Political Quotes

“Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the importance and many achievements of credit unions worldwide in celebration of the 63rd annual International Credit Union Credit Day. The difference credit unions make in the United States by providing affordable and safe financial services to many Americans of moderate means has been significant and widely recognized. However, the contributions credit unions have made on an international scale are equally notable. Since the mid-1800s, credit unions have established themselves in communities around the world struggling with social dislocation, political unrest, and economic depression as a means to promote economic growth and democratic practices at the local level. Today, more than 54,000 credit unions provide financial services to more than 186 million members in 97 nations. Nationally, credit unions provide financial services to more than 93 million Americans. Credit unions make a difference on a global scale by providing access to affordable financial services for those who otherwise would have been excluded from the financial sector. Such financial services include the provision of small savings and loans, which enable some of the poorest individuals in the world to start their own microenterprises, improve household stability and stimulate growth in their communities. Credit unions are the largest source of these microfinance services in countries as diverse as Colombia, Kenya, Russia, Mexico, Thailand, and Rwanda.…”