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

Why EU Policy on Digital Finance and Assets Could Impact Your Credit Union

A myriad of new regulations on digital finance and assets coming out of the European Union in 2022 could have far-reaching impacts for credit unions across the world.

That was the message delivered during a June 28 World Council of Credit Unions' International Advocacy virtual event: An Overview of EU Policy on Digital Finance and Digital Assets.

Nickolas Reinhardt and Andreia Jones Rodriques of Afore Consulting broke down the new rules on financial digitalization already passed or being considered in the EU. Afore Consulting specializes in providing expertise in financial services, regulation and policy.

They broke down EU policies in the following areas:

  • Digital asset regulation, based on the Markets in crypto-assets and amending directive (MiCA)
  • AML rules and digital assets
  • Digital payments
  • Operational resilience
  • Artificial intelligence

Andrew Price, Senior Vice President of International Advocacy for World Council, told attendees there's precedence for EU digital policies being more widely adopted.

"The EU tends to get ahead on a lot of the issues and you have a body that regulates a lot of countries in that area as well. If you think of the EU GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), that sort of spread like wildfire around the world, a lot of pieces added and a lot of approaches are being adopted around the world," said Price.

For a deeper dive, you can watch this World Council virtual event in its entirety on our YouTube Channel.