Minnesota delegation in Paraguay

Asuncion, Paraguay.

Bill Raker and Dana Hofmann-Geye are here this week to participate in CENCOPAN's IV International Conference and 12th Anniversary. CENCOPAN and the Minnesota Credit Union Network have an international partnership since April 2003.

Raker addressed the conference with a presentation on strategic planning while Hofmann-Geye talked about lobbying and the relationship between the credit union industry and the government.

While in Paraguay the delegation visited INCOOP, the credit union industry regulator as well as Mercado 4 Credit Union, an institution located in a open market which provides loans for vendors to buy their products on a daily basis.

Pictured: (L to R) Pedro Loblein, CENCOPAN, Dana Hofmann-Geye and Bill Raker from the Minnesota Credit Union Network.

Juntos Avanzamos Program adds three more credit unions in Texas

DATCU, shinning example of what makes CUs different

A "Juntos Avanzamos" flag now flies in front of DATCU CU (Denton). The Texas Credit Union League (TCUL) awarded the designation last week at a ceremony attended by credit union officials, local community leaders and members of city government, including Mayor Euline Brock. DATCU is the fourth credit union in Texas to receive the designation, which signifies that it has a long-term vision and commitment to serving the needs of the Hispanic market. At the same time, this designation lets the Hispanic community know that they can receive friendly, affordable financial services at this "capacity to serve" or "Juntos Avanzamos" institution.

"Credit unions are an integral part of our communities. We are helping families buy their first home, send their children off to college, and plan for their future," TCUL Board of Director Pamela Stephens told the crowd. "Credit unions are about "people helping people. These are not just mere words - it is the philosophy by which we live by. By earning this designation, DATCU has demonstrated its sincere commitment to ensuring that all Texans have access to affordable financial services."

"DATCU, you are a shining example of what makes credit unions different," she adds.
A program of TCUL, Juntos Avanzamos (Together we Advance) is aimed at empowering Texas credit unions to serve their Hispanic market more effectively. By identifying the credit unions with the "capacity to serve," TCUL is able channel its resources to these specific credit unions to help them grow their outreach programs, explains TCUL Communications Director Linda Webb-Mañon. In order to earn the prestigious Juntos Avanzamos designation, credit unions must complete the capacity- to-serve application. The application is quite extensive, requiring information about what products and services the credit union offers to specifically address the needs of this market, as well as what the strategies are for serving this demographic group.
Claudia Velasco of the Mexican Consulate's office in Dallas expressed her gratitude toward DATCU and other Texas credit unions that are opening their doors to the Hispanic community - a segment of the population that she says is growing not only in size, but also in economic influence.

"As an immigrant myself, I understand how important it is to have a relationship with a financial institution," Emma Guzman Ramon, a DATCU board of director told the crowd. "I am proud to accept this honor on behalf of DATCU and I am even more proud to be associated with an organization that puts people before profit."

Mario Galarraga, a project manager with the World Council of Credit Unions who is working with the Caja Popular Mexicana (CPM) in Mexico, congratulated DATCU for their extraordinary efforts in serving the Hispanic community, as well as the role it has played in the international movement. Galarraga, along with representatives from the CPM, had visited with DATCU CU a couple of years ago. The credit union shared best practices in the areas of human resources and training. In addition, Frances Al-Waely, chair of DATCU's Hispanic outreach committee, visited the CPM two years ago, attending their annual meeting and touring their main office in Leon, Mexico. On that visit, Al-Waely says she learned that the CPM struggles with many of the same issues credit unions in the U.S. face when trying to reach out to their Hispanic communities.
TCUL conducted a flagship ceremony at Plus4 CU (Houston) and Friday, at Unity One FCU (Fort Worth). First Central CU (Waco), and Velocity CU (Austin) have also earned the Juntos Avanzamos designation and flagship ceremonies will be held at a later date.

Content taken from The Leaguer, a publication of TCUL
More pictures here

Risk management focus of CPM visit

Caja Popular Mexicana (CPM), the largest credit union in Mexico, wrapped up a three-day tour in Texas where it visited with credit union executives at Unity One FCU (Fort Worth) before participating in an afternoon Juntos Avanzamos flagship ceremony. Unity OneFCU earned the Juntos Avanzamos, or "Together we Advance" designation for its extraordinary outreach to the Hispanic community.

The purpose of the CPM's visit was to meet with credit unions on this side of the border to examine how they manage credit and liquidity risk, as well as operational risks. Representing the CPM on this visit was Mario Galarraga, Jorge Gutierrez and Gonzalo Cervantes. The trio met with Energy Capital CU (Houston) on Thursday and Unity One FCU the following day. Cervantes explains the CPM's greatest challenge is its ability to measure and monitor credit risk in order to minimize losses.

"Loans represent about 70 percent of this institution's assets. We approve 40,000 loans a month, so is of great importance to develop a methodology to better manage this risk," Gutierrez says. Cervantes says operational risk is also very important in the lending area because there is a need to monitor the policies and procedures followed by personnel.

The CPM group also participated in three flagship ceremonies while in Texas:
* DATCU CU (Denton)
* Plus4 CU (Houston)
* Unity One FCU

The Juntos Avanzamos designation is given only to those Texas credit unions that demonstrate a long-term vision and strategy for serving the market. Speaking on behalf of the CPM, Galarraga says they are honored to have been offered the opportunity to participate in the raising of the flag at these institutions and commends the credit unions for their service to Hispanics. Vladamir Stark, CEO of Plus4 CU, says their goal is to be the Hispanic communities "bridge to financial independence." And Unity One FCU CEO Gary Williams assures his credit union is committed to serving this market and is here to stay.

