DES MOINES, IA (October 15, 2014) -- Governor Terry Branstad signed a proclamation declaring Thursday, October 16, 2014, as Credit Union Day in Iowa in recognition of International Credit Union Day and the state’s 107 credit unions who are serving more than one million credit union members.
The Credit Union Day proclamation recognizes the Iowa credit union community for its continuing advancement of the financial well-being of credit union members and the contributions made to their respective communities. It states, “Credit unions embrace a ‘people-helping-people’ philosophy through pooling of personal resources and leadership abilities for the good of the cooperative, empowering members to improve their financial future and uniting to help those in need.”
Patrick S. Jury, CEO/President, Iowa Credit Union League, considers Credit Union Day in Iowa and International Credit Union Day a celebration of Iowans choosing credit unions as their best financial partner.
“On this day in Iowa, and all over the world, credit unions celebrate their common roots, the cooperative spirit and their community service achievements,” Jury said. “This is a day to celebrate credit unions as an alternative to for-profit banks, where people are more important than profit.”
Since 1948, International Credit Union Day has been celebrated annually on the third Thursday of October. Each year, the international event affords the opportunity to remember credit unions’ proud history and promote awareness of and support for the credit union difference. This year’s theme, “Local Service. Global Good.,” emphasizes credit unions' positive impact in their communities and around the world.
Credit unions are not-for-profit financial cooperatives that provide an effective and viable alternative to for-profit financial institutions for more than 200 million members in 101 countries worldwide. In the United States, membership recently topped the 100 million mark. Credit unions exist to serve their members, providing a safe place to save money and access affordable loans.
International Credit Union Day is sponsored by World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU), the international trade association and development agency for credit unions worldwide, and numerous national credit union trade associations and federations around the world. To find out more about International Credit Union Day, visit www.woccu.org/events/icuday.
Download the 2014 Credit Union Day Proclamation.
About the Iowa Credit Union League
The Iowa Credit Union League (ICUL) is the trade association that represents the interests of all Iowa credit unions and their more than one million members. Credit unions are not-for-profit, financial cooperatives owned and operated by their members. Iowans use their credit union membership to receive higher interest rates on savings and lower interest rates on loans. For more information on ICUL and Iowa credit unions, visit www.IowaCreditUnions.com. Follow ICUL on Twitter at www.twitter.com/icul or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/iowacreditunions.To learn more about credit unions, visit www.ASmarterChoice.org.