![]() World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) has launched a strategic collaboration with Visa aimed at addressing one of the most persistent barriers to financial inclusion: the high cost, access and complexity of cross-border payments and remittances. Announced at the 2025 World Credit Union Conference in Stockholm, Sweden, the initiative will bring together credit union leaders from across the Americas to identify and explore scalable solutions that ensure reliable cross-border money movement with the security, ease of use and clear guidance that credit union members seek. “Cross-border payments remain costly, complex and often out of reach for many communities served by credit unions,” said Thomas Belekevich, WOCCU Director of Member Services. “This collaboration with Visa represents a critical step forward in our mission to create inclusive and efficient financial ecosystems globally. Together, we’re building solutions rooted in cooperation, innovation and impact.” The initiative will convene a global working group of credit union leaders and innovators to co-create practical solutions through WOCCU’s Global Cooperative Committees platform. This innovation-driven framework fosters peer learning and public-private collaboration to address systemic challenges in cooperative finance. As a strategic advisor and key knowledge partner, Visa will contribute global expertise to help inform and shape impactful solutions. “At Visa, we believe that inclusive economies are built on accessible, reliable and secure financial infrastructure,” said Celeste Schwitters, Senior Vice President, Community Accounts and Digital Sales at Visa. “By working alongside WOCCU, we’re not only supporting innovation in cross-border payments—we’re helping credit unions extend their reach, deepen trust with their members and deliver financial services that are truly global in scope.” This partnership is part of a pilot initiative that reflects WOCCU’s broader strategy to drive sustainable development through public-private collaboration. The work will culminate in a global insights brief and a presentation of key findings at the 2026 World Credit Union Conference. For more information about the Global Cooperative Committees or WOCCU’s work on financial inclusion and cooperative development, visit www.woccu.org.
0 Comments
Alkami Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALKT) ("Alkami"), a leading cloud-based digital banking solutions provider for financial institutions in the U.S., announced that Towpath Credit Union (Towpath) has successfully completed a comprehensive digital transformation using the Alkami Digital Banking Platform. The credit union, headquartered in Northeast Ohio, executed a full conversion, replacing its core, digital banking, loan origination, and document management systems to deliver a seamless and modern member experience.
Towpath is also leveraging Alkami's Data & Marketing Solution to deepen member engagement and deliver targeted, needs-based campaigns. By using real-time behavioral insights, Towpath connects members with timely offers—such as auto loan recapture, debt consolidation, and e-statement adoption—that support their financial well-being. Since their implementation, these efforts have resulted in over 800 members switching to e-documents and an estimated $2.6 million in auto loan business. Towpath's leadership team set out to eliminate digital limitations and provide a frictionless experience that could compete with any financial provider—without sacrificing the personal service that defines the credit union's local roots. "We didn't want a lack of digital capability to be a reason someone chose not to bank with us," said Michael Sferro, president and chief executive officer of Towpath. "With Alkami, we found the right combination of innovation, reliability, and scalability that allows us to offer a no-compromise solution. Our members now have the tools they need and the experience they expect—all in one place." Since launch, Towpath's enhanced digital tools—including integrated card controls, SavvyMoney® credit score monitoring, transaction enrichment, and account aggregation—are delivering a more intuitive, personalized experience. The platform is helping the credit union deepen relationships and engage members in new, meaningful ways. Product adoption rose from 1.7 to 2.45 products per member. Revenue is up 15 percent year-over-year, and the credit union's efficiency ratio has improved despite increased investment in technology. "Towpath Credit Union's approach reflects the type of forward-thinking leadership we're proud to support," said Taylor Adkins, vice president, product management at Alkami. "Their team didn't just implement new technology—they made strategic moves to future-proof their institution while staying true to their community-first mission. We're honored to be their partner on that journey." To explore the Towpath Credit Union case study for more details, visit here. To learn more about Alkami's Digital Banking Platform, visit