WASHINGTON—World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) President and CEO Paul Treinen told credit unions gathered here that coordinated advocacy at the local, national and global levels is what is required to be most effective.
“At the end of the day, this work is not about policy for policy’s sake,” Treinen told America’s Credit Unions GAC. “It is about making sure credit unions can continue doing what they do best: serving members, strengthening communities and expanding access to financial services for people who need it most.”
And that requires advocacy at every level—locally, nationally and globally, he said.
According to Treinen, while much of the advocacy work U.S. credit unions see firsthand happens in statehouses and on Capitol Hill, many of the policies shaping the future of financial services originate in international forums long before they reach the United States.
From Global to Local
As examples he pointed the audience to global conversations around capital standards, anti-money laundering rules, artificial intelligence, digital assets and cybersecurity as examples of issues that begin on the international stage and eventually influence national regulatory frameworks.
Treinen said the role of the World Council is to ensure the credit union perspective is represented early in those discussions and that global standards reflect the realities of cooperative financial institutions.
Other Points Made
Treinen also:
- Highlighted proportionality as a top priority for WOCCU’s international advocacy work—pushing for regulatory approaches that recognize the size, structure and risk profile of credit unions, rather than applying one-size-fits-all rules designed for the world’s largest banks.
- Said that by directly with international standard-setting bodies and monitoring emerging policy trends, WOCCU also serves as an early warning system for the U.S. movement, helping leaders prepare for changes that may shape the future of financial services.
- Said that thanks to U.S. support, through collaboration with the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions and the broader movement, credit unions have helped expand access to savings, credit and financial opportunity in countries including Ukraine, Guatemala and Kenya.
Stability & Resilience
“When we step in together, we expand opportunity, strengthen local institutions and help communities build stability and resilience,” Treinen said.
He encouraged attendees to remain engaged in the global movement and invited them to continue the conversation at the World Credit Union Conference in Sydney in July.
