The Global Credit Union Podcast

World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) launched the promotion of International Credit Union Day 2025 in April under the theme “Cooperation for a Prosperous World”. It ties into the United Nations declaring 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives under the theme "Cooperatives Build a Better World." WOCCU Director of Member Services Thom Belekevich joins the podcast to discuss the importance of that theme, which will be celebrated on Thursday, October 16. Marcey Ciaccio, Philanthropy Manager for Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions (WFCU), also joins us to explain the thought process behind this year's ICU Day 2025 posters, and to highlight how WFCU is offering an ICU Day commemorative pin for the second straight year, as well as paid media kit, which is new for 2025.International Credit Union Day 2025 is sponsored by Velera, one of the largest card issuers for credit unions in the United States. Brian Caldarelli, Velera's Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer - who also sits on the WFCU Board of Directors, also joins me to discuss the organization's passion for cooperation and collaboration as it relates to ICU Day.

World Council of Credit Unions' (WOCCU) President and CEO Elissa McCarter LaBorde returns to the podcast along with Mike Reuter, President of Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions (WFCU), to discuss WFCU's Rally the Movement campaign. Since we recorded our last episode, USAID terminated all three of its awards that funded World Council international development projects in seven countries. Rally the Movement is an effort to maintain some of that work in at least three countries – Ukraine, Kenya and Guatemala – through the generous support of the global credit union movement. We talk about why that effort is so necessary, and how World Council will put those funds to use. To donate to the Rally the Movement campaign, visit: https://doglobalgood.org/rally

World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) faces a crucial moment in its history. Due to the U.S. freeze on all foreign aid, we have had to stop work on all three of the international development projects we had been implementing on behalf of the U.S. government. That has resulted in reductions for WOCCU's Global Programs' staff both overseas and here in the U.S. It has also left our future in international development in question.But we are not sitting still. This month, new WOCCU Vice President of International Advocacy Paul Andrews and WOCCU International Advocacy and Regulatory Counsel Erin O'Hern join the podcast in the episode to discuss our efforts to show the value of the work we do on behalf of American taxpayers, and how we are trying to ensure it continues moving forward, by engaging with key U.S. credit union leaders and their members of Congress.

We are excited to launch a new format for The Global Credit Union Podcast in 2025. While you'll still hear interviews with World Council of Credit Unions' (WOCCU) executives and other global credit union leaders on a wide range of topics that are vitally important to our industry, you'll now also get up to date information about what WOCCU and Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions (WFCU) have been up to over the past month, and hear about events and plans for the next 30 days. To accomplish that, WOCCU Director of Communications Greg Neumann welcomes WFCU Marketing, Communications and Grant Management Consultant Alisa Stetsyshyn as a monthly contributor. Previous to her work with WFCU, Alisa served as the Communications Lead Consultant for the WOCCU Credit for Agriculture Producers' (CAP) Project in Ukraine. To start 2025, Greg and Alisa discuss some new developments at both WOCCU and WFCU in January, and give a full preview of what's ahead for both organizations for the rest of the year.

The Global Women's Leadership Network's (GWLN) 2023 Empowerment Grant initiatives supported over 760 individuals in Kenya and Mongolia, increased Kenyan farmers' incomes by 20% and provided 112 Mongolian credit union leaders with training on sustainable finance, driving economic empowerment and sustainability in rural communities. In this episode, Enkhchimeg Nergui, Partnership Specialist at the Mongolian National Confederation of Credit Unions, and Violet Ndungu, CEO of Muki SACCO (Kenya), discuss how they used the US $10,000 grants to implement projects through credit unions that advanced social impact, uplifted underserved groups and expanded financial inclusion. Implemented from September 2023 to July 2024, the projects supported sustainable development goals and created new opportunities for women and youth. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/woccu/support

When the Cayman Islands' Ministry of Finance in August proposed a new $200,000 annual registration fee for the country's only credit union, Cayman Islands Civil Service Association Credit Union (CICSA) Limited CEO Patricia Estwick immediately mobilized employees, board directors and members, while also enlisting assistance from the Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions (CCCU) and World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) International Advocacy team to stop it. Patricia Estwick and CCCU General Manager Denise Garfield join us for Episode 43 of The Global Credit Union Podcast to discuss how they successfully challenged this burdensome proposal through a combination of grassroots advocacy and global support. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/woccu/support

