An exchange of ideas and best practices was on the agenda duringa recent visit to Ecuador by representatives from the $1.8 billionBCU in Vernon Hills, Ill.

Bob Pondelicek, BCU director of mortgage sales, and José Cajigas, BCU regionaldirector, traveled to Ambato, Ecuador at the end of May toestablish an official credit union-to-credit union partnership withCooperativa de Ahorro y Credito OSCUS Ltda. through the World Council of Credit Unions' International PartnershipsProgram.

The new partnership between BCU and OSCUS will allow bothparties to directly exchange information, ideas and best practicesin credit union operations, according to the World Council.

During the visit, Pondelicek and Cajigas, BCU visited three ofOSCUS's rural branch offices to observe how the credit union helpsunderserved communities.

“This partnership breaks boundaries and marks a milestone in theEcuadorian cooperative movement,” said Federico Cuesta, OSCUS CEO.“Cooperative thought and willpower have built a new path ofmanagement and international integration.”

The U.S. representatives also attended OSCUS's 50th anniversarycelebration along with 800 credit union members and internationaldelegates. During the celebration, the local government presentedOSCUS with special awards for its community service activities, andBCU presented a special commemoration congratulating OSCUS on its50 years of success.

“We are thrilled to embark on this journey with OSCUS and lookforward to all we have to learn from each other,” said MikeValentine, BCU president/CEO.

The new partnership brings the total number of InternationalPartnerships Program alliances to 20 across North America, LatinAmerica, the Caribbean, South Pacific and Europe.

“Connecting OSCUS and BCU allows them to leverage their sharedcommitment to provide the best member experience regardless ofwhether it's in the suburban communities of Chicago or in ruralEcuador,” said Victor Miguel Corro, Worldwide Foundation forCredit Unions vice president, who oversees World Council'sInternational Partnerships Program.