Iowa Pioneers with Panama for CU-Specific Regulation

Five delegates from the Iowa Credit Union League (ICUL) went to Panama during the second week of January to aid the efforts of the Panama credit union league (COFEP) in establishing credit union regulation.

The visit was the two leagues' fourth face-to-face exchange in the two years as part of their internatinoal partnership through WOCCU.

The ICUL group visited four credit unions, met with government officials and COFEP executives, and spoke at a one-day conference on credit union best practices. One topic of interest ot the Panama group is lobbying and its potential benefits.

"For the great majority, a relatively new topic like lobbying or lobbying to achieve positive things for the credit unions was interesting," said COFEP CEO Jacinto Villarreal.

Pat Drennen, ICUL board director and general manager of 1st Gateway CU, Camanche, said it is sometimes difficult for the Iowa team to convince their counterparts that lobbying is a good thing.

"The issue of...lobbying is kind of foreign in Panama because the mindset is that if you're talking to a government offical, you're bribing them," he explained.

In a symbolic gesture at the end of the conference, ICUL gave a letter directed to Panama's president to Arnulfo de León, the government's director of human resources. The letter expressed the need for credit union-specific regulation in Panama.

Picture taken during a visit to El Palacio de las Garzas where the President of Panama has his offices.

Alabama & Costa Rica CU-to-CU Partnerships Kick Off

Representatives from three Alabama credit unions made their first trip to Costa Rica in late December in search of opportunities to expand their relationships with partnering Costa Rican credit unions.

The first afternoon of the visit was spent with FEDEAC's board of directors, where visitors became acquainted with their overseas peers in the national federation.

The group also joined COOPENAE for an evening to help celebrate its 40th Anniversary. Throughout the remainder of the stay, representatives met with their partnering credit unions and identified a work plan beneficial to each organization.

Gary Wolter, CEO, and Vicki Williams, SEVP & COO, of the Alabama Credit Union League joined Manuel Bolaños, FEDEAC CEO, and Victor Corro, WOCCU International Partnerships Manager, during the week to identify areas in which FEDEAC can better serve its members.

The group included representatives from Community CU, Gadsden; Family Security CU, Decatur; Mutual Savings CU, Birmingham; and the Alabama Credit Union League. There are currently 5 credit union-to-credit union partnerships between Alabama and Costa Rica.