ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Minnesota Credit Union Network hosted participants of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) as part of the group’s three-week visit to the United States. Seven international visitors visited the league’s headquarters to discuss the difference between cooperative financial institutions and for-profit financial institutions in the U.S. and to learn about credit unions’ involvement in their communities.
IVLP participants were from Bosnia, Costa Rica, South Africa, Taiwan, Tanzania, Turkey, and Zimbabwe. This is the third year MnCUN has taken part in an IVLP visit.
MnCUN reported its staff members gave a short presentation which overviewed the function of the Network, the history of the movement, core characteristics of CUs, and the main operational and philosophical ways that credit unions are different than banks. IVLP participants asking a variety of questions ranging from auditing and compliance to financial education in CUs.
Hiway FCU President Jeff Schwalen also spoke to the group on how credit unions are involved in their communities, including HFCU’s efforts in underserved areas in its field of membership. In particular, Schwalen discussed how the credit union has focused on reaching out to the Hmong community and earning their trust. (c) 2008 The Credit Union Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved.http://www.cujournal.com http://www.sourcemedia.com