Content taken from The Leaguer, a TCUL publication.

Texas League participates in Jamaica League's Annual General Meeting

From May 16-19, Mike Delker, VP of Credit Union Relations at the Texas Credit Union League visited Jamaica to attend JCCUL’s Annual General Meeting, have dialogue with the league staff, and meet and discuss the partnership progress with the direct credit union to credit union partners.

Along with Pete Crear, WOCCU’s CEO, Delker participated in a review session of the credit union to credit union partnerships. Fourteen Jamaican CU s and the Jamaica League participated in the first year of the program. The participating CU s were St. Catherine, Manchester, Insurance Employees, GSB, Westmoreland, Palisadoes, COK, NCB Employees, JTA, St. Thomas, UWI Mona & Community, Kirkvine, JPS and AAMM.

More Jamaica-Texas partnership pictures here

CPM visits Altura Credit Union in California

CPM Director of Risk Management Gonzalo Cervantes, WOCCU Project Director Mario Galarraga, and WOCCU Project Leader Jorge Mario Gutierrez met with Altura CU executives for two days to research information regarding risk management. CPM is currently preparing to add its own risk management department and the representatives received thorough information to help them develop and implement effective policies and procedures.


Image: L-R: (back) Altura CU VP Internal Audit Bob Duffy, WOCCU Project Leader Jorge Mario Gutierrez, Director of Risk Management Kathy Roney, CPM Director of Risk Management Gonzalo Cervantes, (front) Altura CU Risk Management Specialist Maria Roy and WOCCU Project Director Mario Galarraga at the Altura CU corporate office

Complete information here

Alianza goes to the Hill with New Mexico

Representatives from Mexico’s Alianza were in Washington, DC, last week to participate in a series of meetings related to their WOCCU sponsored international partnership with the Credit Union Association of New Mexico (CUANM).

Alianza had the opportunity to visit Navy Federal Credit Union and learn more about the day-to-day operations in a US Credit Union.
They also visited the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) and met with Chairperson Joanne Johnson and Board member Gigi Hyland to discuss the role of the credit union regulator.

A highlight of the visit to Washington, DC, was the opportunity to visit the United States Congres during a “Hike the Hill” event with the CUANM partners.

After three busy days in Washington, DC, the delegation traveled to Albuquerque for an up-close look at CUANM and its operations in New Mexico. In addition to a tour of CUANM’s offices, the delegation from Mexico visited two of CUANM’s member credit unions. At Sandia Laboratory Federal Credit Union, they were welcomed by CEO Christopher Jillson and several credit union staff members. They also visited New Mexico Educators FCU union where they learned more about product and services provided by large credit unions in the United States.

More pictures here

[Top] Alianza at NMEFCU - From back left, NMEFCU SVP-Operations Tom Hagan, Villegas, Diana Rendón, Gamiño, Angel Rendón, NMEFCU CEO Terry Laudick, NMEFCU SVP-Financial Services Susan Verbeck. Front row, from left, NMEFCU SVP-Information Technology Joe Christian, NMEFCU SVP-Human Resources Larry Erickson, NMEFCU VP-Marketing Anneliese Steen and WOCCU's Bice.

[R] Sylvia Lyon and Tomas Carrizales (CEO's of Alianza and CUANM) enjoying the visit.

Arizona Credit Unions learn about Marketing and Outreach Programs at Caja Libertad

The Arizona Credit Union System, in conjunction with the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU), recently took a group of Arizona credit union representatives to Queretaro, Mexico to visit ACUS’s partner credit union, Caja Libertad, for a week-long, fact-finding tour of the credit union’s marketing efforts.

Participants included Beatrice Vidal, Pima Federal CU; Laura Lowe Edgar, Arizona Federal CU; Carolyn Cameron, Jose and Lucy Carrera, First CU and Sandy Watts from the Arizona Credit Union System.

During the weeklong trip, the group visited Caja Libertad’s headquarter offices and held meetings with the credit union’s marketing department to find out how the credit union promotes services to their Latino membership.

More pictures here

Kenya Government Representative visits Pennsylvania

Recently the Pennsylvania Credit Union Association hosted the Permanent Secretary of the Kenya Ministry of Cooperative Development Mr. Patrick S. Khaemba as part of its WOCCU sponsored international partnership. Mr. Khaemba traveled to Washington, DC and Pennsylvania to learn more about credit union operations in the United States and to share his experience of working with the credit union movement in Kenya.

Read entire press release here


In the picture, Rodney Hood, Vice Chairman of the Board at the National Credit Union Administration in Alexandria, Virginia, meets with Kenya's Patrick S. Khaemba.

California Credit Union League CEO addresses CPM Assembly

California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues President and CEO Bill Cheney; Vice President of Business Services Sylvia Fath; and League Diversity Committee members, Arrowhead CU Board Chairman Marie Alonzo and Printing Industries CU President and CEO Rick Dockery attended the 2006 Caja Popular Mexicana (CPM) Annual Meeting, held April 21-22 in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico.

Complete press release here