INDIANAPOLIS–Representatives of Financial Center First Credit Union met with their counterparts from Dundalk Credit Union in Ireland as part of the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions’ Global Bridges Program.
The discussion centered on their respective roadmaps for developing financial wellness initiatives.
Participating in the discussions were FCFCU President and CEO Cameron Minges and the credit union’s former CEO, J. Kevin Ryan. Ryan was chosen as Financial Center’s liaison for the meeting and traveled to Dundalk, Ireland as part of the program. Minges joined the meeting virtually.
“The global economy is here,” said Minges. “Learning how we compete begins with understanding how our cooperative model works in different parts of the world. Financial Center was glad to send Kevin Ryan to Dundalk to learn about what’s working for the largest credit union in Ireland and share what we’re doing right here in Central Indiana to improve the lives of members.”
According to the organizations, Financial Center and Dundalk CU are participating in a year-long engagement in the Global Bridges campaign, which is a part of the World Council of Credit Union’s foundation arm.
“Global Bridges works to connect organizations from different countries to grow the credit union movement worldwide,” the credit union said. “Following last week’s meeting, the two credit unions have additional sessions in 2022 to discuss environmental sustainability, gaining youth membership, governance and risk management.”
Indiana League Guides Effort
Financial Center reported it first made a connection with Dundalk CU in March of 2020 when Ryan was chairman of the Indiana Credit Union League. The league hosted representatives from Dundalk CU then and continues to be involved in the ongoing exchange of information through their partnership with WOCCU.
Financial Center noted it is one of several Indiana credit unions that have hosted credit union representatives from other countries and participated in trips to those countries to assist on site.
‘Continuing Exchange’
“It has been great to see the continuing exchange of information between Dundalk CU, Financial Center First CU, and the league throughout 2022 since first hosting representatives of this Ireland credit union in Indiana in 2020,” said ICUL President John McKenzie. “Financial Center First CU as well as many others throughout the state have been tremendous about providing time and expertise to make these partnerships with credit unions from other countries so productive.”