here. ![]() Payfinia, an independent payment services firm providing an open payments framework, announced today it partnered with Patelco Credit Union (Patelco) to successfully launch a new real-time payments service, enabling members to receive instant payments 24/7 through the Federal Reserve’s FedNow® Service. The credit union deployed Payfinia’s Instant Payment Xchange (IPX) platform in less than 80 days and has processed more than $5.4 million in instant payment transactions as of mid-July. Headquartered in Dublin, Calif., Patelco has nearly $10 billion in assets and approximately 500,000 members in and around Northern and Southern California. The credit union selected Payfinia’s open, real-time payments framework, IPX, to provide its members with a proven money-movement solution that enables instant payment capabilities, improves cash flow and provides an advanced, layered security approach to mitigate fraud. “Payfinia’s IPX platform was designed with an ease of enablement that allowed us to go live very quickly, while still maintaining the credit union’s risk thresholds with a measured, phased deployment,” said Armand Abhari, Senior Vice President, Patelco Credit Union. “We recognize the evolving needs of our members, including the increasing demand to move money quickly. Together with Payfinia, we were able to accelerate our path to instant payments and the response from our members has been overwhelmingly positive. Payfinia’s open payment platform also provides Patelco with a firm foundation for future payments innovation.” Currently, Patelco’s Receive instant payments offering is available to members with wealth management accounts, enabling real-time transfers 24/7 and immediate access to funds. The credit union has future plans to expand the offering to include Send use cases later this year. “Patelco’s successful launch of instant payments is a testament to the fully embedded, secure design of Payfinia’s IPX platform,” said Keith Riddle, general manager of Payfinia. “They are a shining example of a credit union that is adapting to its members’ rapidly evolving needs, while still ensuring the highest level of security and eliminating the risk of fraudulent activity. We are thrilled with Patelco’s immediate success and look forward to expanding the offering in the future.” ![]() Fuel Solutions (Fuel) has officially launched as a nonprofit organization built to support the next evolution of credit union associations. Born from the strategic alliance between the California, Nevada, and Utah credit union associations, Fuel serves as the foundation behind this unparalleled cooperative model. For the California Credit Union League and Nevada’s Credit Unions, this milestone builds on a 29-year partnership that began in 1996. Over nearly three decades, the associations have worked side by side to address state and federal legislative, regulatory, and strategic priorities while preserving local control and their distinct identities. With the addition of Utah’s Credit Unions in 2024 to create a three-state alliance, Fuel has extended that legacy, offering member associations even greater reach in education, professional development, compliance support, community impact, communications and marketing, business solutions, and operational excellence. The organization is designed to meet the rising need for collective strength while preserving the autonomy and identity of each participating association. That purpose is reflected in its mission: to fuel the success of cooperatives by delivering education and support services that drive impact, foster achievement, and ensure long-term sustainability. “This distinctive framework marks a significant evolution in how associations collaborate as we build a stronger, more efficient structure that delivers key services and support,” said Scott Simpson, President and CEO of Fuel Solutions. “More importantly, while Fuel Solutions operates as a unified front for our common association resources, each state association’s board of directors retains independent governance leading their credit unions and driving their advocacy agenda. This guarantees that the needs and priorities of each association and their local credit unions are not just protected but powerfully represented.” The launch reflects a broader shift in how credit union associations choose to collaborate. While mergers once defined the path forward, associations are now opting for a framework that equips them with essential resources and protects their unique voice. By enhancing the operational capacity of each association, Fuel allows them to lead with efficiency, grow their advocacy influence, and deliver value to their members. “With Fuel, we don’t have to choose between scale and autonomy. We gain both. This model amplifies our collective voice while helping each state to shape its own future” said Larry Palochik, EVP and Executive Director of Fuel Solutions. From essential educational resources to transformative solutions, Fuel delivers value and excellence built on trust and deep industry knowledge. Each