This month's episode of the podcast focuses on how technical specialists with World Council of Credit Unions' (WOCCU) Global Programs' teams are growing financial inclusion through credit unions in developing nations. Nearly 20 of the specialists gathered in Washington, D.C. in early October for WOCCU's annual Project Administrators Workshop, or “PAWS”. You'll hear from more than a dozen voices who are working to bring financial inclusion to last mile credit union members and other vulnerable populations in seven developing nations across Latin America, Africa and Eastern Europe.  Hear how they share similar challenges, learn from one another and take that knowledge back to their project countries to further grow the credit union movement. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/woccu/support

This month on the Global Credit Union Podcast, Michael Lawrence joins us to discuss his new role as Chair of the World Council of Credit Unions' Board of Directors. Lawrence is the Chief Executive Officer of the Customer Owned Banking Association (COBA), the industry body for Australia's credit unions, building societies and mutual banks, a position he's served in since December 2017. He became a WOCCU Director in April 2018, and was elected to serve as Chair of the Board in 2024. Lawrence has over 30 years experience in financial services, primarily gained with AMP Bank and National Australia Bank. Michael discusses why he believes WOCCU's biggest asset is its strength in membership, especially when it comes to advocating for credit unions in front of international financial standard setting bodies, such as the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/woccu/support

We go back to Ukraine this month to speak with Ewa Sierzynska, Chief of Party for World Council of Credit Unions' new GROW Project, a four-year, $10 million initiative funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) that will seek to expand access to finance through credit unions for individuals in Ukraine seeking to start a business, and for existing legal entities looking to expand their operations. The GROW Project will work with credit unions to assist entrepreneurs, as well as micro, medium and small enterprises (MSMEs), cooperatives, farms and other individuals in rural areas of the country. Ewa is also Chief of Party for the USAID/WOCCU Credit for Agriculture Producers (CAP) Project in Ukraine, which wraps up at the end of September. She'll also talk about how GROW seeks to build on the work started with CAP, specifically in providing lending to agribusinesses, and working with the country's regulator to ensure a more enabling environment for credit unions. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/woccu/support

Leaders from World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) and Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions (WFCU) discuss their efforts to create a theme of unity and togetherness for the 76th anniversary of International Credit Union (ICU) Day® on Thursday, October 17, 2024. WOCCU Director of Member Services Thom Belekevich, WFCU President Mike Reuter and WFCU Philanthropy Manager Marcey Ciaccio discuss the creation of "One World Through Cooperative Finance" as the theme for ICU Day 2024. The trio discuss how they want the global credit union movement to educate their members and communities about the value of credit unions, to participate in WFCU's fundraising efforts for ICU Day and to share their celebrations of the day on social media to make it a truly global event. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/woccu/support

Sponsored by Creatio, Episode 38 of The Global Credit Union Podcast gets you ready with everything you need to know for the 2024 World Credit Union Conference in Boston, July 21-24. Christi Swoboda, Director of International Meetings and Events for World Council of Credit Unions, is organizing her 11th World Credit Union Conference, and joins the program to preview what attendees can look forward to during the conference and beyond. Andrea White, President and CEO of Naveo Credit Union, headquartered in Greater Boston, provides a rundown of some of the area's best attractions, and discusses the credit union visit she'll be hosting for global credit union professionals on the afternoon of July 24. And Andy Zambito, Chief Sales Officer for Creatio, discusses his organization's no-code platform for credit unions, and talks about how how conference attendees will be able to see a live demonstration of that technology in Booth 1032 of the Solutions Center at WCUC 2024. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/woccu/support

The COVID-19 pandemic caused many credit unions around the world to lose the face-to-face contact they had with members in their branches. That was especially difficult for credit unions without widespread digital capabilities, because those same members were then unable to process transactions virtually. It was under those circumstances that led the Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions (CCCU) to reach out for assistance from the National Credit Union Federation of Korea (NACUFOK), which has one of the most digitally forward credit union systems in the entire world. Their conversations led to a World Council of Credit Unions' and Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions' Global Bridges engagement to have NACUFOK assist CCCU with digital growth, which has now come to life with Caribbean IDEAS. CCCU General Manager Denise Garfield is the guest on Episode 37 to discuss where they are starting with improving their digital capabilities and why NACUFOK has been the perfect partner for them. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/woccu/support

One year ago, Donore Credit Union in Dublin, Ireland established the Donore Area Sustainable Community (DASC), a community group dedicated to playing its part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving the quality of the natural environment in the local area. Part of that process was a learning journey for the credit union itself, both in terms of the response from members, and how they should proceed with initiative moving forward. David McAuley, CEO of Donore Credit Union, talks about that as the featured guest on Episode 36. We also take a look at why moving forward on climate often requires a certain boldness for credit unions, because many central banks and other regulators aren't providing many guidelines for them. Hear where different central banks rank on the issue of climate regulations. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/woccu/support

