QUITO, ECUADOR — For the first time ever, two credit union shared branching systems in different countries are able to talk to one another and handle transactions, according to an announcement from the World Council of Credit Unions, which has sponsored the effort to develop the connection.

Carroll Beach, president of CO-OP Shared Branching made the first deposit into his account in a U.S. credit union from a shared branching outlet in Ecuador. CO-OP Shared Branching has been involved in the project since well before it changed from Credit Union Service Centers and supports it with the Next Generation switch.

In addition to the deposit made by Beach, president/CEO of CO-OP Shared Branching, Laura Pizzarelli, CO-OP Shared Branching's senior vice president of corporate relations made a US$30 withdrawal at the same teller window from her account at Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. The transactions open the door to Ecuadorians living and working in the United States to conduct business with credit unions in their home country, as well countless U.S. visitors to Ecuador who now have the same opportunity in reverse, WOCCU said.