service is tailored to the goals of independent associations and strengthened by shared resources. Now operating across its three founding states and supporting 312 credit unions, Fuel is the quiet engine behind a growing network of associations choosing evolution over consolidation. ![]() In a year defined by greater political polarization, more uncertainty and volatility in global markets and an expanded role of government that creates the potential for increased regulations—WOCCU Interim President and CEO Paul Treinen sees opportunity for credit unions. “We are no strangers to change, and we have proven time and again to be nimble—not only in reacting to change but in proactively embracing and leading on it,” Treinen told attendees of Tuesday’s second general session at the 2025 World Credit Union Conference. He outlined how credit unions have already responded to changes brought on by a global pandemic, disruptive technology and a warming climate, encouraging credit union professionals to lean into more adaptation to grow the movement. Treinen also gave a more detailed description of WOCCU’s new strategic priorities first outlined by Board Chair Michael Lawrence on Monday, which places a greater emphasis on proactive advocacy, improved member services and a stronger connection to the greater global cooperative movement. “We want all of you to know, we hear you. We are getting the message loud and clear. We know what’s important to you. That’s why as the leader of this movement; World Council must not just adapt—we must assert our value louder and more effectively than ever,” said Treinen. Staveley shares insights on digital trust Confidence Staveley told attendees that creating a digital environment that people can truly rely on is key for credit unions during the first keynote address of WCUC 2025. Staveley, a cybersecurity expert, said the online tools people trust most are what a new generation of online criminals are targeting. She said credit unions may not even be aware of what makes them vulnerable. “Once they’re able to get to our soft spots—soft spots like some of our services we are offshoring to other countries, like service desks—they’re able to use those other services and other arenas to hit us,” said Staveley. “Everyone who has access to the tools you use, everyone you give access to the MPIs your engine offers, everyone you’ve given access to a session for one thing or another, they are all pathways to your digital trust verification.” Staveley says it is important for credit unions to ask specific questions of themselves and third parties when it comes to protecting their members. “We must ensure and demand that the vendors supports phishing-resistant identity verification for their own staff,” said Staveley. “You must ensure (and demand) your own system is also properly designed and secured.” Andrews interviews FATF official on AML/CFT, financial inclusion Tuesday’s general session crowd was also treated to a video of WOCCU Vice President of International Advocacy Paul Andrews interviewing Tom Neylan, Head of Policy for the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)—the main international body that sets the standards on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT). Andrews talked with Neylan about FATF’s recent guidance that includes language WOCCU advocated for which encourages national governments and regulators to take the appropriate steps to identify where AML/CFT regulations can be proportionally tailored for lower-risk institutions such as credit unions. “Having a lighter touch in terms of the AML/CFT programs, where it’s justified, can make it easier to do business—and particularly it allows them (credit unions) to bring on people who would otherwise have obstacles to accessing formal financial services. People who have trouble documenting their identity or address would be an example,” said Neylan. WOCCU has continuous conversations with international standard setting bodies such as FATF throughout the year to ensure credit unions are taken into consideration when they put forth guidelines on how national-level regulators should be implementing policies. WOCCU International Advocacy also hosted three more breakout sessions Tuesday, including one that explored how the United Nations declaring 2025 the International Year of Cooperatives is helping credit unions and other types of cooperatives advance their advocacy initiatives. Erin O’Hern, WOCCU International Advocacy and Regulatory Counsel, participated in the panel discussion, which also included Nina Schindler, CEO of the European Association of Cooperative Banks. Schindler talked about how cooperative banks face many the same regulatory challenges as credit unions. “We have the same anti-money laundering (challenges), cybersecurity as well on a European level, and just to add to that, financial inclusion,” said Schindler, who added that differentiating cooperative banks from commercial banks is a cyclical process thanks to constant changes in national-level governments. O’Hern said just