Credit unions in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Washington are participating in the World Council of Credit Unions International Partnerships program, hosting peers from Brazil and Peru to exchange ideas, best practices and technical expertise.
Eight credit union executives from Sicredi, a leading financial cooperative in Brazil, are participating in three-week internship now under way at nine credit unions, said the Cornerstone Credit Union League in Dallas.
Three Washington credit unions are currently hosting a three-week visit of four credit union professionals from Brazil, reported the Northwest Credit Union Association in Federal Way, Wash.
Additionally, the $392 million Vermont Federal Credit Union in Burlington said it recently accommodated eight credit union professionals from Peru.
The international delegates are learning about American credit union governance, economic empowerment, technology, risk management, social responsibility, human resources, marketing, asset/liability management and accounting.
"The partnership Cornerstone enjoys with Sicredi demonstrates our commitment as an international credit union movement to continually learn, grow and share," said Cornerstone Credit Union League President/CEO Dick Ensweiler. "While our interns and host credit unions benefit from this internship, it is ultimately credit union members who reap the greatest benefit, as the sharing of best practices ensures we are positioning ourselves to meet the financial services needs of our members."
The credit unions hosting Sicredi delegates include the $1 billion A+ FCU in Austin, Texas; the $1 billion Arkansas FCU in Jacksonville, Ark.; the $875 million Communication FCU in Oklahoma City, Okla.; the $763 million Texas Trust CU in Mansfield, Texas; the $3 billion Tinker FCU in Oklahoma City, Okla.; the $37 million TruService Community FCU in Little Rock, Ark.; the $1.6 billion University FCU in Austin, Texas; and, the $740 million United Heritage Credit Union in Austin, Texas.
In Washington, the $11 billion BECU in Tukwila, the $1 billion Sound Credit Union in Tacoma and the $589 million Seattle Metropolitan Credit Union in Seattle hosted four Brazilian credit union colleagues, NWCUA said.
"What an incredible opportunity this is not only for our visitors but ultimately for our Northwest credit unions," said Brandi Gleason, director of member relations for NWCUA. "They've already shared so much with each other about how credit unions are working hard to improve the lives of their members all over the world."
Later this month, NWCUA said it will lead several field trips for the Brazilians and their hosts, including a tour of Seattle Children's Hospital, a visit to a chapter meeting, a trip to the Washington Department of Financial Institutions to attend a rule-making session and a stop at the Washington Capitol in Olympia.
In New England, eight representatives from AELUCOOP, the second largest credit union in Peru, visited the Vermont Federal Credit Union during the week of October 7. The group consisted of representatives from various functional areas of the Peruvian credit union.
AELUCOOP representatives toured Vermont FCU's branches, the State House and other local attractions.
The relationship between AELUCOOP and Vermont FCU began in October 2010 when the two credit unions signed a World Council of Credit Union's international partnership agreement.
Vermont FCU representatives traveled to Lima, Peru in October 2011 to visit AELUCOOP.
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