The Global Credit Union Podcast

World Council of Credit Unions
  • 5.0 (2)
  • NON-PROFIT
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY
The Global Credit Union Podcast

Hear how World Council of Credit Unions engages in advocacy, development and education to champion and grow credit unions and cooperative finance worldwide on our monthly podcast. We'll feature interviews with World Council's diverse array of experts and other credit union professionals from our global membership base.

  1. Episode 51: Member Spotlight on the Polish Credit Union System

    16H AGO

    Episode 51: Member Spotlight on the Polish Credit Union System

    This month on Episode 51 of the Global Credit Union Podcast, we feature our first Member Spotlight on Poland's National Association of Co-operative Savings and Credit Unions (NACSCU), by interviewing NACSCU President Rafał Matusiak. Rafal, who is also a member of World Council of Credit Unions' (WOCCU) Board of Directors, describes how WOCCU was very influential in restarting the Polish credit union movement after the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe in the early 1990s. He also discusses how NACSCU has built and maintained the largest credit union system in mainland Europe, and why his organization is so involved in both regional and international advocacy efforts with WOCCU.

    33 min
  2. Episode 50: A Preview of the 2025 World Credit Union Conference

    JUN 17

    Episode 50: A Preview of the 2025 World Credit Union Conference

    We preview the 2025 World Credit Union Conference this month on Episode 50 of The Global Credit Union Podcast. Christi Swoboda, WOCCU Director of International Meetings and Events, shares all the you need to know before you arrive in Stockholm, Sweden, and also previews the keynote speakers and major themes being covered at WCUC 2025 from July 14-16.  There will be more sessions focused on advocacy, policy and regulations in Stockholm than at any previous World Credit Union Conference. Paul Andrews, WOCCU Vice President of International Advocacy, and Erin O'Hern, WOCCU International Advocacy and Regulatory Counsel, discuss the importance of those sessions and what you can learn and take back to your credit union. There is a lot for attendees to get excited about outside the conference as well. Karin Mäntymäki, Director of International Market Development for Visit Stockholm, talks about all that Sweden's world-class capital has to offer. You'll also hear about events the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions is hosting in conjunction with WCUC 2025, and how you can register for those. It's an episode you don't want to miss!

    49 min
  3. Episode 49: WOCCU Interim President and CEO Paul Treinen

    MAY 14

    Episode 49: WOCCU Interim President and CEO Paul Treinen

    World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) Interim President and CEO Paul Treinen is the featured guest this month. He talks about his vision for moving our organization forward during a time of transition. The WOCCU Board of Directors in April appointed Paul to the temporary leadership position upon the departure of Elissa McCarter LaBorde. Paul is no stranger to WOCCU, having served as its Chief Operating Officer and then Executive Vice President from 2017 until 2023.But now he is back and joins us to discuss World Council's commitment to a greater focus on the members of our trade association and their credit unions, especially in the form of our international advocacy efforts on their behalf and the upcoming 2025 World Credit Union Conference in Stockholm, Sweden, this July.

    24 min
  4. Episode 48: Cooperation for a Prosperous World on International Credit Union (ICU) Day 2025

    APR 16

    Episode 48: Cooperation for a Prosperous World on International Credit Union (ICU) Day 2025

    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.

    35 min
  5. Episode 47: Rallying the Movement

    MAR 19

    Episode 47: Rallying the Movement

    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

    36 min
  6. Episode 46: Advocating for the Value of International Credit Union Development

    FEB 19

    Episode 46: Advocating for the Value of International Credit Union Development

    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.

    33 min
  7. Episode 45: New Year, New Format to Preview 2025

    JAN 15

    Episode 45: New Year, New Format to Preview 2025

    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.

    29 min
  8. Episode 44: Uplifting Credit Union Women through GWLN Empowerment Grants

    12/18/2024

    Episode 44: Uplifting Credit Union Women through GWLN Empowerment Grants

    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.

    21 min
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About

Hear how World Council of Credit Unions engages in advocacy, development and education to champion and grow credit unions and cooperative finance worldwide on our monthly podcast. We'll feature interviews with World Council's diverse array of experts and other credit union professionals from our global membership base.

Information

  • Creator
    World Council of Credit Unions
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    52
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © World Council of Credit Unions
  • Show Website
    The Global Credit Union Podcast

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