like cooperative banks, credit unions are always advocating for proportional regulatory treatment in comparison to large commercial banks. “So, we are continuing to share that message but again, to Nina’s point, every two years you have to share to share the same message to make sure that they’re (standards) staying updated as new individuals and new representatives come in (to office),” said O’Hern. Connect and Collaborate sessions produce meaningful exchanges A new addition to the World Credit Union Conference in 2025 turned out to be a huge hit with those who participated. Connect and Collaborate is an initiative comprised of networking workshops that allow participants to engage in structured, focused discussions designed to leverage collective expertise to address challenges within their own credit union roles. Divided into two groups for large and small credit unions, the workshops provided a platform for participants to share experiences, challenges, and insights, fostering collaborative problem-solving, while allowing them to build lasting professional relationships with individuals facing similar challenges. “And we share almost the same issues. Though we have those who have moved ahead in technology, while others are still coming up and struggling, we believe by this (session) bringing us together, sharing our ideas with people all over the world, it will help us build some of the up-and-coming credit unions,” said Farida Toma Haji Bashir, Board Director for Boresha DT SACCO Society Ltd. (Kenya). Pat Pierce, President and CEO of City & County Credit Union (Minnesota), and Chair of the America’s Credit Unions’ Board of Directors, said it was valuable to share information on administrative issues with industry professionals from other countries. “We had good conversations with people from Ireland, Sicredi from Brazil, a couple through the U.S. too. It was really good; I enjoyed it a lot. There were all sorts of topics—parental leave, succession planning, all those sorts of things,” said Pierce, who added that it definitely made him think differently about several issues. WFCU honors Global DE Class of 2025 Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions (WFCU) on Tuesday afternoon formally recognized nine new professionals who entered the global credit union community as part of the International Credit Union Development Educators (ICUDEs) Class of 2025. The Global DE Social celebrated international connections, shared values and the impact of purpose-driven leadership. For more on that event, additional Tuesday breakout sessions and a special Africa Caucus, visit the WCUC 2025 Blog. Tucoemas Federal Credit Union has chosen Carefull, the first financial safety platform purpose-built to protect older adults and their families from fraud, scams, and money mistakes, as its new financial safety partner. This partnership extends Tucoemas’ long-standing mission of “Rising Together, Anything is Possible” by providing older members and their loved ones with proactive financial security tools and protection against today’s growing threats of elder exploitation.
“The fastest-growing population in California is adults over 65, and with that comes a responsibility to protect the people who helped build our credit union and our community,” said Brice Yocum, CEO of Tucoemas Federal Credit Union. “Many of these members have been with Tucoemas for decades, and we want them to know how important they are to us. By partnering with Carefull, we’re offering an additional layer of protection for our PrimeTimers and their families, giving them peace of mind as financial scams become more frequent and sophisticated.” Carefull’s AI-powered platform monitors everything from suspicious transactions and credit activity to unusual behavioral patterns, detecting threats early and guiding members and their designated trusted contacts with clear, actionable steps to stop problems before they cause harm. In addition to fraud and scam detection, Tucoemas members will have access to Carefull’s secure document and password vault, scam analysis for suspicious messages, and a robust library of fraud prevention and financial caregiving resources, all backed by $1M in identity theft insurance. The partnership builds on Tucoemas’ existing PrimeTimers program, a financial wellness and outreach initiative tailored for older adults that offers fraud education, in-person seminars, newsletters, and direct communication. Carefull enhances these efforts by delivering ongoing, real-time protection and bringing family members into the prevention process. “Financial elder abuse and scams are reaching epidemic levels nationwide, and we see the impacts firsthand here in our branches,” said Yocum. “Whether it’s romance scams, identity theft, or family members concerned about a loved one, Carefull gives us a scalable way to support our members and their caregivers before financial harm occurs.” For Tucoemas, the Carefull partnership reflects a broader, community-first approach to member service. Through programs like Pathways, Tucoemas