World Council of Credit Unions
(WOCCU)
For more WOCCU news and events, click here.
Who We Represent
Our membership consists of more than 90 national and regional credit union associations on six continents, as well as industry partners who support our work.
What We Do
International Advocacy
Our first priority is to advocate for the fair and proportional treatment of credit unions and financial cooperatives in front of the international bodies that set financial standards. These efforts reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens on credit unions, allowing them to focus on serving their members and increasing the products and services they provide to their communities. It is equally important we proactively demonstrate thought leadership on key issues to shape and inform the future of international standards.
Member Services
Membership with WOCCU connects your organization to a global network with strength in numbers. Through international exchanges, regional forums and annual award programs, members have multiple opportunities throughout the year to share ideas, knowledge and solutions with colleagues from across the globe.
Meetings and Events
WOCCU connects credit union professionals year-round through a robust lineup of programming, including expert-led webinars and interactive workshops designed to share global insights, practical strategies and emerging trends. Professionals can also connect in person at our annual flagship event, the World Credit Union Conference (WCUC), where the international credit union community gathers to collaborate, innovate and advance the cooperative movement.Global Programs
Leveraging our network of credit unions, we support financial markets in growing economies by partnering with public and private donor agencies to provide financial services and other assistance that helps build resilient livelihoods for underserved populations.
Strategic Partners for a Shared Future
Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions (WFCU)
As WOCCU's strategic partner, Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions (WFCU) is a separate 501c3 established to advance the shared vision of expanding financial inclusion and providing leadership development programs that promote a vibrant and growing global credit union system. WFCU advances global credit union impact through women’s empowerment, youth leadership, disaster relief, professional upskilling and cross-border collaboration.
Latest News and Events
Global Credit Union Podcast
Episode 52: The Impact of U.S. Tariffs on Credit Unions
Curt Long, Chief Economist and Vice President of Data Research for America's Credit Unions, and David Malone, CEO of the Irish League of Credit Unions, discuss the impacts that President Donald Trump's tariffs will have on credit unions across the globe—with a specific focus on inflation, consumer sentiment and the unknowns that could still be coming in the months ahead.
Doing Global Good
Credit Unions Fuel Fresh Start for Ukrainian Veterans
Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions (WFCU) on August 19 announced promising results from a targeted loan program launched in early 2025 to support Ukrainian veterans and their families. The program enables four participating Ukrainian credit unions to offer affordable, tailored financial support to veterans and military families rebuilding their lives and businesses amid the ongoing war.
Thought Leadership
The Ethical Use of AI for Credit Unions
As more credit unions embrace powerful AI tools, they face a critical challenge: ensuring AI deployment aligns with their foundational member-focused mission and ethical standards. Paul Andrews, WOCCU VP Of International Advocacy, writes that this isn't just about technological adoption, but about preserving the very trust that defines the credit union movement in his latest article for CUInsight.
Building Global Bridges
Lessons in Cooperation from Lithuania to Africa
Thomas Belekevich, WOCCU Director of Member Services, writes about taking a group of African credit union professionals to Lithuania in July to learn how the country transformed its once-fragmented credit union sector into a unified, resilient network operating under European Union banking standards—without losing its cooperative heart.
WCUC 2026
2026 World Credit Union Conference Set for Australia
World Council of Credit Unions is headed down under for the 2026 World Credit Union Conference! We will be co-hosting WCUC 2026 in beautiful Sydney, Australia, July 19-22, with the Customer Owned Banking Association (COBA), our direct member organization there. You can sign up for more information today. Registration for WCUC 2026 will open later this year.
WOCCU Board
WOCCU Board Chair Lays Out New Strategic Plan at WCUC 2025
WOCCU Board Chair Michael Lawrence welcomed attendees to the 20th anniversary edition of WCUC and immediately addressed some new realities for the organization, which lost most of its international development funding with the dismantling of USAID earlier this year.
Global Programs
WOCCU and Visa Launch Cross-Border Payment Collaboration
World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) has launched a strategic collaboration with Visa aimed at addressing one of the most persistent barriers to financial inclusion: the high cost, access and complexity of cross-border payments and remittances.
News Release
International Credit Union Day® 2025 Theme Announced
Learn more about why WOCCU made "Cooperation for a Prosperous World" this year's theme, and find links to ICU Day 2025 posters, logos and more.