Colorado shares shared branching expertise with Ecuador

(Pictured is (l to r): Backrow: Victor Corro,International Partnerships Manager WOCCU; Jose Guillen, Cooperativa San Jose; Josh Fetting, Program Specialist WOCCU; Doug Burke, President of CUSN; Oscar Guzman, WOCCU Ecuador Project; Santiago Saavedra, WOCCU Ecuador Project; Steve Schaefer, Program Manager WOCCU Ecuador Project. Front row: Rosemary Paddock, Manager of Operations CUSN; Laura Pizzarelli, Vice-President of Corporation Relations CUSC; and Janet Meyers, Boardmember of Colorado Credit Union League Foundation.) Photo taken at RTC Conference in Quito, Ecuador.

On July 9th, Laura Pizzarelli, CUSC; Doug Burke, CUSN; Rosemary Paddock, CUSN; and Janet Meyers, CCULF, traveled to Ecuador to observe operations at three credit unions and attend a conference on shared branching. The four representatives spent the first two days traveling throughout Ecuador’s beautiful countryside while on their way to various Ecuadorian cooperatives. Colorado’s Credit Union Service Network has been partnered with one of Ecuador’s credit union networks, RTC, through World Council of Credit Union’s International Partnership program since 1999.

The group made their first stop in Chimbo, a small town outside of Riobamba. There, they were able to view and discuss the credit union’s operations with José Guillén, Cooperativa de Ahorro y Crédito San José CEO. Burke was able to assess changes that had taken place in that credit union since his last visit in mid-2006. San José had increased security and added air-conditioning in its IT department.

Afterwards, the group made their way to Riobamba to visit Accion Rural Cooperativa de Ahorro y Crédito and speak with its CEO, Mauricio Rivera. Rivera pointed out many unique features of this credit union, including their ability to provide micro-enterprise loans to Ecuador’s rural population. Of Accion Rural’s members, 93% live in rural areas.

After spending a night in Riobamba, the representatives had the privilege to get to know one of Ecuador’s more cultural cities, Cuenca. In Cuenca, they made a stop at Cooperativa de Ahorro y Crédito Juventud Ecuatoriana Progresista.

On the last day, the representatives were invited to give a presentation on their findings and suggestions at a credit union network conference in Quito, where 18 other Ecuadorian credit unions were in attendance. The theme of the conference was shared branching. The group had many good suggestions, such as implementing a “secret shopper” program, forming a national marketing committee, and providing standardized training procedures.

At the end of the presentation, an open forum was conducted to allow a real time exchange of information between the Ecuadorian credit unions and the U.S. credit unions. The end of the conference brought about many compliments from both sides of the table and many wishes for a continuance of the collaboration between these to movements for years to come.

Written by Josh Fetting, International Partnerships Program Specialist

Maryland & D.C. League lend Nicaragua expertise on Nominating Committee

On July 8th, John Link, Treasurer of Agriculture Federal Credit Union, and Michael Di Gennaro, a volunteer at Federal Reserve Board Federal Credit Union, both from Maryland & District of Columbia Credit Union Association (MDDCCUA) made a visit to Nicaragua’s Central Service Organization (CSO). The objective of their trip was to assist CSO with the process of forming a Nominating Committee and give a few pointers on governance. MDDCCUA and CSO have been partnered through World Council of Credit Union’s International Partnership program since 2002.

The big challenge here was finding a way to overcome Nicaragua’s unique credit union regulations. The pay-off would be helping to tackle one of the Nicaraguan credit union movement’s biggest problems with their governance. Due to some issues with governance, Nicaraguan credit unions typically experience high delinquencies and losses. Inadequate oversight has led to high expenditures in fixed assets, such as buildings and has resulted in a loss of capital.

Link and Di Gennaro had three days to gather information and construct a presentation to help Nicaraguan credit unions in the process of nominating qualified candidates for their boards. The presentation was presented in front of a group of credit unions. The first presentation was focused on “first principles” governance with a main message of “Boards Govern, Managers Manage, and Members Own.” The presentations also covered everything from the history of credit unions, volunteer and staff roles, and, of course, the Nominating Committee.

