WOCCU’s Crear Congratulates Cleveland CDCU’s Longevity

CLEVELAND – Noting that good work often comes from small credit unions, World Council of Credit Union President & CEO Pete Crear joined local and state legislative and regulatory officials from Ohio to congratulate the staff and board of Faith Community United Credit Union, Inc. The $9.8 million community development credit union held its 56^th annual meeting this past Saturday in Cleveland. Credit union CEO Rita Haynes has worked at the credit union in volunteer and professional capacities for the past 50 years.

Rita Haynes (center), CEO of Faith Community United Credit Union in Cleveland, welcomes Ohio Credit Union League President Paul Mercer (left) and World Council of Credit Unions President & CEO Pete Crear (right) to the credit union's 56th annual meeting this past weekend.

“Credit unions are hard work, and for some of us they’re harder work than they are for others. But there are the select few who make providing superior member service seem effortless,” said Crear at the Saturday evening event. “Rita Haynes falls into—and perhaps even well beyond—this very special category of credit union professionals.”

Haynes last year had won the “Hardest Working” award from the Tom Joyner Morning Show on ABC radio. According to Crear, the categories of “Most Influential,” Most Dedicated” and “Most Mission-Driven” could have been additional accolades added to the award, both for Haynes and the credit union she manages.

“The importance of being a credit union and operating in your members’ best interests can never be underestimated, whether it’s here in Cleveland, on the noisy streets of Nairobi, or in the mountains of Peru,” Crear said. “Credit unions play a vital role in the very fabric of the communities in which they operate. They’re critical lifelines for the financial, and in some cases social wellbeing of the members they serve.”

Other officials present, including local and state government and credit union association officials, agreed with Crear’s assessment in recognition of Faith Community United’s achievements.

“Rita has done and continues to do a terrific job with Faith Community,” said Paul Mercer, president of the Ohio Credit Union League. “The annual meeting was a wonderful, inspiring celebration of purpose-centered CU success.”

World Council of Credit Unions is the global trade association and development agency for credit unions. World Council promotes the sustainable development of credit unions and other financial cooperatives around the world to empower people through access to high quality and affordable financial services. World Council advocates on behalf of the global credit union system before international organizations and works with national governments to improve legislation and regulation. Its technical assistance programs introduce new tools and technologies to strengthen credit unions' financial performance and increase their outreach.

World Council has implemented more than 290 technical assistance programs in 71 countries. Worldwide, 51,000 credit unions in 100 countries serve 196 million people. Learn more about World Council's impact around the world at www.woccu.org.