Challenge 2025

The Digitization of the Global Credit Union System

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 digitization of the global credit union system by 2025.

Measuring Global Digitization

World Council will measure the digitization of credit unions in four key areas and report annually on the progress being made toward 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.

2021-03-04

Canada’s Credit Unions Line Up for Open Banking

Financial services are in the process of being reshaped globally, and Canada is no exception, as Open Banking is putting consumers in control of their data and allowing them to dictate with whom and how it is shared.

2021-02-18

Digital by Default

It is stated that digital transformation refers to anything from cloud computing, modernizing legacy systems, digital process optimization or creating new business models.

2021-02-04

'Clean’ Contactless Cards Key To Pandemic-Driven Digital Adoption Surge

This post is provided by Credit Union Executives Society (CUES), an associate member of World Council.

Very few industries have remained unaffected by COVID-19, and the payments industry is no exception.The ongoing pandemic is acting as a driver for consumer payment choices and purchasing behavior, influencing how and where we transact, along with what forms of payment we use and why we choose to use them.

2021-01-21

Eastern European Credit Unions Share Digitization Success Stories on Webinar

Representatives of the credit union movements in Poland, Estonia and North Macedonia shared stories of their digital transformation on a January 21 webinar presented by World Council and the Eastern European Regional Credit Union Center.

2021-01-06

New Year Brings Increased Urgency for Digital Transformation

Like the rest of the world, credit union professionals across the globe breathed a collective sigh of relief when the calendar finally flipped over to 2021.

2020-12-04

The Digital Transformation of Financial Services

As we look to the future, there is little doubt that the financial services industry will continue its transformation driven by a drive-for-scale and the ability to make appropriate investments in technology and innovation. The industry consolidation trend we have witnessed for decades will accelerate.

2020-11-18

Digitizing Credit Unions in the Coronavirus Era

One of the main reasons why consumers choose to bank at credit unions is the promise of more personal financial services. For so long, “personal” has been practically synonymous with “face-to-face.” Yet as the world adjusts to a new, more remote reality due to the coronavirus, customers are understandably reluctant to visit physical branches.

2020-11-04

Challenge 2025: Where Are We?

The COVID-19 crisis has established a new sense of urgency for the digital transformation of credit unions. Many credit unions tell us that digital transformation is their number one priority.

2020-10-20

Size Doesn't Matter, Vision Does

FULM Savings House is a credit union with just over $6 million in assets that serves slightly more than 12,000 members through its network of branches in the Republic of North Macedonia. But we don’t use these relatively small numbers as excuses when it comes to digitalization, because we see it as a key component for future success—just as much as any large credit union in the world.