WOCCU takes Virginia Credit Union League, CULedger representatives on an exchange that explores digital and physical innovations

MADISON, Wis.—To find the future, you might not think to look in a small Eastern European nation tucked between Russia and the Baltic Sea. But that’s exactly where professionals from the Virginia Credit Union League (VCUL) and CULedger found it—in more ways than one—during an August WOCCU Global Classroom visit to Estonia.

The Estonian Union of Credit Cooperatives hosted “Tallinn Forum 2019”—which shined a light on innovative products and services most exchange participants had never considered.

WIRED magazine declared the former Soviet Republic as the “most advanced digital society in the world” more than two years ago, and our U.S. exchange participants learned why after seeing presentations about the government’s E-Estonia program. You can read more about that in a piece written for CUInsight by Thomas Belekevich, World Council Program Manager for Member Services.

But as visits to local credit unions showed, the innovations in Estonia aren’t just digital.

A credit union currency

Estonia’s largest credit union is doing something quite unique.

Serving 3,000 members—many of whom are business owners—Tartu Credit Union has developed its own currency, called “Veksel.” The currency can be purchased from Tartu and then used at any of its members’ businesses.

Here’s how it works: a 10 note Veksel bill can be purchased for nine Euros and can then be used to purchase goods or services at the members’ business—at a value that’s on par with the Euro. This represents a 10% discount and encourages Tartu members to support each other’s enterprises.

Tartu also allows members to pay the interest portion of their loan payments in Veksel.

Green energy investment

Tartu Credit Union members are also buying into a program that is both expanding wind energy in Estonia and paying them back at the same time.

Tartu has invested in five wind turbines, each capable of producing two megawatt of electricity. Members who invest in Tartu “power shares” receive an additional dividend derived from the income generated by the sale of the electricity those turbines produce. And that is on top of the interest rate paid on their shares.

“Between the amazing things E-Estonia is doing that showed exchange participants all the things that can be accomplished through digitization, and the efforts by Tartu Credit Union to innovate in ways that benefit both its members and the greater society, this is a Global Classroom visit participants will never forget,” said Belekevich. "It opened their eyes to a world of new possibilities for credit unions."

World Council of Credit Unions is the global trade association and development platform for credit unions.

World Council promotes the sustainable development of credit unions and other financial cooperatives around the world to empower people through access to high quality and affordable financial services.

World Council advocates on behalf of the global credit union system before international organizations and works with national governments to improve legislation and regulation. Its technical assistance programs introduce new tools and technologies to strengthen credit unions' financial performance and increase their outreach.

World Council has implemented 300+ technical assistance programs in 89 countries. Worldwide, 89,026 credit unions in 117 countries serve 260 million people.

Learn more about World Council's impact around the world at www.woccu.org