we are here, we find it very important to to really entrench in the local community and to give back. And yeah, that um that that um the attitude of serving, I guess, is probably the best way, was put into us from the very beginning. Um, and you know, it was just really cool. Like I always tell everybody, they're like, Well, you didn't have any wild parts as a child, and I was like, man, I couldn't. This whole town knew Jolene, and I knew I was only one phone call away from that going to my mom, but that goes back to the relationships that she fostered at the credit union, and so like there wasn't nothing I could do that wasn't known about by her. Like, and I recognized that very early on. I was like, well, you might as well be honest because you you will get caught because everybody in this town knows her.

Jolene’s Legacy And Giving Chances

Kelli Green 4:03

So that's exactly right. I I will tell you too, even just some of the memories that she's made. Now I've worked at the credit union for almost 15 years now, but my husband has done all of our business with your mom. Um, I mean, from we were big RVers back in 2020, you know, when the world shut down. And I'll never forget, you know, she financed our first, you know, RV. And that is to me, she created an opportunity for us to cart our kids all over, you know, been to like eight states, and without the relationship, you know, that we had with her, you know, she understood the importance of family, and but she also understood the importance of saying, hey, how is in a financial institution, local institution, how can we have that impact on family? And so speaking for me personally, I know you consider, you know, she's your mom and now, you know, grandmother to your kids. She we consider her a family friend, and she has just allowed us to continue to keep that legacy going with our girls, the love of outdoors, the love of family, and the love of so a love of servitude. And I think I I'm just forever indebted, you know, to her for that.

Justin Martin 5:11

Yeah, I mean, I saw her like growing up, I knew yeah, I knew what she did, and you know, the people come in and come out, but I knew she she would always get nervous, but she was always willing to give everybody a chance, like to better their life, to like if it meant making a loan to somebody that didn't have the best looking sheet, but she trusted them and she knew that they would do what they would say, then she would she would do it to give them a chance to get out of a cycle and to break free, um, you know, of some things that maybe had held them down and stuff like that. So it was always really cool because you'd see those people super thankful for the opportunity. And then that opportunity they would take and run with it, and then you would see them start a whole new pattern and really break a cycle that they had been in for their whole family. And like it it's just a really, a really cool thing to be a part of and to get to see as a child, it just really formed. I mean, I find myself doing the same thing, like just giving people a chance because you know, it they're worth it, people are worth it.

Kelli Green 6:11

So everybody's a somebody, you know, and they may not ever remember what you tell them, but they will always remember how you've made them feel, and that's just foundational to me, you know. And I she is the you know, she was the beginning of our credit union, you know. You think about that and the foundation as she continues on now as she's retired as a board member, continue serving. Um, and it's because she believes in what we're trying to accomplish, and that's to genuinely help members live better is by giving them chances, like you were just talking about, but also giving them guidance, and there's a level of accountability in that as well. And so so many people respect that. You get that, you've carried that into your own life, you know, and really thinking, you know, I'm just curious with you, Martin. I

What Local Banking Feels Like

Kelli Green 6:53

mean, how you're kind of doing raising your family and kind of setting that tone. So, what made the environment, you know, as far as like local banking essentially different from what people think it is?

Justin Martin 7:03

Uh, for me, it is being able to walk in a place, um, a physical place, and sit down with a face that you've known for years. Um, you know, whether I go in and see Kathleen or Anita or Sherry or Lori or Jennifer, I mean, I can the list can go on and on and on. And even now, Rodney, yeah, like the the list can go on, but I know these people, they know me, and it is it's so simple, right? It's not just a disconnect with an app that, oh, I need to do this, I need to do that. It's not fill out some form and I'll get an email for approval, you know, like it is actually going in and building a relationship. Um, and sometimes those it leads to really great conversations, and sometimes it leads to really tough conversations. And but to me, all those conversations are valuable, and it's a level that you just don't get when you go out of town or when you go to something that is more centralized or a bigger deal. And look, I travel the world, essentially. Yeah, I mean, you can say the world now, but Lord knows my passport's got enough stamps on it from stuff we do.

Kelli Green 8:11

Um not just ask Britney. Yeah.

Justin Martin 8:14

The uh but the cool part is it's you know, uh an institution based in Washtaw Parish, Louisiana has never let me down. I've never been somewhere and not been able to pay for something or to do this or to do that. And so when you think about that, it's like, then why wouldn't you work with people you know? Why wouldn't you give the people that you know and the people that you trust and the people you're your community with, why wouldn't you give them that opportunity? Why would you go to somebody where you're just a number and a and an ID? And I'd you know, for me it just makes a ton of sense. And for a lot of people, I get it if you say it doesn't, but I think if you say it doesn't, it's because you've never tried it to be fair.

