NEW YORK and WASHINGTON — A program designed to help mainstreamcredit unions and community development credit unions learn fromanother is poised to get off the ground in early 2008.

The National Federation of Community Development Credit Unionsand the National Credit Union Foundation have announced the firstparticipating credit unions in their joint Credit Union DevelopmentCorps program.

The Development Corps will place Credit Union DevelopmentEducators from a so-called mainstream credit union in a communitydevelopment credit union for a week to observe how the CDCU workswith its lower income members. Subsequently, a representative fromthe CDCU will spend a week at the mainstream CU observing that CU'sprograms and operations.

In the first pairings DEs from Selfreliance FCU (headquarteredin Chicago), Philadelphia FCU (Philadelphia), AEA FCU (Yuma,Arizona) and Washington State Employees CU (Olympia, Washington)will work with representatives from Vernon Commerce CU (CommerceCalifornia), Lower East Side Peoples FCU (New York, NY), TriumphBaptist FCU (Philadelphia) and NRS Community Development FCU(Birmingham, Alabama.).

The first exchanges are expected to take place in the firstquarter of 2008, the Federation said.

Tom Decker, National Director for the Credit Union Center forSocial Impact Management at NCUF, remarked that the Foundation waseager to get started.

“We are very excited to partner with the Federation on thiscreative and compelling new program that promotes and embodies thespirit of service, while enhancing an understanding andappreciation of credit unions of all sizes and what makes eachunique,” Decker said.

The Lower East Side Peoples FCU, for example, applied to theprogram looking for assistance in learning more about mortgagesecondary markets and Small Business Administration loans in orderto provide additional services to spur economic security and growthin the communities they serve. Program organizers hope that pairingClaire Ippoliti, CUDE, Vice President of Lending at PhiladelphiaFCU, with the Lower East Side Peoples, will provide New York City'slargest CDCU with the requested expertise during theirexchange.

Dora Turula, a DE who is Marketing and Public Relationsconsultant at Selfreliance FCU, is looking forward to visitingVernon-Commerce CU and learning more about the CDCU's work.According to Ms. Turula, “CDCUs are an essential part of the creditunion system, providing assistance to those who would otherwisehave no access to financial services, and much of that expertisewill be applicable for serving people of modest means at our owncredit union.”

“We hope that the CU Development Corps will create strong bondsbetween participants as well as their institutions–partnershipsthat will bring together large and small CUs, foster thecooperative spirit, and create a stronger and more unified creditunion movement,” explained Federation President/CEO CliffRosenthal.