The $25 billion StateEmployees' Credit Union in Raleigh, N.C., recently hosted adelegation of 17 emerging financial leaders from China interestedin learning about the philosophy, practices and strategies of thenot-for-profit cooperative industry.

As members of the Youth Federation of China, they representedfour of China's largest state-owned commercial banks, includingIndustrial and Commercial Bank of China, the AgriculturalDevelopment Bank of China the China Construction Bank, and theExport-Import Bank of China.

With over $2 trillion in assets, the Industrial and CommercialBank of China recently purchased a bank in the U.S. with plans toexpand its franchise. The delegation is the second group from Chinato visit SECU in recent years, the credit union said.

The Chinese delegation toured an SECU branch and the creditunion's Information Services area. SECU President/CEO Jim Blaine and Senior Executive VicePresident Bobby Hall were among the credit union officers who metwith the group.

The visiting delegates were in North Carolina for a five-daytraining program through North Carolina State University's GlobalTraining Initiative. Members of the Chinese delegation wereinterested in leaning about U.S. automation, Internet and mobilebanking, SECU said.

“We sincerely appreciate the reception of the State Employees'Credit Union leadership and the opportunity for questions anddiscussions,” said Zhou Bo of China Construction Bank, who led thedelegation. “Compared to the banks in China, State Employees'Credit Union is a very unique institution in terms of its purpose,ownership and management.”

Blaine said, “We are pleased to partner with North CarolinaState University to share the philosophy, purpose and benefits of afinancial cooperative with the visiting delegation. This visitreally offered these emerging leaders the opportunity to see howSECU's unique not-for-profit model functions in today's financialmarketplace through its practices, strategies and innovativeservices.”