Link and Di Gennaro felt that they had reached the goal of helping the Nicaraguans overcome their misconceptions of the Nominating Committee and had given them a model from which they could produce positive results. However, the Nicaraguan movement must still form their concepts in order to overcome their unique institutional barrier.

Written by Josh Fetting, International Partnerships Program Specialist

Nicaragua and MDDCCUA renew partnership!

The Maryland and District of Columbia Credit Union Association recently welcomed visitors from the Nicaraguan Central Service Organization, Juan Altamirano, CEO of the CSO, and German Membreno, CSO Vice Chairman and CEO of Dinamica Credit Union. The trip included attending MDDCCUA’s Annual Meeting and Convention, where the theme was “CSI: Common Sense Innovations” – highlighting the marriage of the practical with the cutting edge. Approximately 700 credit union board members and managers were in attendance. The visitors were invited to participate in the convention’s educational sessions and also in several visits to credit unions in the Baltimore-Washington area.

MDDCCUA CEO Michael Beall, who hosted the visit with Sarah Turner, MDDCCUA Vice President of Strategic Alliances, explained, “The topics covered during this convention—growth, governance and services—are challenges both MDDCUA and CSO face. Through the partnership exchange, we can overcome these challenges together.”

CSO and the former DC Credit Union League established a partnership through the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) International Partnerships program in 2002. The visit marked the first meeting between CSO and the new MDCCUA since the DC and Maryland credit union leagues merged last year.

In July, MDDCCUA will send two volunteers to Nicaragua to provide training on nominating committee and governance best practices. In coming years, MDDCCUA will provide technical assistance to CSO on shared branching, and CSO will work with credit unions in DC and Maryland to enhance outreach to immigrant groups.

The partners concluded that the visit had an important impact on both sides, and displayed one of the most valuable outcomes of a partnership, the bonds that grow between the people of different cultures, especially when they have the commitment of credit union development.

Villarreal and Corro Visit Superintendency of Banks in Panama

Jacinto Villarreal, COFEP's CEO and Victor Miguel Corro, WOCCU's international partnerships manager recently visited the Superientendency of Banks in Panama (SBP), During their visit Corro and Villarreal explained the international partnership between the Iowa Credit Union League and COFEP, WOCCU's member in Panama.

Superintentendent Olegario Barrelier was briefed on the concern of the lack of specific credit union regulation and oversight in the country. Barrelier and SBP management team expressed awarenes of the lack of adequate oversight and committed to helping Iowa and Panama find ways to strenghten the regulatory and examination framework for credit unions in the country.

WOCCU will share its Model Credit Union Law with the Superintendency of Banks. IPACOOP is the Panamanian Goverment Agency that oversees cooperatives in the country. Credit Unions are under IPACOOP's watch.

Panama and Iowa credit union movements have been engaged in a partnership for almost three years. Several lobbying efforts have been conducted at high levels in the Panamanian goverment to create awareness of best regulatory and examination practices when it comes to credit unions.

Minnesota visits 5th annual international seminar in Paraguay

Representatives Dick Nesvold, Board Chairman Minnesota Credit Union Network, and Mark Cummins, President & CEO Minnesota Credit Union Network, recently attended an international seminar in Asuncion, Paraguay. The seminar took place on May21-22 and was the fifth annual event. The title this year was “Credit Unions: Valid Alternatives for Social & Economic Development, emphasis on Training, Technology, Regulation, Ecology & Microfinance.” Approximately, 400 credit union representatives were in attendance.

Both Nesvold and Cummins addressed the conference on key topics such as credit union governance and the effect of government relations and politics on credit unions. The conference also consisted of presentations covering other areas of interest including monitoring financial risk, advances in regulation and supervision, and the impact of tax reform on credit unions.

Minnesota Credit Union Network (MnCUN) and Central de Cooperativas del Area Nacional Ltda. (CENCOPAN) have been partnered through WOCCU’s International Partnerships Program since 2004. The partnership has allowed for the two credit union movements to facilitate a number of initiatives such as a credit union exchange program and an international dialogue with regulators from Paraguay, NCUA and the Minnesota Department of Commerce.

Both credit union movements are concerned with issue-driven political advocacy and the toll that crisis-mode grassroots lobbying takes. The movements would like to move towards systemic political advocacy and working with legislators on a continual basis.

