RALEIGH, N.C. – State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) has made a $300,000 commitment to the World Council of Credit Unions’ Global Bridges program.
“Aimed at engaging credit unions across the globe to learn, share, and solve pressing global issues, Global Bridges will use the funds to specifically address gaps in inclusion, safety, gender, and leadership in its member credit unions,” SECU said in a statement.
Since first collaborating with WFCU in 2006, SECU said it has contributed $895,000 in support of global efforts for credit union development, and added the funds have helped grow credit unions to more than 375 million members, an increase of 118% since 2006.
SECU’s latest pledge of an additional $300,000 will be over the next three years, bringing the collective total to $1.2 million.
The Global Bridges program is expected to impact one billion people around the world, according to SECU.
‘Inspired by the Work’
“We are inspired by the work that has been accomplished by WFCU since SECU’s funding first began, and we are pleased to continue our support through Global Bridges,” said Jim Hayes, SECU president and CEO. “Their mission to support credit unions worldwide is invaluable. It complements SECU’s ongoing transformational work in communities across North Carolina, and it furthers our philosophy of people helping people.”
Through funding and support from SECU, WOCCU’s Worldwide Foundation said it also hopes to galvanize U.S. credit union support for its work toward its upcoming International Credit Union Day (ICU) EMPOWER Campaign. The campaign runs from Oct. 1-20, with a goal of raising $500,000 from credit unions across the country toward expanding credit unions worldwide in conjunction with the ICU holiday on Oct. 20.
Expanding Inclusion
“We are honored to have the nation’s second largest credit union by our side as a global champion as we together fight to bridge the gap of financial inequality at home and abroad using credit unions,” said Mike Reuter, WFCU executive director. “Our work will bring financial inclusion to many people worldwide who wake up every day without fair and affordable access to financial services.”