MADISON, Wisconsin, July 7, 2026 — The World Council of Credit Unions [ WOCCU ], in collaboration with Visa, has completed one of the first known cross-border digital remittances between credit union cooperatives, connecting members in the United States directly with members in Guatemala through a new pilot initiative. The milestone represents a significant step towards expanding the way remittances can flow globally through trusted cooperative networks.
“Cross-border payments are essential to families and communities around the world, but they are often difficult, costly or disconnected from the formal financial system,” said Paul Treinen, President and CEO of WOCCU. “This pilot demonstrates how credit unions, working with partners such as Visa, can deliver practical digital solutions that expand financial inclusion and create lasting value for members on both sides of a remittance corridor.”
Guatemala is one of the world’s most remittance-dependent economies, receiving approximately US$ 25.53 billion in remittances in 2025, with remittances accounting for nearly one-fifth of the country’s gross domestic product. For many Guatemalan families, these funds help to meet household expenses, education, healthcare and other essential needs. By linking remittances directly to debit cards through credit union cooperatives, the pilot aims to make these payments more accessible and better integrated into the formal financial system.
The initiative connects members of Unitus Community Credit Union in the United States with members of three Micoope-affiliated credit unions in Guatemala: Acredicom, Copecom and Tonantel. Through a digital remittance platform powered by Visa Direct®, Unitus members can send funds directly to Micoope members’ debit cards, supporting faster, more reliable cross-border payments for both senders and recipients.
“In this pilot, we have demonstrated that the processes, technology and security are in place to connect credit union members in Guatemala with the rest of the world through international remittances. This opens the door for financial inclusion goals to be realised globally,” said Steven Stapp, President and CEO of Unitus Community Credit Union.
“Visa’s partnership with WOCCU is focused on unlocking new ways for credit unions to better serve their members around the world,” said Celeste Schwitters, Senior Vice President, Community Accounts and Digital Sales at Visa. “By combining Visa’s global network and Visa Direct capabilities with the strength of the cooperative system, this pilot enhances the way money moves, making it more accessible, more reliable and better connected to the financial tools on which people depend.”
Micoope’s cooperative network serves 2.7 million members across Guatemala, with 91 per cent brand recognition in rural areas and approximately half of its members being women. This trusted infrastructure provides a unique opportunity to extend financial services to communities with limited access.
“This initiative has a profound social impact. It places rural Indigenous women, who have historically been excluded from financial services, at the centre of cooperative finance, beginning with digital remittances and financial education to improve their lives, their families and their communities, while bringing our credit unions back to our cooperative DNA,” said Antonio Aldana, CEO of Micoope.
This pilot demonstrates how WOCCU and Visa are helping credit union cooperatives strengthen connections between members and financial services while expanding access through cooperative networks around the world.
https://thecooperator.news/woccu-publishes-new-white-paper-on-ethical-ai-for-credit-union/
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