THE globe

DUBLIN, Ireland–Lending among Ireland’s credit unions has surged 14% over the past year driven primarily by a significant rise in mortgage lending.

‘SYDNEY, Australia—The Australian government has introduced legislation that would require buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) firms to run credit checks on borrowers in an attempt to regulate the rapidly growing payment option.

WINNEPEG, Manitoba–Members of three credit unions here have voted in favor of merging the institutions. The boards of Assiniboine Credit Union, Caisse Financial Group and Westoba Credit Union have also approved the deal.

VANCOUVER, B.C.–Vancity Credit Union has announced plans to lay off 7% of its workforce. The credit union is citing financing losses and rising costs as the reasons for the layoffs, according to the CBC.

LONDON—In a move that suggests that at some point U.S. card issuers could have a new avenue for plastic swipes, the U.K. government intends to let people use debit cards to gamble on slot machines.

LVIV OBLAST, Ukraine– Credit Union Anisia has issued the very first credit union loan to a legal entity in Ukraine as the result of efforts the World Council of Credit Unions said it and the USAID/WOCCU Credit for Agriculture Producers (CAP) Project said they have led.

BASEL, Switzerland—The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision has published a report that considers the implications of the ongoing digitalization of finance on banks and supervision.

DUBLIN, Ireland–This country’s credit unions have once again been ranked as the most reputable organization in the country.

STRASBOURG, France—The European Parliament has adopted a package of laws it says will strengthen the E.U.’s toolkit to fight money-laundering and terrorist financing.

SAULT STE. MARIE, Ontario–Two credit unions in Ontario are offering to make a donation to help fight food insecurity for every member who votes on a pending merger.