has prioritized personalized financial coaching and education—empowering members with the tools they need to build lasting financial security. With more than 50 team members certified as financial counselors, Tucoemas continues to lead by example in addressing the needs of vulnerable populations, making sure they don’t just talk the talk—but truly walk the walk when it comes to protecting and empowering their members. Carefull reinforces this approach, delivering alerts with self-resolution pathways, education, and resources to help members and their families stay informed, engaged, and protected. “Protecting older adults requires more than just reacting to scams—it takes proactive education and community partnership,” said Todd Rovak, Co-Founder of Carefull. “Tucoemas has shown true leadership in recognizing that financial security for older adults is about more than just transactions, it’s about education, community protection, and empowering families. We’re proud to partner with such a mission-driven credit union.” ![]() Directions Credit Union (‘Directions’ – asset size of $1.3 billion) has selected Mahalo Banking to elevate its digital banking experience with deeper Corelation Keystone integration, industry-leading security, and a uniquely collaborative support model designed to empower both staff and members. “Mahalo stood apart for their inutitive understanding of credit union operations and dedication to driving our mission forward,” said Barry Shaner, President and CEO of Directions. “We heard again and again from other credit unions that Mahalo’s team truly listens, builds solutions that work, and acts as a true partner. That commitment, combined with their great track record on core integration and security, gave us complete confidence in choosing their platform.” Key upgrades will allow Directions’ members access to a range of highly requested new features once the Mahalo platform is live. Debit and credit card controls will now be fully incorporated into the online and mobile experience, while robust account aggregation will offer members a centralized financial view —meeting the growing demand for simplified money management. Members will also benefit from personalized tools such as transaction comments, expanded financial wellness and budgeting resources, and Youth Banking options to help families teach financial literacy and healthy saving habits. “More and more, members expect a seamless way to manage all of their finances in one place, including accounts held at other institutions,” added Sonja Delaney, Chief Strategy Officer at Directions. “Mahalo’s platform makes that simple, while also giving members confidence that their information is secure at every step.” “Directions’ approach reflects what we love most about working with credit unions: a shared focus on serving members first,” said Denny Howell, COO at Mahalo. “We take pride in being a trusted partner credit unions can rely on, and our goal is to deliver secure, innovative digital banking that helps them deepen relationships and stay competitive. We’re thrilled to support Directions CU on this next chapter of their digital journey.” ![]() On June 25, 2025, IgniteFI hosted its inaugural Firecracker Fintech Showcase, bringing together six innovative fintechs and 16 decision-makers from 15 credit unions for a high-energy, demo-driven virtual event that highlighted real-world solutions to common credit union challenges. Each presenter—delivering concise seven-minute demos followed by Q&A—offered tools designed to address core operational and member-focused needs. IDIQ’s CreditBuilderIQ took home “Best of Show,” recognized for its intuitive credit-building program that helps members and businesses enhance credit profiles, increase loan approvals, and drive deposit engagement. Attendees represented credit unions ranging from $43 million to $31 billion in assets, underscoring broad interest in practical Fintech innovation. Presentations were evaluated based on user-centric design, innovation, compliance, scalability, and implementation readiness. The presenting fintechs included:
Attendees praised the showcase format for its clarity, energy, and efficiency. “Loved the quick demos with no sales pressure,” said Angela Moran, Vice President of IT Software Development at SchoolsFirst FCU. Others described the event as “very Finovate-esque” and said they looked forward to attending future sessions and sharing them with peers. With the next Firecracker Fintech Showcase set for August 20 from 11–12:30 CT, IgniteFI invites forward-thinking fintechs to share their solutions and credit union leaders to discover what’s next. To get involved, reach out to [email protected] and be part of shaping the future of financial services. Eltropy, the leading AI-powered conversations platform for community financial institutions (CFIs), today announced the upcoming launch of its on-demand AI Certification Program designed for credit union and community bank employees across every function – from frontline service to back-office operations.