America's Credit Unions' Governmental Affairs Conference took place in early March in Washington, D.C. Better known simply as GAC, it is the largest annual gathering for credit union professionals in the United States. But each year, more and more international credit union professionals make the long journey to GAC as well, because they learn so much to take back home to implement in their credit unions overseas. On this month's episode of the podcast, we feature conversations with credit union professionals from the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, Africa and even New Zealand, about why they make such a long trip to meet with and learn from American credit union professionals. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/woccu/support

February is Black History Month in the United States and Canada, and we use that as a jumping off point for a discussion about the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) movement taking hold at credit unions on a number of continents. Renee Sattiewhite, President and CEO of the African-American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC) and Board Director for Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions, speaks about the DEI movement in the United States. We also hear from Alexnadre Englert Barbosa, Executive Director of Sustainability, Administration and Finance at Sicredi about how their Brazilian credit union system views DEI as part of their greater sustainability efforts. And Ruksana Kauser, a member of the Association of British Credit Unions Limited's (ABCUL) Inclusivity Group, talks about her experiences as a Muslim young credit union professional in the UK and how ABCUL is trying to recruit more diverse board members, as we examine how credit unions are building more diverse, equitable and inclusive organizations from the branch to the board room. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/woccu/support

If technological innovations are going to truly boost financial inclusion worldwide, international standard setting bodies and national-level regulators must consider the institutions offering digital financial products and services as much as they examine how those deliverables are offered when contemplating new compliance requirements. Were regulations to be written only for the large international banks as innovation and new technologies evolve, credit unions and other community-based cooperative institutions will be excluded from key aspects of the financial services market. That's the overriding theme of World Council of Credit Unions' (WOCCU) 2024 Global Regulatory Update, which stresses how important it is for WOCCU and other credit union associations around the globe to advocate for fair, proportional treatment from the policymakers developing our digital regulatory environment.   On today's episode, Erin O'Hern, World Council of Credit Unions' International Advocacy and Regulatory Counsel, and Andrew Price, World Council Senior Vice President and International Advocacy and General Counsel, discuss that premise and the ways regulators are looking at how international standard setters in 2024 are viewing other issues, such as payments, cybersecurity, sustainable finance and AML/CFT. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/woccu/support

We wrap up 2023 by taking a look back at how World Council succeeded this year in making credit unions more relevant in key strategic areas, such as climate resilience, digitalization and the financial inclusion of migrants, refugees, women and youth. Our professionals also talk about how World Council put on a record-setting 2023 World Credit Union Conference, expanded our membership base and scored major advocacy victories on behalf of our members. Plus, we look ahead to what should be another promising year in 2024.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/woccu/support

Thom Belekevich, World Council of Credit Unions' (WOCCU) Director of Member Services, helped open the door of WOCCU membership to more credit union associations, and even some individual credit unions for the first time in 2023. He joins the podcast on Episode 31 to talk about the specific changes to our membership categories and why they should enrich our organization even more moving forward. Anyone interested in learning more about membership with World Council can email Thom at tbelekevich@woccu.org. Thom also led the data collection for World Council's 2022 Statistical Report, which shows the global credit union movement is now more than 400 million members strong. We discuss where that growth is occurring and why. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/woccu/support

This month, we are taking time to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of International Credit Union Day, celebrated on October 19, 2023. Each year since 1948 our global movement has taken time out on the third Thursday of October to celebrate the spirit people helping people. ICU Day, as its commonly known, is recognized to reflect upon the credit union movement's history, promote its achievements, recognize hard work and share member experiences. The ultimate goal is to raise awareness about the tremendous work that credit unions and other financial cooperatives are doing around the world and give members the opportunity to get more engaged. But how did we get to the point we are celebrating a 75th anniversary? We take a look back at the origins of not just International Credit Union Day, but the entire credit union movement. We'll also hear what this annual celebration means to so many credit union professionals around the globe. Please enjoy this special edition of The Global Credit Union Podcast! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/woccu/support

Chimgee Nergui, Partnership Specialist at the Mongolian National Confederation of Credit Unions, and Violet Ndungu, CEO of Muki SACCO in Kenya, are the Global Women's Leadership Network's (GWLN) 2023 Empowerment Grant recipients. Both women join the program this month to discuss being awarded $10,000 each to implement projects aimed at helping rural farmers and agricultural producers earn more income—and do it in a more climate resilient way—through credit unions. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/woccu/support

