• Designed to create awareness and celebrate the ways credit unions improve the lives of their members around the world.
• There are more than 53,600 credit unions in the world, serving nearly 186 million people in 97 countries.
• This year's theme, "Your Money. Your Choice. Your Credit Union", underlines some of the key attributes all credit unions share: value, trust, and service to members. It also suggests a sense of loyalty and personal pride that members have for their credit unions and the international credit union community.

• Ownership - Credit unions are democratically controlled and member-owned and operated. Each member has equal ownership and one vote regardless of how much money he or she has in savings.
• Not-for-profit - Credit unions are not-for-profit financial cooperatives that provide a safe, convenient place for members to save money and access loans and other financial services at reasonable rates.
• Social Purpose: People Helping People - Credit unions exist to serve their members, not to make a profit. Every member counts, including those of modest means. This "people first" philosophy impels credit unions and their employees to get involved in their community and support worthwhile causes.
• Volunteer Leadership - Each credit union is governed by a volunteer board of directors elected by and from the credit union's membership.
• Financial Education for Members - Credit unions place particular importance on educational opportunities for their members and the public to help everyone become better educated consumers of financial services.
• Trust - This year, more than ever, credit unions have received positive press for being safe and sound institutions during a tumultuous time. Credit union members worldwide can be proud of these accomplishments and rest assured that their money is safe at the credit union.

• Amid the ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan, men and women alike are getting the chance to experience democracy first hand by voting at their local Islamic investment and finance cooperatives (credit unions).
• The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is funding a World Council of Credit Unions program in Sri Lanka to expand membership and services to rural areas where many people have been internally displaced by a decades-long civil conflict.
• In Peru, credit unions began offering value-chain financing, giving small producers in rural areas access to market information and fairly priced loans, and facilitating the relationships to get their products to market.
• In the U.S., credit unions are committed to providing a safe and affordable alternative to predatory payday lenders. Credit unions are always looking for opportunities to bring underserved communities into a mainstream financial institution, providing access to affordable services.

In the sprit of International Credit Union Day, let's look beyond our local community to recognize credit unions for the important role they play in many distressed urban and rural areas worldwide. Many people would not have been able to afford their own homes, start a new business, or attend college without the help of their credit unions. In some areas, people would have no access to financial services at all without their credit unions.

Help us celebrate International Credit Union Day. No matter where you are in the world, access to financial services is vital. Rich or poor we all face similar challenges in life. Together, credit unions are helping members overcome those challenges throughout the world. One member at a time, we are working to make a difference!