On Oct. 18, 2012, credit union members around the world will celebrate International Credit Union Day, an event to commemorate the credit union movement’s impact and achievements. In honor of this special day, FORUM Credit Union invites its members and the whole community to its branches for a Member Appreciation Day.  Stop by for refreshments, a Free Credit Check and Analysis, and receive a $25 gift card for taking out a Member Appreciation Loan.

Credit unions are not-for-profit financial cooperatives that provide an effective and viable alternative to for-profit financial institutions for more than 196 million members in 100 countries worldwide. They exist to serve their members, providing a safe place to save money and access affordable loans.

Since 1948, International Credit Union Day has been celebrated annually on the third Thursday of October. Each year, the international event affords the opportunity to remember credit unions’ proud history and promote awareness of and support for the credit union difference. This year’s theme, “Members Matter Most,” celebrates the important economic and social contributions credit unions make to their communities worldwide. It also aligns cooperatively owned and controlled credit unions with the greater cooperative business sector and the United Nations, which is also celebrating 2012 as the International Year of Cooperatives.

Credit unions are recognized as a force for positive economic and social change and have provided significant value in both developed and emerging nations. International Credit Union Day is sponsored by World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU), the international trade association and development agency for credit unions worldwide, and numerous national credit union trade associations and federations around the world.