After the conference, the Cummins, Nesvold, and Michelle Kramer of WOCCU met with Sen. Rolando Dietze of Paraguay’s National Congress and Committee of Cooperative Affairs where they discussed the country’s economy and the impact of cooperatives.

The final two days of the trip consisted of visits to numerous credit unions, including Mercado No. 4 Ltda., and Universitaria Ltda., Del Sur Ltda. and Colonias Unidas Ltda. Nesvold, who had previously visited some of these credit unions in the inaugural partnership visit in 2004, was able to review the tremendous changes that had taken place in the last three years of the partnership.

Both Minnesota guests were encouraged, energized and honored by their visit to Paraguay and have great hope in the Paraguay credit union movement.

Written by Josh Fetting, International Partnerships Intern

Peru and Vermont Sign Partnership Agreement

In a recent visit to Lima and Cuzco, Peru the Association of Vermont Credit Unions (AVCU) signed an international partnership agreement with the Federacion Nacional de Cooperativas de Ahorro y Credito del Peru (FENACREP). Those signing the agreement were Joe Bergeron, President of AVCU, Manuel Rabines, CEO of FENACREP, John Benoit, AVCU Board Chairman, Jorge Zevallos Carpio, FENACREP Chairman, and Victor Corro, WOCCU's international partnerships manager.

The partnership is through the World Council of Credit Union's (WOCCU) International Partnerships Program. The signing of the agreement was the payoff after two years of preparation between the two credit union movements. The trip was a follow-up to Peru's visit to Vermont last November.

In addition to the signing, AVCU also made a special appearance in front of the Cooperative Committee of Peru's National Congress where Bergeron explained to legislators the difference between credit unions and banks and their tax-exempt status in the US. The group also made visits to San Hilarion Credit Union, ABACO Credit Union, Finantel Credit Union, AELUCOOP Credit Union, and Santo Domingo de Guzman Credit Union.

The partnership will give the credit union movements the ability to collaborate on key areas of focus such as deposit insurance for members. The future of this partnership will also provide more means for communication including presentations at each other's conventions and additional partnership developments at the credit union-level.


(Picture 1: Back Row:
(Picture 2: Manuel Rabines, CEO of FENACREP, signing the partnership agreement at the signing ceremony)

Written by Josh Fetting, International Partnerships Intern

Trinidad and Tobago Enjoy and Learn at Connecticut Meeting

(Pictured is Dr. Winford James, President of the Board of Directors CCULTT,
Kathy Chartier, Chair of CULC, Diane Joseph, Manager of CCULTT,
Kevin Chandler, CEO of CULC.)

The Credit Union League of Connecticut recently welcomed two visitors from the Cooperative Credit Union League of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Winford James, President of the Board of Directors, and Dianne Joseph, Manager of CCULTT.

The visitors from CCULTT were invited to participate in CULC's Annual General Meeting, a variety of educational and planning sessions, and also visit the league office and credit unions in the state.

In Connecticut, Dr. James and Ms. Joseph discussed league operations with league officials, visited the Seasons Federal Credit Union and Members Credit Union, and participated in a planning session with the partnership committee. Afterwards, the group attended the CULC's AGM where educational sessions and social events took place. Dr. James addressed the meeting with greetings from Trinidad and Tobago.

The planning session mainly comprised of a discussion about areas of cooperation which could benefit the partnership in the proceeding year. The discussion led to the theme of developing a good governance model and job descriptions, qualifications, and accountability measurements for board members. This initiative would help to achieve CCULT's mission of reuniting its league after the loss of 15 of its credit unions.

The partners concluded that the visit had an important impact on both sides, and displayed one of the most valuable outcomes of a partnership, the bonds that grow between the people of different cultures, especially when they have the commitment of credit union development.

On May 21, five representatives will travel from the CULC to Trinidad and Tobago and plan to visit credit unions, participate in the leadership conference, and continue the planning discussions.

Written by Josh Fetting, International Partnerships Intern

Partnership Opportunity Discussed at Idaho Annual Meeting

(Alan Cameron and Shane Berger, CEO of Beehive Federal Credit Union
explain their discussions with WOCCU regarding
international credit union development.)

