History
American Recovery Association, Inc. (ARA) was originally chartered on July 22, 1965
Highlights
- Chartered in the State of Minnesota as the American Repossessors Association, Inc.
- ARA was a wholly owned repossession division of the American Collectors Association, Inc., which was headquartered in Minneapolis.
- On August 15, 1972, the name of the American Repossessors Association, Inc. was changed to our present name, American Recovery Association, Inc.
- On February 3, 1976, the American Collectors Association, Inc. transferred all of its stock in the American Recovery Association, Inc. to our members.

These changes were the result of very progressive and innovative thinking directed towards our goal of providing lenders across the country with a more specialized and more professional service.
ARA is composed of highly skilled repossessors whose specialty is locating and recovering mortgaged collateral.
By 1976, ARA had grown to be the largest association of its kind in the world. In August of 1979, ARA moved its headquarters to New Orleans, Louisiana, where it remained until 2005 when Hurricane Katrina destroyed the home office. ARA is now headquartered in Dallas, Texas.
The concept behind ARA is to provide the lender with not only repossession and related services, but to provide these services through members who are of the highest caliber in professionalism, honesty, integrity, and expertise. To assure this goal is met, specially formed regulatory committees are the fiber of ARA. Our Board of Directors is elected by the membership. Those elected contribute their time to govern and improve the Association. The Association president appoints other members to serve on certain committees necessary for the regulation and improvement of the Association.