Kelli Green 8:55

So

Money Advice For Busy Families

Kelli Green 8:56

and even th talking about that, you know, why really and truly we think about younger? Because now, you know, with us being in our 40s now, people are asking us, you know, well, how do I invest this? How do I, you know, really prepare for the future? You know, why should local banking really matter to younger families?

Justin Martin 9:14

Yeah, to me, it's because they know, right? Like it is what they do. Like when you go to somebody for advice, you go to a professional, or at least I do. Like, I don't go to YouTube for that advice. I don't go, I want to go sit down and look at this person, especially on something that I don't really that I'm not knowledgeable about. Duck hunting, sure. Fishing, sure. Finances, I mean, I was raised by somebody who taught me very strict finances. Like I and it drives Britney crazy because I always describe myself as fiscally conservative. Yeah. She calls me cheap. Um, but I say it's fiscally conservative. Um, but I mean, so I did know that, but even then in the world of investment, like all that is still in the grand scheme of things, relatively new. Like in the world of, and especially now where you can invest in things that don't even exist, so to speak. Like they're just something that you think exist. Um, I think that going in and talking to somebody who does training, who does, who doesn't just necessarily tow the company line, because what benefit do you have? It is the company line for for somebody local is you, that you are the company line, not the brand. So um that's what I think is really cool about it. And and I think it's super beneficial because yeah, I there's a lot of that I just don't know. And to be fair, I don't care to know. Yeah. Um, like I got enough stuff on my plate. I got twin three-year-old boys. I don't need to go sit down and devote two weeks of research to this to figure out if it's a good decision when I can make a phone call, set up an appointment, and say, look, here's what I'm thinking. What's your experience? What do you think? What are you hearing? And and to be able to just trust that whatever that is is how they see it. Oh, yeah. Um, and that to me, that's all you can ask for.

Seeing Your Dollars In Community

Kelli Green 11:05

That's so true. When you've got to, I feel like when I look around, you know, I've got girls where you've got boys, and we go to all these different events or what have you, and you just look around and who is really investing in your community. You see signs on, you know, in the gym or even out in the football field or what have you, you know, and you say in that regard how they're able to give back, you know, you want to see your money at work, you know, who's funding things in your public schools, you know, who's who's funding these different events for your kids to celebrate, where you're teaching them about teamwork. And that to me, in itself, is so critical whenever you're thinking about where you want to bank and where you're putting your money. It's important, I think, that values align. Um, and that's a thing that we really try to bring home to folks. When we genuinely say we want to help people live better, it's important that they know we're in this with you. Without our members, our owners, a lot of people, you get that very clearly, you know, you get a vote in the credit union, you get to say who your leaders are, and and I think that is something that is so, so it's just invaluable in my personal opinion. Um, and so as we're kind of taking this through, you know, just kind of share with us. I

Choosing Partners Who Stay Authentic

Kelli Green 12:15

I it was a decision, easy decision for you to say, hey, I want to come on this podcast, I want to support centric. There's no doubt I want to get behind that. But what do you really look for in people or businesses that you really choose to work with?

Justin Martin 12:27

For me personally, if you look at the roster of folks that I work with, I think the overarching theme is authenticity. Yeah. Are they who they say they are? Or are they a facade of who they want to be? Yeah. And if you're a facade, I'm out. Yeah. Like I'm not gonna do it. Um in a world where you can be anything, be authentic, be transparent, um, be flawed because we're human. Yes. Uh don't hide behind a cloak of invincibility. Don't, I mean, be be real, be who you are. And I think uh for centric, that is no different, right? And that uh you guys checked all the boxes on that. And I know that from how old am I? I'll be 41 in August. Yeah. From 41 years of experience. When I say since birth, I was there with Red Craighead and Frieda Massingale when it was a little bitty tiny single-level square building right beside the paper mill, uh, with big giant rocks in the flower bed that I would play with. See, that's the kind of stuff I remember. Yeah. Uh from growing up to the grand opening of Thomas Row and thinking, God, this place is huge, you know. Like they got an upstairs, you know, like as a as a little redneck kid, I was like, oh man, they got a whole department upstairs. Okay, this is cool. They're growing. To now I don't even I've lost count on branches. I've got, I mean, I drove by two to get here. And so, and now I know there's one in the middle of Munro, I know there's one in Rustin. And to see that expansion and that growth, that doesn't happen because you're bad at what you do. That happens because you care, you're thoughtful, and to me, that's just the stuff that I look for when I work with brands. For sure. Um, you know, you can see the same thing in the camouflage I wear to, you know, Yeti to, I mean, you can name them all, right? Like in every one of them, I can tell you. The cool part is with all of them, I can pick up my phone right now, I can call somebody there, and if I needed them, they would move heaven and earth to get me whatever I needed. Um, and that is it's out there, which is crazy because people think this world is a is a different place. But just trust me, if you're still in business in 2026, it's because relationships matter.

