Treinen: Credit Unions Must Prepare For ‘What’s Next’ As Global Risks Reshape Industry
By CU Today Staff —
SYDNEY, Australia—World Council of Credit Unions President and CEO Paul Treinen opened Monday's general session at the 2026 World Credit Union Conference by urging credit unions to prepare for a rapidly changing financial landscape shaped by geopolitical uncertainty, technological disruption and rising member expectations.
In his keynote, Building for What's Next, Treinen said conversations with credit union leaders around the world revealed common challenges, including increasing regulation, cybersecurity threats, demographic shifts, competition and the need to keep pace with evolving technology. He said the movement must strengthen global advocacy, embrace innovation, deepen cross-border collaboration and better communicate the cooperative difference.
“We do not have to choose between innovation and identity, or between technology and trust. Our opportunity is to bring all of those together—to use innovation to deepen trust, technology to expand access, growth to strengthen communities and advocacy to protect the cooperative difference," Treinen said.
Monday's breakout sessions focused on many of those themes, including one examining how trade restrictions, sanctions, shifting payment systems, cybersecurity threats and political fragmentation are affecting credit unions. Speakers discussed ways institutions can strengthen risk planning, preserve global interoperability and better serve members whose financial lives increasingly extend across borders.
Another session highlighted efforts to improve cross-border payments through credit union collaboration. Presenters shared results from a digital remittance pilot involving Visa, WOCCU, Unitus Community Credit Union and MICOOPE that aims to reduce the cost and complexity of international money transfers while expanding financial inclusion.
“In this pilot, we have proven that the process, technology, and security are in place to connect credit union members from Guatemala through international remittances to the rest of the world. This opens the door for financial inclusion goals to be realized worldwide,” said Steven Stapp, president and CEO of Unitus Community Credit Union.
Monday concluded with the WFCU UnWind event at the Sydney Opera House, while the conference continues this week with additional keynote presentations and strategic discussions on the future of the global credit union movement.
Originally reported by CU Today.