The World Council of Credit Unions has released its 2025 Impact Report, outlining a year of system-level transformation for credit unions worldwide and setting the tone for deeper global engagement in 2026. Published from Madison, Wisconsin on April 1, 2026, the report highlights how the organization has gone beyond program delivery to reshape the regulatory and operational environment in which financial cooperatives function across six continents.
Positioning itself as the global voice of the credit union movement, WOCCU’s 2025 efforts focused on advancing proportional regulation, expanding financial inclusion and strengthening cooperative ecosystems through advocacy, partnerships and knowledge-sharing platforms. The report emphasizes that the organisation’s influence is now increasingly visible at the highest levels of global policymaking.
A major highlight of the year was WOCCU’s role in elevating the credit union model in international policy discussions. The G20 formally acknowledged cooperative financial institutions, while the Financial Action Task Force incorporated recommendations backed by WOCCU into its global standards. These developments are expected to promote more proportional and risk-based regulation, a long-standing demand of the cooperative financial sector.
Beyond policy influence, the report details tangible improvements in financial access across emerging and vulnerable regions. WOCCU-supported initiatives in countries such as Ukraine, Guatemala and Kenya resulted in the disbursement of more than 430 loans worth $1.2 million, the opening of over 6,300 new savings accounts and the facilitation of $2 million in lending to small and medium enterprises. These interventions underscore the cooperative model’s ability to reach underserved communities with affordable financial services.
The report also highlights WOCCU’s role as a convener of global dialogue. More than 2,000 participants attended the World Credit Union Conference in person, with an additional 3,000 joining virtually. These platforms enabled cross-border collaboration, peer learning and the exchange of best practices, helping credit union systems improve governance, embrace innovation and adapt to rapidly evolving financial landscapes.
A broader dimension of WOCCU’s work in 2025 was its focus on system-wide resilience and sustainability. The organisation mobilized 186 credit unions to participate in a global climate finance study, reflecting an increasing commitment to aligning cooperative finance with environmental priorities. By fostering collaboration across regions and sectors, WOCCU continues to influence how financial systems evolve in response to global challenges.
WOCCU President and CEO Paul Treinen stated that the impact achieved in 2025 represents not just immediate outcomes but a long-term foundation for the future. He noted that under its “WOCCU 2.0” approach, the organization is enhancing its advocacy capabilities, strengthening member value and showcasing the distinct advantages of the cooperative model on a global scale.
Looking ahead, WOCCU plans to build on this momentum in 2026 through deeper regulatory engagement, expanded partnerships and increased investment in innovation. The goal is to ensure that credit unions remain at the forefront of delivering inclusive, sustainable and community-driven financial services.
With more than 74,000 credit unions operating in 104 countries and serving over 411 million members, WOCCU’s latest report reinforces the growing relevance of cooperative finance in addressing global inequality and financial exclusion, while also demonstrating its capacity to influence policy and drive systemic change.
