Future of credit union advocacy starts on the global stage
World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) President and CEO Paul Treinen emphasized the importance of coordinated advocacy at the local, national, and global levels during his mainstage address Wednesday at Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC) 2026.
“At the end of the day, this work is not about policy for policy’s sake,” Treinen said. “It is about making sure credit unions can continue doing what they do best: serving members, strengthening communities and expanding access to financial services for people who need it most.”
While much of the advocacy work U.S. credit unions see firsthand happens in statehouses and on Capitol Hill, Treinen reminded attendees that many of the policies shaping the future of financial services originate in international forums long before they reach the U.S.
Capital standards, anti-money laundering rules, artificial intelligence, digital assets and cybersecurity are issues that begin on the international stage and eventually influence national regulatory frameworks.
WOCCU’s role, he said, is to ensure the credit union perspective is represented early in those discussions and that global standards reflect the realities of cooperative financial institutions.
Treinen highlighted proportionality as a top priority for WOCCU’s international advocacy work—pushing for regulatory approaches that recognize the size, structure and risk profile of credit unions, rather than applying one-size-fits-all rules designed for the world’s largest banks.
Treinen also thanked the U.S. credit union community for its continued partnership and support of global development efforts, noting the tangible impact those efforts have had in communities around the world. Through collaboration with the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions and the broader movement, credit unions have helped expand access to savings, credit and financial opportunity in countries including Ukraine, Guatemala and Kenya.
He encouraged attendees to remain engaged in the global movement and invited them to continue the conversation at the World Credit Union Conference in Sydney this July, where leaders from around the world will gather to share ideas, strengthen partnerships and shape the future of cooperative finance.
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