Kelli Green 14:46

That's right.

Justin Martin 14:47

Um, because if not, you've been snuffed out. Everybody's figured it out. Um, so when you see signs changing all the time, that tells you, like, to me, that's a that's an easy identifier of core values that remain grounded and they either stick to them or they don't. Yeah. And if they do, you grow, and if you don't, you you go do something else until you figure that out.

Kelli Green 15:12

Come a thing of the past. And I appreciate you saying, you know, trust and relationships. That's critical in personal and professional life. You know, it matters. That is the the crux of it all. All right, so

Rapid Fire Memories And Money Truths

Kelli Green 15:24

let's rapid fire some questions. Are you ready for this? Yeah, absolutely. Okay, so what was your first memory of the credit union?

Justin Martin 15:30

I think it'd go back to the big giant rocks. Uh and then you this is just a memory, right? So, like it goes back to the big giant rocks in that little square brown building, uh, right beside Graphic. Well, at that time it was called Manville, I guess, and then it changed to Riverwood, and now it's graphic. Um, but it would have been right beside that. There was a gate where big trucks pulled in, right? But since it was a kid, like I used to sit in the lobby on those little vinyl chairs that just squeaked every time. But I'd watch those 18-wheelers because and I'm like, man, looking back, and now I see that through my kids. Like if we're driving down the road and you see, oh, it's a semi-truck, it's a dozer. So I mean, I'm like, oh, I was that same kid. Like, I remember sitting in that glass lobby just waiting for the 18-wheelers to pull into the paper mill, log trucks and chip trucks and all that, because you know, a lot of that stuff, um, people that probably listen to this podcast are gonna struggle to even know that that was a thing. That the footprint of that place was not what it is today. Like, I watched that place grow right alongside centric uh from a place that at the time was called Forcecraft uh when I was there that served just member served just employees of the paper mill. That was it. That's all they did. They took care of the paper mill guys. That's it. Uh to growing all the way to Centric and being a a full-blown North Louisiana, South Arkansas, um, everything that they can be now. Um, it's just really cool to think of where that all started with me sitting in a chair waiting, waiting on mom to get done with with Mr. Craighead and Miss Frida. And uh, you know, it's just wild to think about.

Kelli Green 17:10

So crazy. But we're so blessed. And again, all that goes back to the relationships and just the legacy, continuing that on, you know, and instilling that into your kids. So the other thing, best advice mom ever gave you?

Justin Martin 17:24

Ooh, um, best advice. This is gonna be um, this is a cool one, actually, because I've actually had to answer this before. Um, she told me when I was growing up and when I got my first job, my first big kid job, um, was it Tyner Peachers, TP Outdoors in Westmonro working for uh Wayne and Bobby and Greg. So you can tell, guys, I've been local my whole life. Like I ain't going outside of that, but working, I've been in a a myriad of family businesses. It kind of seems to be where I thrive for some reason. I'm not real sure. Um, but she told me um to make them wonder what it would be like if you didn't show up to work tomorrow. And I was like, That's good, dude. What? You know, I was trying to make that make sense, but her point was be so valuable that when people think if you don't show up, what are we gonna do? Yes. And that's kind of how I've approached my whole life, is which I think is one of the reasons I have thrived in family businesses where a lot of people struggle in family businesses. I've seemed to thrive in them. But man, I just go in there, I put my head down, I go to work, and there's um even when I was the full leader at Duck Commander, there was one thing that I couldn't stand, and that was somebody say that's not my job. And I was like, No, it's all our job. Everything here is everybody's job. Taking out the trash is my job as general manager, just as much as it is the person that we physically pay to take out the trash. And like when you approach it, life, and I say life, life, your home life. You're like if you're a dad, doing the dishes is not your wife's job, doing the laundry is not your wife's job. That's everybody in their job. When you approach life with that mindset, it's a lot easier. Yeah, like you just tow the wagon, make sure everybody's pulling the rope the same way and keep going.

Kelli Green 19:13

People know you care. People know you care. I mean, we're not one's not better than the other, and knowing that you will get in there right beside somebody, that is to me, that is just critical. I love that. So, one word to describe centric, what would that be?

Justin Martin 19:28

Oh, oh, one word. Oh man, let's think. I mean, I would just say, I mean, I think it goes back to what I said, authentic. Like rooted in North Louisiana, right here. They know what we do, they know the struggles we face, they know the good times that we that we get. Um, but they are just authentic and caring and compassion. Yeah, and you're not just another number. Right. So I I think to me, that's probably the best. And that to me, that's what I hope people think of when they see of me. Man, that guy is who he says he is. Uh I hope that they see me live what I say and not just say it. You know, I hope they see it in the way that I live and the things that I do. Uh, and that's what you see with centric for sure.

