Challenge 2025

The Digitalization of the Global Credit Union System

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A New Decade, A New Goal

In 2014, World Council of Credit Unions set a goal of reaching 260 million credit union members worldwide by 2020.

Through a concentrated worldwide effort, credit unions were able to reach our "Vision 2020" goal by 2017. But that growth was not even across all countries or among all credit unions. The credit unions that grew were those that offered core services via online and mobile channels. That is why we are now addressing how we increase membership going forward—through the digitalization of the global credit union system by 2025.

Measuring Global Digitalization

World Council will measure the digitalization of credit unions in four key areas for Challenge 2025.

Digital Channels

Offering members core digital transaction services such as online and mobile banking, online payments and online loan processing.

Shared Platforms

Connecting your credit union to a shared payments system that allows for mobile payments and integrated with a national payments system.

Risk Management

Implementation of a cybersecurity system that complies with national regulations to protect members' identity and consumer data from digital attacks and intrusions.

Data Analytics

Employing data analytics to determine additional service offerings to members, and helping to identify those that need financial literacy or counseling services.

 

Follow Our Progress, Tell Us About Yours

Track the latest developments in digitization by subscribing to our Challenge 2025 Blog. You can also send us updates on how your credit union or credit union system is striving to help us meet Challenge 2025 at communications@woccu.org

2023 Digital Growth Awards Go to Credit Unions from USA and Vietnam

From left: Brian Harris, Megan Snyder and Elissa McCarter LaBorde
From left: Brian Harris, Megan Snyder and Elissa McCarter LaBorde
Elenita San Roque
Elenita San Roque

World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) on July 24 presented a pair of 2023 Digital Growth Awards during its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the 2023 World Credit Union Conference in Vancouver, Canada.

Co-operative Bank of Vietnam and Unitus Community Credit Union (Oregon/USA) received 2023 Digital Growth Awards for implementing digital solutions that promote financial inclusion, innovation and scalability.

Unitus Community Credit Union received a Digital Growth Award for its “AZIE Mobile App”. Designed to connect members of Oregon’s Black community with financial products, services and education from local credit unions that best align with their unique needs, Azie aims to foster financial and housing stability while creating and sustaining generational wealth.

“At Unitus, we believe that if you focus on inclusion, inspiring service and innovation, our organization, our members and our community overall will thrive and be better for it. Azie was a product of those three I's and was built to support a very special collaborative,” said Megan Snyder, Unitus CCU Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Portfolio Management, in accepting the award.

Co-operative Bank of Vietnam received a Digital Growth Award for its creation of “A Digital Ecosystem”, which revolutionized cooperative financial services in Vietnam. The solution provides a diversity of digital channels through which a wide range of members can access products and services. 

Elenita San Roque, CEO of the Asian Confederation of Credit Unions (ACCU), accepted the award on behalf of Co-operative Bank of Vietnam, whose executives were unable to attend. San Roque allowed WOCCU President and CEO Elissa McCarter LaBorde to keep the physical award, so she could present it to Co-operative Bank of Vietnam representatives in person at Asian Credit Union Forum 2023, in Kathmandu, Nepal, September 10-17. 

A select panel of independent digitization experts served as judges for the 2023 Digital Growth Award, including: 

First awarded in 2021, the Digital Growth Award is presented annually to recognize one or more World Council of Credit Unions' member credit union associations or individual member credit unions.