Financial Center First CU shares financial literacy program with South American Credit Unions
Partnership with the World Council of Credit Unions allows Financial Center First Credit Union to visit Colombia and share its award-winning ‘people helping people’ focus.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (September 26, 2018) — Financial Center First Credit Union’s President and CEO, J. Kevin Ryan, and Director of Community Relations, Marco Dominguez, traveled to Colombia, South America in early September to share their credit union’s strategies for helping people improve their lives through financial education.
Ryan and Dominguez’s trip to Colombia came at the invitation of the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) and was a part of Financial Center’s growing initiative to provide financial literacy on a global scale. They were hosted by Oscar Guzman, Director of WOCCU and his team.
“Financial Center was honored to share how we’ve made financial literacy such an integral part of serving our community with fellow credit unions from South America, and to learn of the successful financial literacy efforts accomplished in Colombia. The work being done is just amazing.” said J. Kevin Ryan, President and CEO.
While in South America, Ryan and Dominguez visited WOCCU’s Bogota office to learn more about the organization’s global financial literacy outreach specifically to the remote areas of northeast Colombia that border Venezuela. Here, the WOCCU is focused on bringing financial literacy and credit union services to the un-banked through sometimes extraordinary circumstances – traveling rivers in small boats, traversing mountain paths, and overcoming fear of conflict with thieves and armed guerrillas.
Financial Center, a three-time national winner of the Credit Union National Association’s Adult Financial Education Award, was chosen to speak at WOCCU’s Education Summit because of its dedication to teaching responsible money management skills to its members, community members, and Indiana’s immigrant population. Financial Center employs two dedicated staff members for adult and youth financial education efforts and is the chosen sole provider of financial literacy to immigrants who visit the Consul de Mexico in Indiana. As a result, the Credit Union teaches financial literacy to over 3,000 people annually; eighty percent of whom are not Credit Union’s members.
Financial Center also had the opportunity to speak to WOCCU members, local credit unions and several Colombian government agencies about its business practices – focusing on mobilizing financial literacy outreach and developing strategic planning as a credit union competency.
When asked about what he would bring back from South America to share with his Credit Union and others in Indiana, Ryan remarked, “I believe credit unions are more alike than they are different. Whether you live in Central Indiana or the borders of South America, your local credit union is doing whatever it takes to spread the cooperative principles that credit unions were built upon. We‘re ‘people helping people’ building financial stability so members can live a better life.”
Financial Center President and CEO, J. Kevin Ryan and Cooptenjo Gerente General (General Manager), Victor Hugo Camacho Correa exchange logo pins while the Indianapolis-based credit union was visiting a branch in Tenjo, Colombia, South America.
About Financial Center First Credit Union
At Financial Center, nearly 70,000 members are in pursuit of healthier, more vibrant financial lives. Our Credit Union manages $860 million in assets for a diverse community of members in greater Indianapolis, Kokomo and Muncie, Indiana - and beyond. We’re known for providing inclusive banking services, free financial wellness resources, and the people and products to create momentum for whatever’s ahead. Our team of nearly 200 employees are expert coaches and mentors for members - helping them discover new possibilities and chase down their next financial milestones. Join us at fcfcu.com today.
About World Council of Credit Unions
World Council of Credit Unions is the global trade association and development platform, promoting 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. Learn more at www.woccu.org.
