A look at credit unions in the United Sates through the International Credit Union Operating Principles

International Credit Union Operating Principles represent the core values of credit unions yet during the author’s fifteen years of experience with credit unions in the United States the International Credit Union Operating Principles were rarely if ever mentioned. This paper looks at credit unions in the United States through the International Credit Union Operating Principles by asking the question, As credit unions in the United States continue to develop and operate, to what extent are they familiar with and adhere to the International Credit Union Operating Principles? The research pool included thirty-nine United States credit union Chief Executive Officers, who provided the majority of the data, and at least one representative from various credit union organizations including the Connecticut Credit Union Association, Constitution State Corporate Credit Union, the National Credit Union Administration, Connecticut State Banking examiners and the World Council of Credit Unions. The data was collected via questionnaires and interviews. Based on the results of this research more than half of the credit unions in the United States are not familiar with and do not fully adhere to the International Credit Union Operating Principles. This paper describes a way in which the International Credit Union Operating Principles can be brought back to the forefront of credit union development and operations. As credit unions are part of a cooperative movement it would be beneficial for anyone involved in the credit union movement to read this to understand the importance of the International Credit Union Operating Principles and to see how they can be incorporated back into the development and operation of credit unions