Challenge 2025

The Digitalization of the Global Credit Union System

Home > Member Services > Digital Transformation > Challenge 2025

Share

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.

WOCCU Awards Credit Unions for Digital Innovations at Annual General Meeting

2022-07-27

Carma Parrish (center) accepts a WOCCU 2022 Digital Growth Award on behalf of Northpark CCU

Estefane Chaves (left) and Elisandro Rinaldi accept a 2022 Digital Growth Award on behalf of Sicredi

World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) on July 18 presented a pair of 2022 Digital Growth Awards during its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the 2022 World Credit Union Conference in Glasgow, Scotland.

Nominated by the Indiana Credit Union League, Northpark Community Credit Union (USA) received a Digital Growth Award for its Virtual Branching initiative, which was developed and implemented to deliver on a goal of closing all brick-and-mortar branches in favor of e-services and ATMs.

“We cannot underserve the underserved and we have to meet them where they are," said Carma Parrish, President and CEO of Northpark CCU, in accepting the award. "And I have so much respect for meeting people where they are, not where we are.”

Sicredi, the largest credit union system in Brazil, also received a Digital Growth Award for CPR Facil— its first 100% digital agribusiness product that allows members to take out loans using a mobile phone.

“CPR Facil is making such a difference to build a better society and also changing our members’ lives. We hope that this case can be spread to other credit unions down the road,” said Estefane Chaves, a Rural Credit Analyst who accepted the award on behalf of Sicredi.

First awarded in 2021, the Digital Growth Award is presented annually to recognize one or more member credit union associations or individual member credit unions for implementing digital solutions that promote financial inclusion, innovation and scalability.

A panel of independent digitization experts selected by WOCCU judged all nominations and selected this year's winners.

Nominations for the 2023 Digital Growth Award will open early next year.