Newsroom | World Council of Credit Unions

News Release Year

October 10, 2017

World Council Onboards New Talent

MADISON, Wis and WASHINGTON - The World Council of Credit Unions expands its team with new hires in international development, donor relations and finance.

October 02, 2017

Polish-Ukrainian Cross Border Cooperation Fosters Dialogue on Credit Union Systems

WARSAW, Poland – A first of its kind, high level study tour of Poland’s credit union system for Ukrainian government and parliamentarian representatives was organized by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID’s) Credit for Agriculture Producers (CAP) Project implemented by the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU), in partnership with the National Association of Cooperative Savings and Credit Unions (NACSCU) and the Foundation for Cooperative Education (FCE) in mid-September. The Ukrainian delegation learned from Polish experience in credit union market regulation in the context of Poland’s legal and regulatory environment.

September 14, 2017

World Council Activates Caribbean Relief Fund

MADISON, Wis - Hurricane Irma, one of the strongest storms ever to hit the Caribbean brought devastation, loss of life and damage of “epic proportions”. Anguilla, Barbuda and Tortola have experienced major devastation. The Bahamas and St. Kitts and Nevis were also impacted but to a lesser degree.

August 07, 2017

Credit for Agriculture Producers Project Hosts Engagement Visit for International Credit Union Experts

KIEV, Ukraine — The Credit for Agriculture Producers (CAP) Project in the Ukraine organized and hosted an engagement visit for international credit union experts, composed of members of World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) and the Global Women’s Leadership Network to Ukraine from July 28 to August 2. Representatives of two national credit union associations, the All-Ukrainian Credit Union Association (AUCUA) and the Ukrainian National Association of Savings and Credit Unions (UNASCU), the credit union sector Regulator in Kiev and local credit unions from several regions in Ukraine participated in the events. The visit was led by Brian Branch, World Council president and CEO and Ewa Sierzynska, the CAP Project’s Chief of Party.

July 27, 2017

Brand Consultant Empowers Through Purposeful Storytelling

VIENNA, Austria — Simon Mainwaring, leading brand consultant and founder of We First, Inc. embraced the audience through purposeful storytelling and building brand reputation during the last general session of the 2017 World Credit Union Conference.

July 26, 2017

Leading Shark Talks Cyber Security

VIENNA, Austria — Robert Herjavec, founder of Herjavec Group, a global leader in information security and a leading shark on ABC television network’s show Shark Tank, addressed delegates at the general session at the World Credit Union Conference on Tuesday, 25 July, sharing insight and experiences on rising cyber security threats.

July 25, 2017

World Council Board Takes Office

VIENNA, Austria — Brian McCrory has been elected the Chair of World Council of Credit Unions Board of Directors. McCrory, who succeeded Daniel Burns, representing the Irish League of Credit Unions, formally took office during the World Credit Union Conference Annual General Meeting on Monday, 24 July in Vienna, Austria.

July 25, 2017

First, Understand the Value of Big Data to Solve Problems

VIENNA, Austria — Keynote speaker Susan Etlinger, data analyst with Altimeter, a Prophet Company and TED speaker focused on big data strategy and principles in ethical data use during Monday's general session at the 2017 World Credit Union Conference.

July 24, 2017

Global Women’s Leadership Network Receives Distinguished Service Award

VIENNA, Austria — The Global Women’s Leadership Network (GWLN) received the World Council’s Distinguished Service Award (DSA), the industry's top global honor for great contribution to further the credit union movement during the opening ceremony of the 2017 World Credit Union Conference on Sunday, July 23 in Vienna.

July 24, 2017

2017 World Credit Union Conference Kicks Off To the Tune of a Viennese Waltz

VIENNA, Austria — World Council of Credit Unions welcomed over 1,600 people from 58 countries at the Austria Center Vienna in Vienna, Austria Sunday evening for the opening ceremonies of the 2017 World Credit Union Conference. From 23–26 July, participants will hear from world-class speakers, network and engage with colleagues from around the globe and learn from leading industry experts on topics such as young adult membership growth, advocacy, financial technology, operations, leadership and emerging trends.

