Why We Celebrate International Credit Union Day®
Think about this for a moment: For over 105 years, credit unions have powered a simple yet transformative idea – that people could attain the American Dream, and achieve a better standard of living, by working together.
This idea of collective energy, of pooling savings and creating loans for each other, has become a unifying force for people and communities looking for an alternative to profit-driven financial institutions.
What began as a small series of co-operatives in Germany, “based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity,” has grown to become an international force with over 56,000 credit unions and 200 million members around the globe.
Building financial health for a brighter tomorrow
Since 1948, the shared vision of the credit union movement has been recognized each October with International Credit Union (ICU) Day – a time to raise awareness of and celebrate the credit union movement’s success
and future ambitions.
This year’s theme, "Building financial health for a brighter tomorrow.", exemplifies the “people helping people” model that drives the credit union community. As stated by the Credit Union National Association, credit unions “empower people, wherever they are in the world or life, to take control of their financial future.” This dedication to helping all people through community support is what has enabled credit unions to grow and thrive for more than a century.
Driving COMMUNITY Prosperity
Aquila Standard (Aquila) has been supporting growth and prosperity for our neighbors and community since its founding in 1933. Our understanding of the credit union financial model and the critical disparities faced by those we serve has resulted in long-term relationships with our Members and community partners that envision an equitable future for all of us living throughout the Greater Puget Sound and those that will call it home in the future.
What began in the spirit of community and shared success continues to keep its promise to members across the country and around the world. Happy International Credit Union Day!