Ten Guatemalan credit union professionals arrived in the United States last month to begin the first phase of a month-long internship program with credit unions in California and Iowa. The interns, all under the age of 40, are the first group of World Council of Credit Unions' new International Credit Union Leadership Program. The program, funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of Citizen Exchanges, is part of the State Department's larger Professional Fellows Program

"San Francisco Federal Credit Union is excited to partner with the World Council of Credit Unions in sharing our experiences with those from the Guatemalan credit union industry. This opportunity has allowed us to expand our networking and gain insight on how credit unions operate in other parts of the world. This has given us the chance to share in best practices that help both systems." said Steven Stapp, president/CEO of San Francisco Federal Credit Union.

Interns traveling to California will focus on gaining new skills in credit union management, including greater marketing awareness, training in financial disciplines and techniques for new product and service delivery methodologies, while also improving their English. World Council's International Credit Union Leadership Program, which promotes internships for young credit union people from various countries, is designed to facilitate idea exchanges, promote foreign language skill development, enhance cultural diversity and improve problem-solving skills as they relate to credit union development and management on a global basis.