Capitol Hill Celebrates International Credit Union Day

NCUA Nominees Rodney Hood and Gigi Hyland meet for the first time at WOCCU International Credit Union Day festivities in Washington, DC

Washington, DC – At a reception co-hosted by World Council of Credit Unions, Inc. (WOCCU) and the Credit Union National Association (CUNA), some 70 Congressional staff members and credit union industry insiders celebrated International Credit Union Day here this afternoon. Of note were National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) Chairman JoAnn Johnson and her colleagues-to-be, NCUA board nominees Rodney Hood and Gigi Hyland, who are awaiting Senate confirmation expected to occur next week.

Attendees were treated to a selection of international coffees and desserts as WOCCU CEO Pete Crear spoke about how credit unions in nearly 100 countries are serving their members despite significant obstacles, such as not having a law in place allowing credit unions to operate or difficulties in dangerous situations of conflict and political unrest. "I'm in the habit of saying 'Happy Credit Union Day,'" said the 40-year veteran of the U.S. credit union movement. "But I've learned since being at World Council that it really is International Credit Union Day. People all over the world are celebrating the difference credit unions make in people's lives."

Katie Herberger, Manager of Legislative Afffairs, CUNA; Victor Corro, International Partnerships Manager, WOCCU; Molly Schar, Governmental Affairs Manager, WOCCU; Pete Crear, CEO, WOCCU

Crear also acknowledged the activities of a number of reception attendees here in Washington in conjunction with the first workshop for participants in WOCCU's International Partnership Program, which matches 21 CUNA- affiliated state credit union leagues with credit union movements in developing countries.

"Thank you for all you have done and all you will continue to do to help credit unions grow and thrive," said Crear. "And Happy International Credit Union Day."

El Consejo Mundial de Cooperativas de Ahorro y Crédito es la asociación gremial y agencia de desarrollo para el sistema internacional de cooperativas de ahorro y crédito. El Consejo Mundial promueve el crecimiento sustentable de las cooperativas de ahorro y crédito y otras cooperativas financieras en todo el mundo a fin de facultar a las personas para que mejoren su calidad de vida a través del acceso a servicios financieros asequibles y de alta calidad. El Consejo Mundial realiza esfuerzos de defensa activa en representación del sistema global de las cooperativas de ahorro y crédito ante organizaciones internacionales y trabaja con gobiernos nacionales para mejorar la legislación y la regulación. Sus programas de asistencia técnica introducen nuevas herramientas y tecnologías para fortalecer el desempeño financiero de las cooperativas de ahorro y crédito y profundizar su alcance comunitario.

El Consejo Mundial ha implementado 290 programas de asistencia técnica en 71 países. A nivel mundial, 51,000 cooperativas de ahorro y crédito en 100 países atienden a 196 millones de personas. Obtenga más información sobre el impacto global del Consejo Mundial en www.woccu.org.