Eleonora Zgonjanin Petrovikj, CEO of FULM Savings House (North Macedonia) and Patrick Rico, External Affairs Manager at ACDI Multipurpose Cooperative (Philippines), join the podcast to discuss being recipients of the inaugural 2023 WOCCU Fellowship. WOCCU in April launched the first Fellowship nominations to encourage credit union leaders under the age of 40 and women of any age to apply to serve as “observers” on the WOCCU Board of Directors. Zgonjanin and Rico were selected from a pool of 52 applicants from 12 countries. They will attend and participate in three WOCCU Board meetings over a one-year period, beginning in fall of 2023. Their travel expenses, including airfare, hotel and local transportation, will be covered by WOCCU, including registration to attend the 2024 World Credit Union Conference. As observers, they will receive all material information provided to members of the Board but will not have formal voting rights during the Board of Directors' meetings. They will also receive mentorship from members of the WOCCU Board, or from members of the WOCCU or Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions' staff. Learn what they bring to the table and what they hope to accomplish over the next year as they look to lay the foundation for future WOCCU Board Observers to follow. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/woccu/support

Herpin Jateng, Acting Chief of Party for the USAID Cooperative Development Program (CDP)/World Council of Credit Unions' Technology and Innovation for Financial Inclusion (TIFI) Project, is the featured guest on Episode 27. He discusses how the TIFI Project has worked to grow small-and-medium enterprise (SME) lending efforts at credit unions in three African countries: Kenya, Burkina Faso and Senegal. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/woccu/support

Brian Harris, President and CEO of Interior Savings Credit Union in Vancouver, Canada—home to next month's 2023 World Credit Union Conference—joins the podcast to talk about the vibrant city and all it has to offer the more than 3,000 credit union professionals who will be converging on it from July 23-26. Plus, with Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions and its Global Women's Leadership Network (GWLN) and WYCUP programs hosting more events in conjunction with a World Credit Union Conference than ever before, Mike Reuter, Executive Director of the Worldwide Foundation, joins GWLN Director Lena Giakoumopoulos and WYCUP Manager Ari Farrell to preview those activities. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/woccu/support

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in May 2023 extended the flagship project of its Venezuela Regional Response Program through May 2026, awarding $14 million to World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) to continue implementation of the Economic Inclusion Project (EIP) in Peru and Ecuador on a much larger scale. Abby Cohen, WOCCU Program Manager for Latin America, and Oscar Guzman, Chief of Party for the Economic Inclusion Project, join the podcast to discuss EIP's successful first phase, and what they hope to add as new objectives in phase two of the Project. Launched in June 2020, the first phase of the Economic Inclusion Project helped Venezuelan migrants and vulnerable local residents in Lima, Peru, and Quito and Guayaquil, Ecuador, achieve socioeconomic security by gaining greater access to financial products and services, entrepreneurship and employment programs, and services focused on the prevention of gender-based violence. Those objectives will continue to be a focus over the next three years, but phase two of EIP will also prioritize:   More programs and strategies that allow for the inclusion of youth and LGBTQI+ communities. Capacity-building for credit unions and other local organizations. Climate change adaptation and mitigation through the promotion of green entrepreneurial businesses, jobs and financial products. You can read more about the Economic Inclusion Project here. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/woccu/support

We take a deep dive into World Council of Credit Unions' strategic focus on climate resilience and sustainable finance this month. We start at Sicredi Pioneira, a credit union based in Nova Petropolis, Brazil that is leading the way on solar energy. You'll hear all about how they are helping members access financing for solar projects, and how they are leading by example as well—powering many of their own credit unions with 100 percent clean energy from the sun. World Council wants to help more credit unions get to where Sicredi Pioneira is today. Thom Belekevich, World Council Director of Member Services, shares more on our strategy to promote climate resilience and sustainable finance across the global credit union movement. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/woccu/support

World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) joined the rest of the world in celebrating International Women's Day on March 8. And since this is also Women's History Month, WOCCU is focusing this episode on the ways our organization helps women in the global credit union community through our programs and projects, and how we're doing in terms of gender equality within our own organization. We'll hear from a variety of voices, including the women who lead WOCCU, a woman who has made strides to become the leader she is today because of the Global Women's Leadership Network, the women who have assisted on WOCCU international projects focused on women's initiatives, and even from one of the men in our organization who has led on women's issues. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/woccu/support

