The Global Credit Union Podcast

Episode 54: Analyzing WOCCU's 2024 Statistical Report

15 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) released its 2024 Statistical Report in October and the man who conducted the survey and compiled the data join...

Episode 53: Emerging Trends in Fraud and Cybersecurity for Credit Unions

17 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Credit unions have never seen a greater amount of fraud and other cybersecurity threats than they have in 2025.For this month’s episode of the podca...

Episode 52: The Impact of U.S. Tariffs on Credit Unions

20 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Every business in the world is keeping a close on President Trump's tariffs, and credit unions are no different. But what are the impacts of those tar...

Episode 51: Member Spotlight on the Polish Credit Union System

17 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 Sa...

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

17 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We preview the 2025 World Credit Union Conference this month on Episode 50 of The Global Credit Union Podcast.Christi Swoboda, WOCCU Director of Inter...

Episode 49: WOCCU Interim President and CEO Paul Treinen

14 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 o...

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

16 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) launched the promotion of International Credit Union Day 2025 in April under the theme “Cooperation for a Pro...

Episode 47: Rallying the Movement

19 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

World Council of Credit Unions’ (WOCCU) President and CEO Elissa McCarter LaBorde returns to the podcast along with Mike Reuter, President of Worldw...

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

19 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 a...

Episode 45: New Year, New Format to Preview 2025

15 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 Un...

Episode 44: Uplifting Credit Union Women through GWLN Empowerment Grants

18 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Global Women’s Leadership Network's (GWLN) 2023 Empowerment Grant initiatives supported over 760 individuals in Kenya and Mongolia, increased K...

Episode 43: How Grassroots Advocacy and Global Support Stopped a Burdensome Regulation in the Cayman Islands

20 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When the Cayman Islands' Ministry of Finance in August proposed a new $200,000 annual registration fee for the country's only credit union, Cayman Isl...

Episode 42: Growing Credit Union Financial Inclusion Through WOCCU Global Programs

16 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This month’s episode of the podcast focuses on how technical specialists with World Council of Credit Unions’ (WOCCU) Global Programs' teams are g...

Episode 41: A Conversation with New WOCCU Board Chair Michael Lawrence

18 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This month on the Global Credit Union Podcast, Michael Lawrence joins us to discuss his new role as Chair of the World Council of Credit Unions' B...

Episode 40: Working to GROW Credit Union Business Lending in Ukraine

14 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We go back to Ukraine this month to speak with Ewa Sierzynska, Chief of Party for World Council of Credit Unions' new GROW Project, a four-year, $...

Episode 39: Creating "One World" on International Credit Union (ICU) Day® 2024

17 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Leaders from World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) and Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions (WFCU) discuss their efforts to create a theme of unity...

Episode 38: A Preview of the 2024 World Credit Union Conference

18 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sponsored by Creatio, Episode 38 of The Global Credit Union Podcast gets you ready with everything you need to know for the 2024 World Credit Union Co...

Episode 37: Great IDEAS for Credit Union Digitalization in the Caribbean

15 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The COVID-19 pandemic caused many credit unions around the world to lose the face-to-face contact they had with members in their branches. That was es...

Episode 36: An Education on Climate Resilience

17 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

One year ago, Donore Credit Union in Dublin, Ireland established the Donore Area Sustainable Community (DASC), a community group dedicated to playing ...

Episode 35: They're Coming to America

20 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

America’s Credit Unions’ Governmental Affairs Conference took place in early March in Washington, D.C. Better known simply as GAC, it is the large...

Episode 34: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in the International Credit Union Movement

14 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

February is Black History Month in the United States and Canada, and we use that as a jumping off point for a discussion about the Diversity, Equity a...

Episode 33: The 2024 Global Regulatory Update

12 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If technological innovations are going to truly boost financial inclusion worldwide, international standard setting bodies and national-level regulato...

Episode 32: How World Council Expanded the Relevance of Credit Unions in 2023

20 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We wrap up 2023 by taking a look back at how World Council succeeded this year in making credit unions more relevant in key strategic areas, such as c...

Episode 31: Growing Membership at WOCCU and Across Our Global Movement

15 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Thom Belekevich, World Council of Credit Unions’ (WOCCU) Director of Member Services, helped open the door of WOCCU membership to more credit union ...

Episode 30: 75 Years of International Credit Union Day

18 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This month, we are taking time to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of International Credit Union Day, celebrated on October 19, 2023. Each year since 1...

Episode 29: GWLN 2023 Empowerment Grant Winners

20 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Chimgee Nergui, Partnership Specialist at the Mongolian National Confederation of Credit Unions, and Violet Ndungu, CEO of Muki SACCO in Kenya, are th...

Episode 28: Meet the First WOCCU Board Observers

16 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Eleonora Zgonjanin Petrovikj, CEO of FULM Savings House (North Macedonia) and Patrick Rico, External Affairs Manager at ACDI Multipurpose Cooperative ...

Episode 27: Growing Credit Union SME Lending Through the USAID-CDP/WOCCU TIFI Project

19 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Herpin Jateng, Acting Chief of Party for the USAID Cooperative Development Program (CDP)/World Council of Credit Unions' Technology and Innovation...

