World Credit Union Conference Breaks Attendance Record in Stockholm

By W.B. King

Stockholm, Sweden hosted this year’s World Credit Union Conference, which celebrated its 20^th anniversary. With more than 2,000 participants from 55 countries, the organization broke the record set at its 2016 conference in Belfast, Ireland, which welcomed 1,813 attendees.

Across 104 countries, the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) reports that there are 74,634 credit unions, with $3.7 trillion in assets, that support 411, 008, 249 members.

Paul Treinen. Photo: WOCCU.

Among topics discussed from July 14-16 were political polarization, volatility in global markets and the expanded role of government across all borders, which is creating the potential for increased regulations. Paul Treinen, interim president and CEO of WOCCU, doesn’t see these issues as hurdles for credit unions but rather opportunities. 

“We are no strangers to change, and we have proven time and again to be nimble—not only in reacting to change but in proactively embracing and leading on it,” Treinen told attendees, noting that the credit union industry has proven itself resilient by addressing issues like the pandemic and disruptive technologies.

While delivering his keynote address on “Blueprint to the Future: Leading in a New World of Work,” best-selling author and thought leader Eric Termuende provided insights and strategies to enhance workplace operations. “So, why is it that thing that we love so much about the work we do is the thing that we like to avoid the most? I think the key to the future of work is the development of the relationships with the team you’ve already got,” he shared. “I think your best recruitment strategy is going to be a good retention strategy.”

RegTech and AI

During a breakout session, RegTech and whether it should center on technology or principles, was discussed. David Heine, CEO of Regional Australia Bank, said that since technology is changing so fast, focusing regulations on specific tools isn’t feasible.

“You can’t nail it down and regulate a specific version (of a tool). I mean, how many different versions of AI [artificial intelligence] do we all have on our phones? You can’t treat it from that point of view,” said Heine. “There are some weaknesses in a principles-based approach, of course. It becomes gray for practitioners to understand, necessarily, what the outcome is and what you’re trying to drive toward, but we’re left with no choice, in my view.”

Peter Kerstens, technology adviser for the European Commission, addressed the principles issue. “In policy terms, there’s a triangle. And, if you’re a policymaker, you often have various objectives you want to pursue. You may want to pursue competitiveness and effectiveness, and performance— and that’s a very valid objective. But you may also want to pursue privacy protection—very important,” he continued. “But if you go to purse one of these objectives to the extreme, the two other objectives are going to suffer. And that’s why policymakers—in my view—have to try to place themselves somewhere in the middle of the triangle.”

While leading a breakout session on AI, “Turning Buzz Into Strategy for Credit Unions,” Karan Bhalla, CEO of the Vienna, Va.-based AiVantage Inc., noted that AI investments in financial services is expected to “skyrocket” from $35 billion in 2023 to $126.4 billion by 2028. As such, he added that AI adoption is a competitive necessity. Real-world applications for credit unions include fraud detection, operational efficiency and member personalization. “AI is unavoidable—credit unions that begin exploring it now and take steps toward becoming data-driven will be the ones best positioned for the future,” he said.

Going Down Under in 2026

In reflecting on the successful conference, Treinen said that moving forward WOCCU will place a greater emphasis on “proactive advocacy, improved member services and a stronger connection” to the global credit union movement. “We want all of you to know, we hear you. We are getting the message loud and clear. We know what’s important to you. That’s why as the leader of this movement, World Council must not just adapt—we must assert our value louder and more effectively than ever,” he said.

The 2026 World Credit Union Conference will be held in Sydney, Australia, July 19-22.