The 

World Council of Credit Unions (World Council or WOCCU) is the leading international trade

association and development agency for credit unions and cooperative financial institutions. World
Council promotes the self-sustainable development of credit unions and other financial cooperatives
around the world to empower people through access to high quality and affordable financial
services. World Council advocates on behalf of the global credit union system before international
organizations, and works with national governments to improve legislation and regulation. Its
technical assistance programs introduce new tools and technologies to strengthen credit unions'
financial performance and increase their outreach.
World Council is funded by member dues, government agency and foundation grants and annual
gifts to its foundation. World Council of Credit Unions and its subsidiaries are headquartered
in Madison, Wisconsin, U.S. World Council also has a permanent office in Washington, D.C., and
program offices worldwide.
In cooperation with its member organizations in nearly 60 countries, World Council champions the
credit union model worldwide to continue growing the international movement of 75,000 credit
unions in 109 countries that serve 260 million members.[4]
World Council was incorporated on November 10, 1970,[1] as the global trade association for credit
unions. World Council has worked with the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) and the Microfinance Investment Support Facility for Afghanistan (MISFA) to
build Islamic Investment and Finance Cooperatives in Afghanistan.[5] In 2006, World Council received
a $6.7 million grant from the Gates Foundation to develop credit unions in Africa and Latin America.[6]
World Council supports the self-sustainable development of credit unions and other financial
cooperatives around the world to empower people through access to high quality and affordable
financial services.[7] With funding from a wide range of multi-lateral, government and private partners,
World Council promotes economic security, resilience and livelihoods strengthening through the
sustainable development of local, well managed, savings-led financial institutions. World Council
reaches marginalized and traditionally unbanked populations and has worked with credit unions in
71 countries to provide a range of affordable, pro-poor financial products and services. World
Council raises the awareness of credit unions, facilitates the exchange of information and ideas
about financial cooperatives, and works with policymakers to improve the legal and regulatory
environments for credit unions.
World Council's work focuses on:

 Institutional development and self-sufficiency

 Market based approaches to savings mobilization
 Increasing access to financial services through democratic participation
 Loan services emphasizing member needs and high repayment rates
 Safety and efficiency through financial management systems and controls
 Assistance in developing an effective legal/regulatory framework for credit unions
 International exchange among credit unions through partnerships
 Micro-enterprise through access to savings and credit services
 Support of women through awareness of gender issues.[7]
World Council currently implements international credit union development programs in:

 Colombia
 Guatemala
 Haiti
 Liberia
  Mexico
 Rwanda

International Credit Union Day has been celebrated by the World Council of Credit Unions on the
third Thursday of October since 1948. The day is set aside to reflect upon the history of the credit
union movement and to promote the achievements.[8]