Victor Corro, International Partnerships manager of WOCCU, attended the Idaho Credit Union League's General Annual Meeting in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho on Monday, May 14.

During the Board of Director's dinner, Mr. Corro explained the makings of the International Partnerships program and the different oppotunities available for establishing partnerships between the ICUL and other credit union movements. Alan Cameron, CEO of ICUL, also commented on the new partnership opportunity stating, "The credit unions in Idaho are ready to take the next step and help credit unions overseas." Mr. Cameron continued by complimenting the partnerships program, "We [ICUL] look forward to a long-lasting relationship with WOCCU."

The league is interested in a partnership with the South Pacific Islands where an immediate need exists to strengthen the credit unions and the league there. One of the many benefits to the credit unions would be the possibility of merging which would create a more sustainable model.

As the presentation came to an end, Mr. Corro closed by describing a unique cooperative opportunity between the ICUL, the Solomon Islands and Australia.


Written by Josh Fetting, International Partnerships intern

Alabama Hosts Costa Rica

During his first visit to the US, Manuel Bolaños (CEO, FEDEAC, pictured at right) attended the Alabama Credit Union League's Annual Meeting in Destin, FL. The two credit union entities have been partnered through WOCCU's International Partnerships program since July of 2006.

The partnership allows for direct credit union-to-credit union relationships. Currently, there are five Alabama credit unions working in conjunction with five Costa Rican credit unions. The partnership provides a way to share information and develop strategies in areas of cooperation between the credit unions.

In an address to the ACUL's board of directors, Mr. Bolaños boasted the many advantages and opportunities that the partnership has provided them.

In Pensacola, FL, Mr. Bolaños toured the Pen Air Federal Credit Union (an Associate Member of the ACUL). The tour was proceeded by a discussion of credit union operations led by John Davis, CEO of PenAir Federal Credit Union. Victor Corro, International Partnerships manager, WOCCU, and Corinne Hodges, ACUL representative.

The partnership has also led to the awareness of the importance of advocacy and lobbying, which has allowed the FEDEAC to hire a lobbyist who has been crucial to the credit union industry in Costa Rica.

Common Themes Emerge at US-Mexico Meeting

(US-Mexico meeting, Ontario, CA. Pictured is (left to right): Tomás Carrizales,
Federacion Alianza, Ramón Imperial Zúñiga, Cirilo Rivera Rivera, Josefina Cerda Moreno from Caja Popular
Mexicana, Sylvia Lyon, New Mexico Credit Union Association.)

In an unprecedented meeting, the Mexico-United States partnerships
convened at the California Credit Union League in Ontario, CA on April
24 and 25 to conduct individual strategic planning sessions and
come up with a common strategy that leverages
the strengths of the credit unions in each country.

The CEO's of the Mexican Cajas were present(Federacion Alianza,
Caja Libertad,Caja Popular Mexicana,Caja Morelia Valladolid)
along with the CEO's of the Texas, California, and North Carolina Credit
Union Leagues, and the COO of the Arizona Credit Union League.

Carlos Calderon (CEO, OAS Credit Union in Washington, DC) led the main
brainstorming session where key areas of action were identified: enhanced
delivery service, internships, Hispanic marketing and growth strategies.
These main actions would help US credit unions attract more members from
the Latino community and also help the Mexican cajas create the
transactional volume needed for new cross-border enhanced delivery
channels such as shared branching and increased remmittances activity.

WOCCU, taking advantage of the strong relationship between the US credit
unions and Mexican cajas, will launch a total immersion program which will help to
facilitate membership growth and transactional volume.  The program
will include four main components: Spanish classes, internship at a credit union
branch, cultural exposure through home stays with host families, and
targeted marketing instruction by the Cajas.  The program will take place from
September 15 to 30, 2007 in Queretaro and Guanajuato, Mexico and will cost less
than $150 a day.  Participants will be able to take advantage of the credit union
differences in Mexico.  The program deadline is July 31.

WOCCU will also be organizing a summit in September to create
an effective strategy to recruit and retain members from the Latino community and
to diversify established credit unions.  WOCCU is opening offices throughout Central
and South America to position itself to help teach these techniques of membership
growth.

For more information, read the press release.