July 07, 2017

2017 International Credit Union Day® Theme Announced

MADISON, WI — World Council of Credit Unions today announced the 2017 International Credit Union (ICU) Day® theme — "Dreams Thrive Here" — celebrating the spirit of the global credit union movement. ICU Day is celebrated annually on the third Thursday of October and will take place this year on October 19.

June 20, 2017

New Corporate Communications Manager Assumes Duties at World Council

MADISON, WI — Eleni Giakoumopoulos has been named as the new Corporate Communications Manager at the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU). Under the supervision of the Chief Operating Officer, Giakoumopoulos will be responsible for the tactical and strategic management of World Council’s corporate communications.

May 26, 2017

Six Women Receive Scholarships to Learn and Network at World Council Annual Meeting

Madison, Wis. – The World Council of Credit Unions’ Global Women’s Leadership Network (GWLN) scholarships are helping women all over the world support each other, from starting a firm to teach computer skills to missionary work.

May 25, 2017

Latin American Credit Unions Explore Consumer Behavior, Cybersecurity and Digital Channels

Panama City, Panama — 130 credit union leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean convened last week for a regional workshop in Panama City, Panama, to explore trends in consumer behavior affecting the financial space and develop strategies for improving member service.

May 16, 2017

WYCUP Scholarship Deadline Nears

May 11, 2017

Parliamentarians Discuss Expanding Access to Credit Union Services in Europe

BRUSSELS, Belgium — The European Parliament Credit Union Interest Group met on 10 May to discuss how European Union policy can support increased access to credit union services in Europe. The Interest Group, a caucus for Members of the European Parliament (MEP) who support credit unions, held the meeting at the European Parliament's Espace Léopold in Brussels. MEP Marian Harkin (Republic of Ireland), who is Co-Chair of the Interest Group, and MEP Paul Tang (the Netherlands), who is Vice-Chair of the Interest Group, both spoke in support of reducing regulatory burdens on credit unions so that more ordinary Europeans have access to not-for-profit credit union services such as loans, savings, and current account products.

April 17, 2017

Credit Unions in the Netherlands Apply SME Lending Lessons Learned in Indiana

The power of credit union collaboration and cooperation was evident during a recent exchange facilitated by the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) between credit unions in Indiana and the Netherlands. Roland Lampe, Director of the Association of Credit Unions in the Netherlands (ACUN) travelled to Indiana in mid-March where he met with representatives of the Indiana Credit Union League (ICUL) and several local credit unions - including Forum CU, Indiana Members CU, Riverside Community FCU, Beacon CU, Afena FCU, Via CU and Prime Trust Federal Credit Union – to learn from their experiences in member business lending.

April 13, 2017

Herjavec, Etlinger and Mainwaring to Headline 2017 World Credit Union Conference

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2017/4/13

April 11, 2017

Credit for Agriculture Producers Project Holds Formal Launch to Develop Ukraine’s Credit Unions

KYIV, Ukraine - On April 5, 2017 major stakeholders celebrated the launch of The Credit for Agriculture Producers (CAP) Project, a four-year project (2016-2020) funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by VEGA Member World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) in partnership with VEGA. The event took place during the meeting of the Committee on Financial Policy and Banking of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine—crucial partners in the process of registration and adoption of the new draft Law on Credit Unions.

March 22, 2017

World Council Asks for Clearer Anti-Money Laundering Rules

VIENNA, Austria—World Council of Credit Unions (World Council) engaged the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to ask for clearer anti-money laundering/countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) rules to reduce regulatory burdens on credit unions during the FATF’s Private Sector Consultative Forum held March 20-22, 2017. The FATF held its Private Sector Consultative Forum at the offices of the United Nations (UN) Office on Drugs and Crime at the UN’s Vienna International Centre. The FATF, which is based in Paris, France, is the global standard setting body for AML/CFT rules.

March 08, 2017

International Women's Day: Credit Union Women Invited to Apply for Scholarship

MADISON, WI. – In celebration of International Women's Day today, World Council's Global Women's Leadership Network encourages female credit union leaders to apply for a Network scholarship. Scholarship winners receive complimentary membership to the Network and participate in the 2017 World Credit Union Conference activities and Global Women's Forum in Vienna, Austria on July 22 - 26.

