Hosted by the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU), the 2025 World Credit Union Conference (WCUC 2025) took place in Stockholm, Sweden, from 14 to 16 July.   

Singapore’s delegation, led by Mr Sanjeev Tiwari, the Credit Sector Chairperson of the Singapore National Co-operative Federation (SNCF), comprises folks from local co-operatives. These credit co-operatives include: Singapore Prison Service Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society, Singapore Government Staff Credit Co-operative Society, TCC Credit Co-operative, Singapore Mercantile Co-operative Society, Citiport Credit Co-operative, AUPE Credit Co-operative, and Singapore Teachers' Co-operative Society.  

WCUC 2025 brought together credit union professionals from nearly 60 countries and marked the largest ever World Credit Union Conference held in Europe. This year’s attendance of more than 2,000 participants tops the previous high of 1,813 set in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 2016. WCUC 2025 also hosted more than 30 keynote and breakout sessions featuring over 50 speakers.  

During the conference, WOCCU Interim President and CEO Paul Treinen reflected on how credit unions have already adapted to challenges from the global pandemic, disruptive technologies, and climate change, urging credit union professionals to continue embracing change to grow the movement.  

Mr Treinen also highlighted WOCCU’s refreshed strategic priorities, which was first outlined by Board Chair Michael Lawrence and emphasised a more proactive approach to international advocacy, improved services for WOCCU members, and strengthening the organisation’s role as a global leader in co-operative finance. 

Inspiring Conference Content and Keynote Presentations  

At the opening keynote of WCUC 2025, cybersecurity expert Confidence Staveley underscored the critical role of digital trust for credit unions in an increasingly complex threat landscape. She cautioned that the online tools most relied upon by members are also prime targets for sophisticated cybercriminals. Staveley urged credit unions to scrutinise both internal systems and third-party vendors, emphasising the need for phishing-resistant identity verification and robust security design to safeguard member trust and protect against evolving digital threats.  

Subsequent breakout sessions covered key themes that will shape the future of credit unions. Sessions delved into digital transformation and innovation, from Artificial Intelligience (AI) and Virtual Reality (VR) to FinTech and generative AI; leadership and governance, including collaborative models and executive talent sharing; and youth and member engagement strategies to connect with the next generation. Other highlights included branding and customer experience insights, regulatory and compliance updates, sustainability and social impact initiatives, and organisational strategy and change management.  

On the conference’s closing, a noteworthy and energising keynote by Mr Eric Termuende, co-founder of NoW of Work, author of Rethink Work, and an award-winning speaker on leadership and the future of work, titled “Blueprint to the Future: Leading in a New World of Work”, emphasised that workplace satisfaction is driven largely by the people we work with. He challenged leaders to ask: “How do we build a team so good that it doesn’t matter what the future looks like?” Mr Termuende advocated for making change in small, deliberate steps, through regular check-ins, continuous improvement, and empowering teams with the confidence and capability to tackle any challenge ahead. His speech inspires credit unions to intentionally build a work culture in a practical way that allows for talent retention and organisational excellence. 

WCUC 2025 ended on a Wednesday night with a closing celebration at the Stockholm Waterfront Congress Center.  

WOCCU will host 2026 World Credit Union Conference at Sydney, Australia, from 19-22 July 2026. 

By Raena Leang