ZAGREB, Croatia—The European Network of Credit Unions (ENCU) and World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) joined forces with the Croatian Credit Union Association to convince key policymakers in Croatia’s capital to address the regulatory challenges preventing credit unions from “maximizing their ability to reach underserved communities."
According to the World Council, ENCU, comprised of eight European credit union associations and WOCCU, serves as a platform to exchange information between countries and “speaks with one voice on European matters.”
WOCCU said the group is urging several policy changes in Croatia, including a revision to arcane restrictions on advertising, providing needed deposit insurance in accordance with European Union (EU) standards and the ability to provide services to small businesses in a similar manner as other credit unions around the world.
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“Because of their cooperative nature, credit unions can often provide these services in areas where large banks sometimes choose not to compete—and often at prices lower than those of larger banks,” WOCCU said.
Modest policy changes that will not affect the safety and soundness of these institutions could dramatically increase financial inclusion in Croatia, the organization added.
“Allowing credit unions to serve small businesses would provide much needed financing to SMEs that will encourage an entrepreneurial culture and promote growth in Croatia. Many of these businesses are underserved by the banking communities and credit unions can fill a much-needed role,” said Andrew Price, SVP-advocacy and general counsel with WOCCU.
‘No Good Reason’
Added Zeljka Pirija-Benakovic, president of the Croatian Association of Credit Unions, which hosted the ENCU representatives, “There is no good policy reason to prevent credit unions from advertising their services like any other business in Croatia. In fact, it is a barrier to providing responsible and affordable financial services to Croatians, particularly where many of them have no access.”
The organizations have been meeting with the Croatian Ministry of Finance, Croatian Parliament, Croatian National Bank and several other key policymakers. Members of ENCU shared their respective experiences from around the European Union.
ENCU Representatives
WOCCU said ENCU was represented in Croatia by the Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU), National Association of Co-operative Savings and Credit Unions (NACSCU) of Poland, Croatian Association of Credit Unions (CACU), Federation of Romanian Credit Unions (FEDCAR), Estonian Union of Credit Cooperatives (EUCC), North Macedonia's FULM Savings House and the Dutch Association of Cooperating Credit Unions (VSK). Representatives were also on hand from credit unions in Albania and the USAID Credit for Agriculture Producers (CAP) Projectin Ukraine, a program administered by WOCCU since 2016.
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