With February 2023 marking the somber one-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we look back on how several projects and entities have worked with Ukrainian credit unions to keep them resilient and open to members. That includes the World Council of Credit Unions/USAID Credit for Agriculture Producers' (CAP) Project, which works with partner credit unions to ensure their member farmers have loans, so they can continue producing food during the war. Ivan Vyshnevskiy, a Ukrainian citizen who serves as Deputy Chief of Party for the CAP Project, talks about how project staff have not only helped those credit unions continue to lend, but to even help agricultural lending outperform every other credit union loan sector since the war began. Plus, Mike Reuter, Executive Director of Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions (WFCU), discusses the response from credit union leaders around the world who have donated nearly $2 million to WFCU's Ukrainian Credit Union Displacement Fund. More than $600,000 from that fund has already been sent to Ukraine to help credit unions maintain operations and to provide needed support to the farmers themselves. Finally, Anatoli Murha, Senior Vice President of Ukrainian Selfreliance Federal Credit Union and a member of the Ukrainian-American Credit Union Association, discusses the massive outpouring of financial support from the Ukrainian-American credit union sector, and the difference that has made in Ukraine. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/woccu/support

2023 nominations are now open for a pair of World Council of Credit Unions' annual awards. The Digital Growth Award recognizes one or more member credit union associations or member credit unions for implementing digital solutions that promote financial inclusion, innovation and scalability. Diana Cazacu, a financial inclusion and digitalization expert who will serve as a Digital Growth Award judge for the second straight year, explains some of the things she and the other judges will be looking for when they review nominations this spring. Nominations are also open for the Distinguished Service Award, which World Council has handed out since 1986 to recognize individuals or institutions for outstanding contributions to credit union development outside their home country. World Council Executive Communications Manager Laura Mihm discusses the Distinguished Service Award nomination process and why it is so unique in the credit union industry. Recipients of both awards will receive complimentary registration to the 2023 World Credit Union Conference in Vancouver, Canada, where the respective awards will be presented. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/woccu/support

After an optimistic start to the year, the global credit union movement was hit with multiple crises, including Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and soaring inflation worldwide. In this final episode of 2022, we look back at how World Council of Credit Unions helped its members navigate those pressures, while still offering education and networking events and managing to boost the livelihoods of vulnerable populations in Ukraine and elsewhere. We also look ahead to 2023 with plans based on a new strategy focused on growing credit union digitalization, climate and sustainability solutions and building resilient livelihoods. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/woccu/support

We're focusing on Canada this month through interviews with: · Jeff Guthrie, President and CEO of the Canadian Credit Union Association(CCUA) and the newest member of World Council of Credit Unions' (WOCCU) Board of Directors. · Mani Sheppard-Luangkhot, Manager, Financial Access Programs, Assiniboine Credit Union (ACU) in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Jeff Guthrie joins the podcast to discuss both of his roles, which are new in 2022, and how he hopes to bring his expertise in payments to help the global credit union movement. He also discusses CCUA co-hosting the 2023 World Credit Union Conference in his hometown of Vancouver next July. Mani Sheppard-Luangkhot has one of the coolest and perhaps most impactful jobs in our entire movement. She discusses her role at ACU, which focuses on the financial inclusion of indigenous, migrant and other underserved populations—and why she hopes her interview will inspire more credit unions to add positions like hers. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/woccu/support

Despite year-to-year growth in overall membership and total assets for the global credit union movement, World Council of Credit Unions' (WOCCU) 2021 Statistical Report shows major gaps in key product and service offerings have resulted in different priorities and risk concerns for credit unions in different parts of the world. As of December 31, 2021, there were a total of 393,871,631 members of 87,914 credit unions worth $3.48 trillion in assets across 118 countries. Along with providing statistics on members, assets, savings and loans, the 2021 Statistical Report also features first-time data sets on credit union: Strategic priorities. Risk Concerns. Access to various products and services. Taxation. On Episode 18 of the Global Credit Union Podcast, we take a deep dive into the data with Steven Rick, Chief Economist for CUNA Mutual Group, and Dalia Mehiar, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Program Manager for World Council. We discuss some the regional differences and disparities, trends and surprises that come out of all those numbers. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/woccu/support

This month's featured guest is Diana Dykstra, who was just named Chair of World Council of Credit Unions' Board of Directors in July. A six-year veteran of the WOCCU Board, Dykstra has more than 40 years of experience in leading top organizations in the financial services industry. She is currently the President and CEO of the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues, and previously served as President and CEO of San Francisco Fire Credit Union and Coasthills Federal Credit Union. During her tenure as Senior Vice President at Golden 1 Credit Union, Diana led her team to develop the prototype of the now successful Credit Union Direct Lending—more commonly known CU Direct. She joins the Podcast to talk about what leadership means to her, why it is important that World Council now has two women at the top of the organization and how WOCCU can lead the global credit union movement in some key strategic areas. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/woccu/support