Episode 26: A Preview of the 2023 World Credit Union Conference

13 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Brian Harris, President and CEO of Interior Savings Credit Union in Vancouver, Canada—home to next month’s 2023 World Credit Union Conference—jo...

Episode 25: How 3 Years of Success Led to an Extension of the USAID/WOCCU Economic Inclusion Project

17 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in May 2023 extended the flagship project of its Venezuela Regional Response Program th...

Episode 24: A Deep Dive into Climate Resilience and Sustainable Finance

19 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We take a deep dive into World Council of Credit Unions’ strategic focus on climate resilience and sustainable finance this month. We start at Sicr...

Episode 23: How WOCCU is Working for Women

15 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) joined the rest of the world in celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8. And since this is also Wome...

Episode 22: One Year of War and the Resilience of Ukrainian Credit Unions

15 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

With February 2023 marking the somber one-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we look back on how several projects and entiti...

Episode 21: Nominations Open for the Digital Growth and Distinguished Service Awards

18 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

2023 nominations are now open for a pair of World Council of Credit Unions’ annual awards. The Digital Growth Award recognizes one or more member cr...

Episode 20: How WOCCU Responded to a Year of Multiple Crises and Built a Resilient Strategy for 2023

14 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

After an optimistic start to the year, the global credit union movement was hit with multiple crises, including Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukrain...

Episode 19: How Canadian Credit Unions Are Embracing Bold Initiatives

16 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We’re focusing on Canada this month through interviews with: · Jeff Guthrie, President and CEO of the Canadian Credit Union Association(CCUA) and t...

Episode 18: A Deep Dive into WOCCU's 2021 Statistical Report

19 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Despite year-to-year growth in overall membership and total assets for the global credit union movement, World Council of Credit Unions’ (WOCCU) 202...

Episode 17: WOCCU Board Chair Diana Dykstra

14 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This month’s featured guest is Diana Dykstra, who was just named Chair of World Council of Credit Unions’ Board of Directors in July. A six-year v...

Episode 16: Sharing Stories of Empowerment on International Credit Union Day

17 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The theme for International Credit Union Day 2022 is "Empower Your Financial Future with a Credit Union."  World Council of Credit Unions is look...

Episode 15: Can Credit Unions Provide Solutions to Ease Global Food Insecurity?

13 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Episode 15 of the Global Credit Union Podcast examines the global food security crisis caused by COVID-19, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and climate ...

Episode 14: Forging a Path for Migrants Through the Economic Inclusion Project with Oscar Guzman

15 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Oscar Guzman, Chief of Party for World Council of Credit Unions’ Economic Inclusion Project (EIP), discusses how the USAID-funded activity in Peru a...

Episode 13: ABCUL CEO Robert Kelly on Glasgow Hosting the 2022 World Credit Union Conference

18 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Robert Kelly, Chief Executive Officer of the Association of British Credit Unions Limited (ABCUL) is our guest for Episode 13 of the Global Credit Uni...

Episode 12: 36 Hours in Rzeszow

21 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

World Council of Credit Unions' (WOCCU) President and CEO Elissa McCarter LaBorde and members of the WOCCU Credit for Agriculture Producers (CAP) Proj...

Episode 11: The Impact of the Russian Invasion on Ukrainian Credit Unions

16 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Our guest on this edition of the Global Credit Union Podcast is “Aleksandr.” A liaison to the Ukrainian credit union movement, Aleksandr talks abo...

Episode 10: A Preview of the 2022 World Credit Union Conference

16 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The World Credit Union Conference returns as an in-person event for 2022! We preview the conference set for July 17-20 in Glasgow, Scotland on Episode...

Episode Nine: The 2022 Global Regulatory Update

19 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sustainable finance is one of the fastest growing areas of concerns for regulators and credit unions, which is why it is the focus of World Council of...

Episode Eight: How a Peruvian Fintech is Digitizing Credit Unions in Just 30 Days

15 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Facundo Turconi, owner and CEO of Solven, a South American fintech, is featured on Episode Eight to discuss how his firm has helped credit unions in P...

Episode Seven: How GWLN and WYCUP Are Leveling the Playing Field for Women and Youth

17 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Results of a first-time demographic survey of World Council of Credit Unions' member credit union associations showed women trail far behind men when ...

Episode Six: WOCCU President and CEO Elissa McCarter LaBorde

20 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

New World Council of Credit Unions' (WOCCU) President and CEO Elissa McCarter LaBorde is the featured guest. Elissa took over her new leadership role ...

Episode Five: Building Global Bridges with Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions' Executive Director Mike Reuter

15 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions’ Executive Director Mike Reuter joins the program in Episode Five to discuss the global journey available to ...

Episode Four: Gender Lens Investing and Credit Union Development

18 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) has gained significant interest and momentum in the credit union industry over the past few years. Episode Four ...

Episode Three: WOCCU Senior VP of International Advocacy Andrew Price

15 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you work in compliance at a credit union or you advocate on behalf of credit unions at any level of government, you know that standard setters and ...

Episode Two: 2021 World Credit Union Conference Preview

16 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

World Council of Credit Unions' annual World Credit Union Conference (WCUC) is going all virtual for 2021! Due the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, WCUC 202...