WOCCU Highlighted By U.S. Congressional Leaders

Madison, WI—Congressional leaders highlighted the World Council of Credit Unions' (WOCCU) efforts during the CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC) this week in Washington, DC. Senator Paul Sarbanes, D-Maryland, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs and co-author of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act pointed out World Council's IRnet program, which provides affordable international money remittance services to the GAC audience. Noting it is just one of the services that credit unions bring to people in need. "Access to the financial mainstream is a key first step to economic citizenship."

Rep. Ed Royce, R-California also mentioned WOCCU's work in his remarks. Royce is the ranking member of the International Relations Committee and chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa. He noted that the World Council, CUNA and the California Credit Union League have sent members to countries such as Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa to develop credit union movements. Royce stated, "I am proud of your efforts. Credit unions are helping the future of more than 120 million members around the world." He continued, "You are helping families save their hard earned money to buy homes, cars and invest in education." Royce also spoke to the U.S. Movement on risk based capital standards and its importance in regulations. Royce stated, "It gives credit unions the same right as other institutions to thrive and grow their business."

Arthur Arnold, WOCCU president and CEO shared, "We are excited about the attention given to international credit union development, WOCCU's IRnet and risk based capital at this year's CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference. Both Sarbanes and Royce have helped to expand the reach of credit unions with their support. CUNA's GAC is a great model of how credit union leaders can successfully influence law makers while conveying the wishes of their constituents." Over 3,500 credit union leaders participated in the GAC.

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.