The theme for International Credit Union Day 2022 is "Empower Your Financial Future with a Credit Union." World Council of Credit Unions is looking forward to celebrating that theme on Thursday, October 20. World Council and Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions are leading the way in asking for credit unions to share their member empowerment stories on ICU Day, while Worldwide Foundation Executive Director Mike Reuter is also leading an Empower Campaign to raise $500,000 the global credit union movement. He joins WOCCU DIrector of Communications Greg Neumann on this episode to discuss that. If you want to learn more about the Empower Campaign, you can email foundation@woccu.org. Plus, we share an example of one such empowerment story from Ukraine, where a credit union association empowered an employee of one of its member credit unions to improve her safety and financial future. That employee, Oksana Hovorushchenko shares her personal story with us. To learn more about International Credit Union Day 2022, visit woccu.org/icuday. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/woccu/support

Episode 15 of the Global Credit Union Podcast examines the global food security crisis caused by COVID-19, Russia's invasion of Ukraine and climate change and looks at whether credit unions can provide more solutions to help local food producers. Jacob Kirkegaard, nonresident senior fellow with the Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE) and resident senior fellow with the German Marshall Fund of the United States, joins the program to discuss the current issues with the globalization of our food supply. Arthur Faviero, structural operations and sustainable finance specialist with Sicredi, the largest credit union system in Brazil, also joins the program to talk about the innovative agribusiness solutions they have created and whether they can serve as a model for credit unions worldwide. If you're interested in learning more about Sicredi's innovative agribusiness solutions, you can email Arthur at arthur_flores@sicredi.com.br. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/woccu/support

Oscar Guzman, Chief of Party for World Council of Credit Unions' Economic Inclusion Project (EIP), discusses how the USAID-funded activity in Peru and Ecuador connects Venezuelan migrants and low-income local residents to financial services, employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, and also works on the prevention of gender-based violence. At the two-year mark, the Economic Inclusion Project has had a tremendous impact in South America and provides some lessons on how to assist migrant and refugee populations around the world. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/woccu/support

Robert Kelly, Chief Executive Officer of the Association of British Credit Unions Limited (ABCUL) is our guest for Episode 13 of the Global Credit Union Podcast. ABCUL, World Council's direct member credit union association in the United Kingdom, is co-hosting the 2022 World Credit Union Conference in Glasgow, Scotland with WOCCU from July 17-20. Along with being an expert on the UK credit union movement, Robert is also a Glasgow native. He talks about all the great things that await you in Scotland—both at the conference and outside of it. And if you're still thinking about joining us in Glasgow this July – Robert will have some great reasons as to why you should register today. You can register for the 2022 World Credit Union Conference, and find a list of keynote speakers, breakout sessions, hotels, day tours and more, by visiting https://wcuc.org. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/woccu/support

World Council of Credit Unions' (WOCCU) President and CEO Elissa McCarter LaBorde and members of the WOCCU Credit for Agriculture Producers (CAP) Project visited Rzeszow, Poland on April 19 and 20 to hold a series of meetings aimed at exploring ways they can help provide further assistance in Ukraine, where credit unions, their employees and members continue to deal with the tragic consequences of the Russian invasion.  The CAP Project is a USAID-funded activity focused on strengthening Ukraine's credit unions and expanding access to agricultural lending. McCarter LaBorde first met with the CEO of a CAP partner credit union in western Ukraine, who we are not identifying out of concern for his safety. But the CEO spent hours discussing the current challenges facing credit unions that belong to the All-Ukrainian Credit Union Association, a WOCCU associate member member organization. He also shared details on the ways credit unions are assisting displaced credit union members from eastern Ukraine, and told us what credit unions need now, and what he believes they will need the international credit union movement to help them with in the long term.  McCarter LaBorde also met with representatives from USAID's Ukraine Mission and members of the United Nation's Office for Coordinated Humanitarian Assistance (UN OCHA) to discuss future ways WOCCU could help improve the situation on the ground in Ukraine through our member credit unions. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/woccu/support