Kelli Green 20:20

I appreciate that. Authentic. That's awesome. If there's anything we uh desire to be, is authentic. I love that. And thank you for saying that too, Martin. I appreciate that. Last rapid fire question. So, one thing that people overcomplicate about money.

Justin Martin 20:39

Ooh, one thing that they overcomplicate. See, I told you I'm fiscally conservative, so I may step on some toes here. Um, I think that the overcomplication of money, uh, the the one thing is people put this number and they can't they can't move till they get to that number. Yeah. Um, and I think that you'll find in life um you're gonna have to make some moves to get to that number that are gonna make you uncomfortable. But I think in that regard, uh it's a lot like faith is in the fact that when you get uncomfortable, you grow. Yeah. And I think those same things happen in every aspect of life, whether it's your marriage, uh, your job as a parent, your job at work, um, but I think it all goes back to finances as well. When you get uncomfortable, you grow. Yeah. Now, what does that uncomfort look like? I'm not saying go be irresponsible and take out some big dummy loan that you shouldn't. That's not uncomfortable. That's just stupidity. But it does mean you may have to take some chances on some things and do some things. Or maybe it's not by that new car because you wanted to get something else, because you needed to get, you know, an extra three payments on your house so that you could then refinance to whatever. Like again, I know this isn't financial advice. But there's some level of uncomfort where growth happens. Growth rarely happens when you're comfortable. So, uh, to me, that is as much life as it is finances and money.

Kelli Green 22:13

So well, this has been an awesome conversation. We are just absolutely honored to have you a part of our team, um, and just to have your support, the authenticity, authenticity comment about that's the one word you think of when you think of centric. That is the ultimate. And I just thank you so much, knowing your history with Ms. Jolene, being here from birth, and then just knowing to come full circle in a way that you can just use your name and use your voice to say, hey, this is how centric has impacted me and my family. Um, that means the world to us. This is just like a great alignment, a full circle moment, as we've called it a lot. And we're just very grateful to have you here with us, Martin. We thank you for this. And so, as we're wrapping up, are there any final comments you want to share with our listeners?

Find Your Local Credit Union

Justin Martin 23:04

I think the one thing that I would say, so if you're listening to this, you may end up here because an algorithm gets you there because you follow me, and you may not be local to North Louisiana. You may be, you know, in Greenville, South Carolina. I don't know where you might be. Um there is a centric close to you. Will their name be centric? Probably not, but there is one local to you that cares that is a good place to take a chance on. Um to take a chance, to get away from the big where you're just a number, find your centric. Yeah. Uh wherever that may be. Um, again, if you're close, if you're here, then come give this one a shot. But if you're not and you're listening to this, there is one local to you with people from your community that do care and that will help you ultimately live better.

Kelli Green 23:56

Yeah. Credit unions do it differently. You know, I've spent the majority of my career in credit unions, um, always in a level of community banking for nearly 20 years, and there is a difference when you can really make a phone call. And that one phone call we made to you to say, hey, we know what you live for, we know what you stand for, and the legacy that your mom built is instilled in you. That one call phone call we made, we're thankful that you're here supporting us.

Justin Martin 24:22

So well, it's pretty cool to be able, in a way. I mean, yes, I'm working, but in a way, it's a really cool way to honor my mom. Yes. So the stuff that she did, she still does. I mean, that's where my kids are right now for crying out loud. I told her, I said, man, if I'd have known you were gonna be this chill once you got grandkids, I'd give you these things a long time ago. I didn't, I had no idea. You know, I didn't know this is what you were waiting on to start thriving. I kid because the good Lord's in charge of all of that. But it's like to see her step out of that role and step into this role has been has been really cool. And um, you know, I'm sure right now they're at the garden and doing cucumbers and tying up tomatoes and just living life, being two, three-year-olds playing in the dirt while granny works in the garden. But I love that they get to walk alongside her and see that same work ethic in a place that's not worked. This is just life. And so uh it's a really cool way to be able to honor her and all the stuff that she put in and the sacrifices she put in through the years for sure.

Kelli Green 25:24

We are so grateful for her and we're thankful that she's still here with us that she has said, hey, I will continue to serve just in a different capacity, and we love that. She still has left her mark and continues to carry on. We actually have a scholarship that's in her name. And it's so cool. So we'd love to have you maybe come out and and even if you want to, you know, honor these students. So we're really grateful for that. But Martin, this is one of many that we'll get to connect, so I'm very thankful for it. But thank you for taking your time to to join us on Larve Live Better Podcast.

Justin Martin 25:58

Absolutely. It was my pleasure.

Subscribe And Important Disclosures

Kelli Green 26:00

Thanks for joining us for this episode of the Live Better Podcast. Be sure to subscribe and share this podcast wherever you listen. Centric Credit Union is federally insured by the NCUA. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Paid partnership with Centric Credit Union.