North Carolina signs partnership agreement with Caja Morelia-Valladolid

The Caja Morelia representatives stand out front a North Carolina credit union after a technical tour.

On October 29, 2007, twelve delegates from Caja Morelia Valladolid traveled to Greensboro, North Carolina to sign a partnership agreement with the North Carolina Credit Union League (NCCUL) through World Council of Credit Unions’ (WOCCU) International Partnerships Program. This will be the North Carolina’s second WOCCU partnership. Its first partnership is with the South American country of Suriname.

The agreement will allow a free exchange of information between the two entities. Both are looking for ways to better serve their members. The NCCUL is especially interested in tapping knowledge that would help them to secure the Hispanic market, focusing on issues like service delivery, branch design, and marketing.

During the trip, the delegates also visited three local credit unions in the Triad-area, including Premier Federal Credit Union, Truliant Federal Credit Union, and Allegacy Federal Credit Union. During these visits, the delegates were able to discuss topics such as information technology systems, branches, points of service, and accounting systems with credit union staff and executives.

Juan Juarez, CEO of Caja Morelia and one of the visitors, is most interested in learning about new technology. One issue that his credit union faces in Mexico is not being able to offer ATM service to Caja Morelia's members.

The new partners are also planning other credit union visits in other parts of the state for the future. Also in the works, the NCCUL is looking to do a return visit to Caja Morelia in Mexico.

Written by Josh Fetting, International Partnerships Program Specialist

Oregon discusses strategic planning with Belize at ACUC

Thirteen Belize credit unions attended Mid Oregon Credit Union’s Annual Credit Union Convention in Fort George, Oregon to celebrate International Credit Union Day and also discuss strategic planning for the future. Mid Oregon Credit Union’s Vice President, Kyle Frick, spoke to the 180 attendees of the convention about similarities of the credit union movement in mid-Oregon and the country of Belize in relation to history and growth comparisons. Using these comparisons, examples of U.S. models, and WOCCU models from Rwanda, Kenya and Columbia, Mr. Frick offered constructive solutions for bringing services to all credit unions through joint agreements.

Mr. Frick’s main message was for the credit unions to develop ideas based on what successes other credit unions were having. The challenge here lied with the need to progress with a strategic marketing plan that included financial literacy, public relations, and building community relationships.

To jump start people’s ideas, Mr. Frick reminded the attendees why credit unions are special and what makes them different from other financial institutions. Many of the advantages come from being a not-for-profit institution. Mr. Frick boasted the ability for credit unions to offer lower loan rates and higher savings rates, the member ownership aspect, and the opportunity for the members to be involved in volunteer leadership.

Mr. Frick concluded the convention by reminding the attendees of empowerment that they are instilling into their communities and the knowledge, skills, and financial help that they are able to provide to those people.

Currently, Northwest Corporate Federal Credit Union in Portland, Oregon is in the midst of planning a visit to Belize in order to pursue a possible partnership with the credit unions there.

Written by Josh Fetting, International Partnerships Program Specialist

Partnerships share experience and counsel at Partnership Workshop

One day after International Credit Union Day, World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) held their annual International Partnerships Workshop. Representatives from nine international partnerships along with representatives from WOCCU and Credit Union National Association met to discuss their respective international partnerships. The representatives are involved in WOCCU’s International Partnerships Program. WOCCU’s International Partnerships program facilitates networking experiences between developed and developing credit union movements through delegation visits, meetings, internships and volunteer assignments.

Victor Corro, International Partnerships Manager WOCCU, gave opening remarks and a short overview of the International Partnership Department status. Currently, WOCCU has 22 signed partnerships and 7 progressing to sign up.

Afterwards, the representatives gave briefings on their partnership experiences and shared knowledge about the challenges and successes that they have faced. The presentations were mostly done in a casual manner allowing for discussion amongst the different partnerships. The representatives were able to exchange counsel and information in regards to handling certain themes with their partners. Some popular topics discussed were shared branching, lobbying, information technology platforms, and branding.

The workshop also featured special presentations. Janette Klaehn, Senior Manager of Communications WOCCU gave the first presentation which was about engaging others in the international credit union movement. She spoke about marketing tactics and media that can be used to plug their partnerships every chance they get. The representatives stated that they were frequently searching for more ways to publicize their partnership internally and externally.

The next presentation was by Oscar Hidalgo, General Manager of CoopeServidores of Costa Rica. Oscar spoke about the credit union situation in Costa Rica, gave the history and statistical data of their credit union system, FEDEAC, and also briefed the group about his credit union and the partnership they have with Family Security Credit Union in Alabama. Oscar Hidalgo had been in Alabama on a partnership visit the week before the workshop.

Finally, Valerie Breunig, Executive Director of the Worldwide Foundation WOCCU, briefly addressed the group on leveraging the International Development Fund (IDF) to support your international partnership.

Overall, the workshop presented a great opportunity for all to discuss, share, and learn about the partnership process and what it entails. If you would like information on attending next year’s International Partnerships Workshop or the International Partnerships Program, please contact Victor Corro at vcorro@woccu.org.

Written by Josh Fetting, International Partnerships Program Specialist

Immersion program teaches culture, language and marketing

A group of participants stand in front of one of Caja Popular Mexicana's branches during their internship.

Starting on September 16th, World Council of Credit Unions’ International Partnerships department held their first-annual Hispanic Marketing Immersion Program. Eighteen participants from nine states participated. The program offered either a one- or two-week option. The program consisted of a combination of language classes, home stays with Mexican families, and practical internships in a Mexican credit union (or cajas, as they are called in Mexico).

This special combination allowed for the participants to fully immerse themselves in Mexican culture, while at the same time learning the tactics and strategies that the Mexican Cajas use in their marketing campaigns. They explored marketing devices such as the use of volunteer marketing committees, branding, mascots, financial education materials and cultural holiday celebrations.

The participants began their days with four to five hours of intensive Spanish courses based on their language ability. After classes, the participants returned home for an authentic Mexican lunch and had the opportunity to practice what they had learned in class.

The afternoon held a portrayed a different atmosphere with the practical internship at one of the four Mexican cajas: Caja Popular Mexicana, Caja Libertad, Caja Alianza and Caja Morelia Valladolid. Each caja offered a different experience about credit union operations, marketing tactics, microfinance opportunities and financial products that meet the needs of working families.

The internships took place in a variety of environments and branches, showing the diversity of the Mexican market and the strategies needed to market services to the people. Activities were also very diverse, consisting of presentations, operational tours, and meetings with marketing teams and executives.

The Texas and California leagues have a partnership with Caja Popular Mexicana through WOCCU’s International Partnership Program; the Arizona Credit Union System is partnered with Caja Libertad; and the Credit Union Association of New Mexico has a partnership with Caja Alianza. The Hispanic Marketing Immersion Program was a direct result of the partnership deliverables for 2007.

The participants also had the chance to partake in a workshop in Guanajuato, September 22-23, which included presentations by all four cajas and visits to local businesses financed by microentreprise loans.

In light of the program’s great success, the next Hispanic Marketing Immersion Program will take place in Mexico’s heartland, September 21-October 4, 2008. Stay tuned to WOCCU’s website for more details: http://www.woccu.org/.

Written by Josh Fetting, International Partnerships Program Specialist