HCCU in Bangladesh

In the world of Credit Unions, an accusation that is so often tossed around is “You’re becoming more like a bank everyday!” but what does a statement like this mean? What it usually means is that the Credit Union has lost that personal touch. They’re no longer a friend to the member and begin to nickel and dime their “customers” every chance they get. More so they’ve lost the spirit of what a Credit Union is all about – Providing financial assistance and solutions to further community development. In other words, to help out his fellow man, which is why it gives me great pleasure to introduce to you Hamilton Community Credit Union’s CEO, Malcolm Stoffman, as he prepares to travel across the globe to achieve exactly this.

A few words from our CEO….

From September 20 – October 1 I have accepted a Technical Assignment that was offered to me by the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) in partnership with the Asian Confederation of Credit Union (ACCU). The assignment is made up of two parts; firstly, I will be working with a group of approximately 25 marketing managers and youth marketing experts (from all over Asia) in a three day workshop to help develop strategies and plans to increase their market share with this important demographic. Secondly, I will be addressing ACCU annual meeting on the topic of “Strategies that Build Credit Union Futures”. The meetings and workshops take place in Dhaka, the Capital of Bangladesh. Asian Credit Unions face many of the same challenges that we face here in terms of remaining relevant to the next generation of Credit Union members in addition to the challenges of rapidly changing culture and modernization as a result of the developing nature of their economies. The CCA and the ACCU have a long standing partnership and Canadians have played an important role in helping the countries to develop their co-operative and Credit Union sectors.

I will be leaving Saturday morning from Toronto, flying to Hong Kong, spending several hours there before flying to Dhaka for arrival at approximately 1:00 am local time (30+ hours later). I am in Dhaka from the 22nd until the 28th when I do the reverse trip home. I plan on posting regular updates (including pictures) on the experience to the HCCU Blog so check back often for info and updates.

If you have any questions I am happy to answer them in the comments section below.

Thanks for your support.

Malcolm Stoffman

I know I look forward to hearing about his progress and success.

About the CCA

CCA supports its members and the co-op sector through the provision of services in three core areas - development, government affairs & public policy, and common table.

Development

For over a quarter century, CCA has assisted co-operatives of all types and descriptions in over 40 countries through their International Development Program. Wherever the CCA is active - in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Eastern Europe – our their development projects are designed and managed with the complete involvement of local co-operative partners. Through co-operatives, CCA works to reduce poverty. Their work helps people to provide themselves with food, with education, with shelter, and with higher levels of income.

Technical Assignments

Each year CCA recruits experts in technical fields such as Credit Union management, sustainable agriculture, co-op legislation and policy, project evaluation, micro-finance and micro-insurance to take on overseas assignments to strengthen local Credit Unions, co-operatives and their federations.

About the ACCU

Since its birth in 1971 the ACCU has served more than 16,000 Credit Unions with 20.5 million individual members in 26 countries in the region along with 17 affiliates promoting Credit Unions in Asia. Membership to ACCU is open to national credit union leagues/federations or other national cooperative financial or similar organizations that follow international Credit Union operating principles and with membership of at least 20,000 individuals or one percent of the population of the country where the organization operates.

Vision

Sustainable Credit Unions in Asia

Mission

ACCU works in partnership with its members to strengthen and promote credit unions as effective instruments of socio-economic development of the people.

ACCU is affiliated with the following international organizations of credit unions/cooperatives:
World Council of Credit Unions

• International Raiffeisen Union
• International Cooperative Alliance
• United Nations