MADISON, Wis.—Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions (WFCU) and the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) are reporting what they are calling “promising results” from a targeted loan program launched in early 2025 to support Ukrainian veterans and their families.
Funded by WFCU’s Ukrainian Credit Union Displacement Fund, the program enables four participating Ukrainian credit unions to offer affordable, tailored financial support to veterans and military families rebuilding their lives and businesses amid the ongoing war, the organizations reported.
The WCUF and WOCCU said that through the first six months of 2025, participating credit unions:
- Disbursed 31 loans, totaling $157,000
- Funded 62% of the loans through the WFCU grant, with another 38% financed by the credit unions’ own capital
- Issued 40% of the loans directly to veterans and another 60% to military family members
- Provided nearly half of all loans to women borrowers
‘Powerful Example’
“This initiative is a powerful example of how credit unions continue to meet people where they are – even in conflict – and help them build toward a stronger future,” WFCU President Mike Reuter said in a statement.
One loan recipient is Maksym Hevak from Lviv Region, a young farmer and entrepreneur carrying on his family’s legacy. WCUF/WOCCU said his father Oleg, a veteran who served in the Ukrainian military since 2014 and is currently mobilized, inspired Hevak’s mission.
With program funding through Anisia Credit Union, Hevak invested in hazelnut trees, strawberry seedlings and other crops for the growing season. The loan empowered him to grow the family farm and contribute to the local economy, the organizations said.
Produce that Produces
According to WCUF/WOCCU, another entrepreneur, Tetiana Shavkun, owns a bustling produce shop in the Cherkasy Region. Her loan from Kredyt-Soiuz Credit Union allowed her and her husband, a war veteran, to purchase a delivery vehicle, cutting transportation costs and enabling direct sourcing from farmers. With plans to expand product lines and hire staff, Shavkun is growing her small business into a local hub for fresh, affordable food, the organizations stated.
‘Work Continues’
WFCU and WOCCU said they continue to work closely with Ukrainian partners to expand access to financial tools that support resilience, recovery and long-term economic inclusion through funding from the Veterans’ Program and the Rally the Movement Campaign.
Below, Tetiana Shavkun at her produce shop.