March 06, 2017

World Council Offers Young CU Professional Scholarships

MADISON, Wis. — World Council of Credit Unions seeks nominations from its member organizations for the World Council Young Credit Union People (WYCUP) scholarship program, an international networking and educational opportunity for promising credit union leaders. Nominations are due May 26, 2017. Scholarship awards and the WYCUP program for young professionals will take place at the 2017 World Credit Union Conference in Vienna, Austria, July 23–26, 2017.

March 01, 2017

Nussle Gives U.S. Credit Union System Actions to Narrow Gender Gap

WASHINGTON, DC. – “Without more women in executive leadership positions, financial institutions cannot maintain their competitive advantage,” said CUNA president & CEO Jim Nussle. Speaking to a record number of attendees at the World Council’s Global Women’s Leadership Network (GWLN) breakfast, Nussle highlighted the statistics and called for change. “In the U.S., women make up 70 percent of the credit union workforce but only 15 percent of credit unions with $1 billion in assets are led by women. Globally, women control $12 trillion of consumer discretionary spending, yet women’s complaints about financial services range from a lack of respect to blanket solutions that leave them behind. Without more women in leadership positions, credit unions could struggle to understand and win over this crucial customer demographic,” noted Nussle.

February 14, 2017

Inscripción abierta para la Conferencia Mundial de Cooperativas de Ahorro y Crédito 2017

MADISON, Wis. — Asista el principal evento internacional de educación e intercambio para las cooperativas de crédito.

January 31, 2017

Call for Distinguished Service Award Nominations

MADISON, Wis. — World Council of Credit Unions is calling for 2017 Distinguished Service Award (DSA) nominations, the winners of which will be presented at the World Credit Union Conference, July 23-26, 2017, in Vienna, Austria. The DSA honors individuals and organizations that have provided outstanding service to credit union development outside their home country. It is the international credit union movement's highest honor.

January 19, 2017

Credit Union Leaders Discuss Regulatory Relief with the Basel Committee

BASEL, Switzerland—Credit union leaders from around the world met Thursday with Basel Committee on Banking Supervision Secretary General William Coen and other senior members of the Basel Committee Secretariat to discuss how best to reduce regulatory burdens on credit unions.

January 17, 2017

Treinen Named Chief Operating Officer

Madison, WI — Paul Treinen has been named as the new Chief Operating Officer at the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU). As the Chief Operating Officer, Treinen will be responsible for day-to-day tactical and operational management of WOCCU.

January 05, 2017

World Credit Union Conference Pre and Post Tours Announced

MADISON, Wis. — World Council of Credit Unions has selected the locations to host its pre and post conference tours for the 2017 World Credit Union Conference, scheduled for 23 – 26 July in Vienna, Austria.

December 14, 2016

World Council Partners with Summit Credit Union

MADISON, Wis.— Summit Credit Union has launched the Global Good Card, a new VISA campaign developed in partnership with the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) to highlight the goal of both organizations to improve member lives and communities through financial empowerment. Summit hopes the new card will bring awareness to WOCCU’s global work and additional support to the organization.

December 14, 2016

Registration Open for the 2017 World Credit Union Conference

MADISON, Wis. — Attend the premier international credit union education and networking event offered by the global credit union movement.

November 17, 2016

Ukraine Credit Union Sector Receives Boost

UKRAINE—The credit union sector in Ukraine is getting a boost this year as the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) starts to implement a new four year Credit for Agriculture Producers Project (CAP) which is supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Leaders with Associate Award granted to the Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance (VEGA).

November 16, 2016

Parliamentarians Discuss the Economics of Credit Union Regulation

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Parliament Credit Union Interest Group met to discuss how regulatory burdens affect the economics of credit union operations at the European Parliament’s Espace Leopold in Brussels, Belgium on Wednesday 16 November. The Interest Group is composed of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) who are credit union supporters. European Parliament vice president Ryszard Czarnecki (Poland) and MEP Marian Harkin (Republic of Ireland) are the Co-Chairs of the Interest Group.