The AI certification program builds on the momentum of Eltropy’s successful hands-on certification at its annual user conference EMERGE 2025, where more than 130+ CFI professionals earned their Eltropy AI Practitioner Certificate. The training that was delivered live at EMERGE to an audience of 350+ marked the industry's first practical certification in Generative and Agentic AI for community finance. "This is the turning point for AI in community finance – we’ve moved beyond experimentation,” said Saahil Kamath, VP of Product and Head of AI at Eltropy. “Our AI certification program proves that credit unions and community banks can build, deploy, and benefit from AI, not tomorrow but today. In under one hour, participants were able to create real bots on real channels, not just slides and ideas. That’s what practical AI looks like, and that’s how we close the gap between innovation and impact." About the AI Certification ProgramLaunching later this summer, the self-paced online course will equip learners with foundational knowledge in AI, practical applications of Agentic AI, and safe, compliant usage tailored to regulated financial environments. The attending professionals will gain hands-on experience building live bots for telephony, websites, and internal knowledge systems, while mastering key AI technologies including LLMs, RAG, prompt engineering, and QA automation. “Our goal is to demystify AI,” said Rahul Prakash, Head of AI Engineering at Eltropy. “By the end of the course, every participant should have a working solution – whether for voice, web, or internal operations – while gaining clarity on responsible AI usage in regulated environments.” Unlike theoretical training programs, Eltropy's upcoming AI certification will provide participants with practical, deployable AI skills through immersive, hands-on sessions. Each certified professional will receive an official Eltropy AI Practitioner Certificate, along with access to advanced learning materials and tools they can immediately put to work at their institutions. “EMERGE was our proof point,” said Kamath. “Now we’re democratizing access. Every credit union and community bank employee – not just tech teams – can get AI-ready with tools they’ll use in their day-to-day work. Our new program brings that same hands-on energy, but at their own pace.” Certification at EMERGE: A Glimpse of What’s PossibleAt EMERGE 2025, over 130+ participants completed the live course in under an hour, walking away with a working bot and actionable understanding of LLMs, RAG, prompt engineering, and more. "We came in curious and walked out certified – with a working voice bot, a clear understanding of LLMs, and a plan to bring it all back to our credit union. Eltropy made AI real and doable," said one participant from a Midwest credit union. "It was both insightful and educational. We gained hands-on training in how AI can enhance both staff and member experiences, and we look forward to putting this knowledge into action with the launch of our Gen AI chatbot later this year," said Kate Alter, AVP, Enterprise Applications, TruStone Credit Union. Sign Up for Early Access"We're building a community of AI-certified professionals who know how to apply these tools responsibly and effectively,” said Ashish Garg, Co-founder and CEO of Eltropy. “This certification program reflects our commitment to equipping community banks and credit unions with practical skills for their day-to-day operations." Eltropy’s new AI certification program represents a major step forward in AI literacy and operational readiness for credit unions and community banks. It’s designed not just to educate, but to activate – giving staff confidence to adopt, manage, and scale AI in everyday operations. For more information about future AI certification sessions and on-demand options, visit eltropy.com/ai-certification. WOCCU Board Chair Lays Out New Strategic Plan at Opening of 2025 World Credit Union Conference7/15/2025 ![]() More than 2,000 credit union professionals from nearly 60 countries on Monday celebrated the start of the 2025 World Credit Union Conference (WCUC) with an opening ceremony that included the annual parade of flags, twelve breakout sessions and the announcement of a new strategy for World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU). WOCCU Board Chair Michael Lawrence welcomed attendees to the 20th anniversary edition of WCUC and immediately addressed some new realities for the organization, which lost most of its international development funding with the dismantling of USAID earlier this year. “Politician and motivational speaker Les Brown once said, ‘when something bad happens, there are three choices: you can let it define you, let it destroy you or you can let it strengthen you.’ In this vein, WOCCU immediately pivoted to do what we do best and strengthened the organization to serve our members and advocate for the fair treatment of credit unions in front of international standard setting bodies,’ said Lawrence, who also serves as CEO of Australia's Customer Owned Banking Association (COBA). The remarks came just days after the WOCCU Board of Directors approved a new three-year strategy that prioritizes:
WOCCU International Advocacy leads three breakout sessions WOCCU’s International Advocacy team wasted no time putting the new organizational strategy to work on Monday by hosting three breakout sessions on regulatory issues. WOCCU Vice President of International Advocacy Paul Andrews moderated a panel discussion that focused on navigating new developments in anti-money laundering (AML), financial crime prevention and sanctions. All the panelists agreed that money laundering and financial crimes have largely become borderless and are evolving rapidly thanks to technology, which means the types of financial crimes and risks associated with them are moving much faster than the regulations. Carrie Hunt, Chief Advocacy Officer for America’s Credit Unions, said the United States’ AML Act of 2020 is a perfect example of that. Five years later, it has yet to be implemented. “Ultimately, we’re in this little bit of a stalled blackout period where we don’t have anything finalized because they’re still trying to dovetail what the functional regulators think needs to happen and what, ultimately, (U.S.) Treasury—which is the overarching regulator—thinks need to happen relative to these measures,” said Hunt. WOCCU announces two new members at AGM, presents annual awards WOCCU on Monday also held its 2025 Annual General Meeting, which included the announcement of two new members. Officials from National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD - India) were on hand for the organization's introduction as a new WOCCU Associate Member. The WOCCU Board also announced the addition of Instituto Panameño Autónomo Cooperativo (IPACOOP) of Panama as a new Supporting Member. The AGM also featured the presentations of this year’s Digital Growth Award and Distinguished Service Award. USF Credit Union (Florida – USA) received WOCCU’s 2025 Digital Growth Award for its “Buy Now, Pay Later” product. Launched in June 2024, FlexPay helped USF Credit Union expand financial inclusion to underserved communities. “What we're excited about is that we were able to take this innovation and combine it with two of our other values—community and passion—and be able to help members,” said Juli Lewis, Vice President of Community Engagement for USF Credit Union. WOCCU also presented Steven Stapp (USA) and Emmanuel Darko (Ghana) with 2025 Distinguished Service Awards. Stapp is the CEO of Unitus Community Credit Union (Oregon – USA) and served on the WOCCU Board for seven years, the last two as Chair. His fellow WOCCU Board members from the U.S. nominated Stapp for furthering the growth of global financial cooperatives from South Korea to Brazil, Kenya to the Caribbean and beyond. “This has really been a family affair for me, being able to visit with credit union systems around the world, literally from Australia to Zimbabwe, and (they) have been there to support me on my journey, sometimes having to be away from home and family events, but knowing how important this cause has been,” said Stapp. Darko serves as the Goodwill Ambassador for the African Confederation of Cooperative Savings and Credit Associations (ACCOSCA), which nominated him for the award. With a career spanning five decades, Darko has supported the growth and development of SACCOs across Africa through his has work with partners like WOCCU, the Irish League of Credit Unions’ Foundation, Cooperative Development Foundation of Canada and others. “Today marks a remarkable milestone in my life, one I never would have imagined in my lifetime," said Darko. Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions commemorates 50th anniversary Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions (WFCU) is celebrating a major milestone at the 2025 World Credit Union Conference, with President Mike Reuter commemorating the organization's 50-year anniversary during Monday’s opening ceremony. “In 1975, when WFCU was founded, from CUNA International, it didn’t have much. No donors. No international funding engine. No disaster fund playbook. But it had something better—a belief that the cooperative spirit is borderless,” said Reuter. Reuter highlighted how WFCU has since built a Champion community of more than 100 institutional and 300 individual donors who have helped support credit unions in over 90 countries through financial inclusion projects, women and youth leadership programs and disaster relief assistance. WFCU on Monday night also held its sold out UnWind event at Stockholm’s historic Vasa Museum. More than 300 WCUC 2025 participants were in attendance to honor WFCU’s Champion donors. |
Author: Mike LawsonMarried to a most gorgeous and wonderful wife, raising 5 kiddos (including twins!), enjoy helping others tell their stories, and love surfing SoCal waves. Keep it simple. Archives
July 2025
Categories |