Our guest on this edition of the Global Credit Union Podcast is “Aleksandr.” A liaison to the Ukrainian credit union movement, Aleksandr talks about the dire circumstances facing both the people of Ukraine and its credit unions. Aleksandr is not his real name. We chose to hide his identity for his safety, but the stories he shares about the devastating impacts of the Russian invasion of his country are very real. Aleksandr discusses what life is like for credit union employees and their members in Russian-occupied areas of the country, where there is a lack of food, water, communications, electricity and heat. He also talks about what the country's credit union associations and regulators are doing to make it easier for those credit unions that are still operational, and what the country might need to get all their credit unions back up and running once this conflict is over. If you want to help the people of Ukraine in the short term—and Ukrainian credit unions and their members in the long-term—you can do that by making a donation to Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions' Ukrainian Credit Union Displacement Fund. Click here to donate. To learn more about how credit unions in Ukraine are overcoming the challenges they face and how the global credit union movement is working to assist them, follow updates on World Council's Ukrainian Crisis Response blog. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/woccu/support

The World Credit Union Conference returns as an in-person event for 2022! We preview the conference set for July 17-20 in Glasgow, Scotland on Episode 10 of the Global Credit Union Podcast. Belinda Parmar, founder and CEO of The Empathy Business is the featured guest. She will address attendees at the conference on why it is important for credit unions to embrace an empathic style of leadership. Her presentation at WCUC is sponsored by PSCU. World Council of Credit Unions' Event Marketing and Communications Manager Kadie Hochmuth also joins the show to preview the other keynote speakers and breakout session topics to be featured at WCUC 2022. If you have yet to register for the 2022 World Credit Union Conference, you can do that right now at https://wcuc.org. You can also find more information there about the conference schedule, hotels, day tours and other activities. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/woccu/support

Sustainable finance is one of the fastest growing areas of concerns for regulators and credit unions, which is why it is the focus of World Council of Credit Unions' 2022 Global Regulatory Update for Credit Unions and Financial Cooperatives. World Council Assistant General Counsel of International Advocacy Panya Monford and World Council Senior Vice President of International Advocacy and General Counsel Andy Price join Greg Neumann to discuss that and the other topics covered in their 2022 Global Regulatory Update. That includes how their efforts paved the way for credit unions to expect regulations that are more favorable to expanding financial inclusion, and how digitalization, cybersecurity and cryptocurrency will be more closely scrutinized by regulators in the months ahead. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/woccu/support

Facundo Turconi, owner and CEO of Solven, a South American fintech, is featured on Episode Eight to discuss how his firm has helped credit unions in Peru offer digital credit options to their members in less than two months through World Council of Credit Unions' Economic Inclusion Project. Funded by USAID, the Economic Inclusion Project seeks to expand financial inclusion to Venezuelan migrants and low-income local residents in Peru and Ecuador. Facundo also talks about the obstacles preventing many credit unions in Latin America from offering digital services and why many of those roadblocks are common ones for credit unions throughout the world. If you want to learn more about the work Solven is doing with the Economic Inclusion Project in Peru, you can read about our joint efforts on World Council's Challenge 2025 blog. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/woccu/support

Results of a first-time demographic survey of World Council of Credit Unions' member credit union associations showed women trail far behind men when it comes to credit union membership and leadership. The responses, from 34 credit union associations on five continents, also showed the average credit union member is far older than the average person in the general population. But two World Council and Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions' programs are actively trying to to reverse those trends. In this episode of the Global Credit Union Podcast, Host Greg Neumann talks with: - Mary Rose Gob, Knowledge Resource Center Head/Senior HR Advisor for the National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO-Philippines) and a member of the Global Women's Leadership Network (GWLN), and - Vinicius Mattia, Sicredi (Brazil) Youth Committee member and a member of the World Council Young Credit Union Professionals (WYCUP) program. Gob gives her insights on the issues holding back more women from becoming credit union members and preventing women working in credit unions from ascending to leadership roles. She also discusses the role GWLN plays in reducing the inequities in both areas. Mattia talks about the obstacles credit unions must overcome to appeal to more young consumers and reduce the age of the average member. He talks about why WYCUP can be a powerful tool credit unions can tap to reach out to more young people worldwide. You can learn more about WYCUP here. You can learn more about the Global Women's Leadership Network here. To find the report on Sicredi's Youth Committees referenced by Vinicius in this episode, click here. And to find the demographics survey data discussed in this episode of the podcast, click here and go to page six of the 2020 Statistical Report. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/woccu/support

New World Council of Credit Unions' (WOCCU) President and CEO Elissa McCarter LaBorde is the featured guest. Elissa took over her new leadership role in August 2021, bringing more than 20 years of experience leading organizations in delivering financial services to underserved communities across the globe. For the previous 12 years, Ms. LaBorde served as Chief Executive Officer of Vitas Group, a for-profit holding company she established under Global Communities, an international development and humanitarian aid organization that operates in 27 countries. Ms. LaBorde also served for 16 years as Global Communities' Vice President of Development Finance, overseeing the non-profit organization's strategy, investment and thought leadership in financial inclusion. Greg Neumann talks to her about why she felt the time was right for a new challenge and why she thinks credit unions offer a huge opportunity to financial inclusion around the world through further digitization. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/woccu/support

Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions' Executive Director Mike Reuter joins the program in Episode Five to discuss the global journey available to credit unions that take part in the Global Bridges program. As the charitable and engagement arm of World Council of Credit Unions, the Worldwide Foundation started Global Bridges to allow credit unions to select and customize thematic content that gives a global context to current credit union challenges through interactive webinars, peer-to-peer engagements between credit unions from around the world, and conferences that add value to existing education and training programs. Mike Reuter discusses the creation of Global Bridges, some of the experiences credit unions are benefiting from due to the program, and how he sees the initiative growing as it moves forward. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/woccu/support

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) has gained significant interest and momentum in the credit union industry over the past few years. Episode Four of the Global Credit Union Podcast delves into a topic related to DEI as we look at the role of gender in credit union development. Funded by USAID INVEST, World Council of Credit Unions' Gender Lens Investment for Credit Unions Activity in Senegal is piloting a gender lens investment methodology for credit unions to connect women with needed capital. As community-centered financial cooperatives, credit unions are ideally positioned to deliver blended capital solutions that increase investment in women-led businesses. The pilot is being implemented through UM-PAMECAS, the national credit union association for Senegal. Sophie Romana serves as the lead gender specialist and SME finance consultant on the project. Diattou Coulibaly serves as the activity's local consultant and inclusive finance expert. Both join Greg Neumann to talk about the obstacles facing women when it comes to obtaining loans and other types of financial products in the developing world; why it is important those obstacles be removed; and how the goal of their work is to make it easier for women to obtain credit to build and grow businesses. They also discuss how they are working with women working in the pilot credit unions to create a Global Women's Leadership Network Sister Society chapter. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/woccu/support

If you work in compliance at a credit union or you advocate on behalf of credit unions at any level of government, you know that standard setters and regulators never sleep. And this summer seems to be even busier than usual for the professionals with World Council of Credit Unions' International Advocacy team, as the G20 discusses the importance of financial inclusion and other international standard setters focus on the digital operational resilience of financial institutions. So, what does all that mean for credit unions? Andrew Price, World Council Senior Vice President of International Advocacy, joins Host Greg Neumann this month to talk about why those issues are of particular concern for WOCCU—and how he's working with our members to make sure the credit unions we represent are treated proportionally on those issues. We also discuss: the issues credit unions still face due to COVID-19. what's new with the regulation of payments. what is sustainable finance and how is it changing the landscape of financial services? You can learn more about the work of Andrew Price and our International Advocacy team does by reading their Advocate blog at advocate.woccu.org and The Telegraph monthly newsletter at www.woccu.org/telegraph. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/woccu/support

World Council of Credit Unions' annual World Credit Union Conference (WCUC) is going all virtual for 2021! Due the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, WCUC 2021 will be held online from July 14-21. But that doesn't mean it won't be as exciting as our traditional in-person conferences. In fact, in some respects, it offers more education, engagement and networking opportunities for attendees. It also allows more credit union professionals to take part in the experience, because there are no travel or accommodation costs with a virtual conference.  We talk with Kadie Hochmuth, World Council's Event Marketing and Communications Manager, and Kassandra Schroeder, World Council's Virtual Engagement and Special Events Manager, about why you won't want to miss what they have planned for WCUC 2021.  To learn more about the conference and to register, visit https://wcuc.org/ - and be sure to tag the conference on social media with #wcuc2021 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/woccu/support

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This is the first edition of The Global Credit Union Podcast – a new initiative of World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU). This new monthly podcast is the only one that will focus on the international credit union and financial cooperative movement. We started this podcast to provide the international credit union community with an in-depth look at some of the interesting and important stories we have to tell here at WOCCU, particularly in the areas of International Advocacy, International Projects, Education and Networking, and Digital Transformation. But we will also be telling your stories about the work credit unions across the world are doing on behalf of their members. We start by looking back on the tenure of our soon-to-be outgoing President and CEO Brian Branch. He will be retiring in July 2021, after more than 30 years with WOCCU – the last 10 as the leader of our organization. He talks about starting his work at WOCCU during the early 1990s when civil wars were raging in Central America and communism was ending in Eastern Europe - and ending it during a pandemic that is causing global upheaval. During those crises and all the ones in between, Branch explains how credit unions have been there for their members - and how World Council of Credit Unions has continued to find new ways to help them strengthen, innovate and grow. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/woccu/support