Northern Community Bank attend largest gathering of credit union representatives in the UK at ABCUL conference.
The three day conference included the launch of the Young Professional Network and a proud moment as Northern Community Bank Director Mario joined the ABCUL Board of Directors.
The ABCUL conference in Manchester contained a packed schedule for members of Northern Community Bank’s Board and staff in March. The conference brought together 330 delegates, who represented credit unions from across the UK to participate in the workshops and attend plenary sessions designed to help the movement improve the services we provide to our communities.
The conference saw the launch of the ABCUL Young Professional Network. Our chief operating officer Deborah Smith-Hands was part of the steering committee who organised a dedicated programme that ran alongside the main conference which was attended by Northern Community Bank staff members Isaac and Martyna. The network will provide a platform for young professionals to engage and promote the credit union movement. It will also provide an opportunity for young professionals to connect, learn and live out cooperative values, which enables young volunteers and members of staff at credit unions to develop into leaders.
All reported that the programme, which was facilitated by US-based credit union expert Dr Brandi Stankovic, was exceptional and energising – focusing on personal leadership development, coaching and emotional intelligence.
The Young Professional Network is part of sector wide commitment by ABCUL to support young members of credit union staff, complimenting the North West Youth Forum which launched in January.
Deborah Smith-Hands who has been involved in launching both networks, said:
The networks will bring training and development opportunities for young people working in the sector and a platform for our future credit union leaders to connect with like-minded people. These networks are vital in order to retain young talent in our sector.
During Saturday’s ABCUL annual general meeting Northern Community Bank Director Mario Arnone was accepted onto the ABCUL Board of Directors. President Gerard Spain described the appointment
It was an incredibly proud moment for Northern Community Bank when Mario was officially confirmed as our first representative on the national trade association board with his appointment as an ABCUL director.
Gerard congratulated fellow Board member Mario
Thank you for showing the commitment to getting involved in this capacity, you will be a very good addition to the ABCUL board and I am sure will make an excellent contribution. It is always good to get additional Community Credit Union representation on the ABCUL board.
A number of sessions at the conference looked at FinTech companies who are developing software that will benefit credit union account holders by making it easier and faster to save or borrow through technology such as mobile telephone apps.
ABCUL also announced that the year-long CU Futures programme will accept applications for new students from credit unions across the UK. Both Deborah Smith-Hands and Jodie Bastable have completed the course from Pennine, as a credit union we fully support the programme and the benefits it has brought to the movement.
