DCUC Successfully Concludes 2024 Overseas Sub-Council Conference

This year’s Overseas Sub-Council gathering included many “firsts” for both DCUC and its member credit unions.

​WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC) and its member credit unions serving the U.S. overseas military population recently gathered in Warsaw, Poland for DCUC’s Overseas Sub-Council Conference. The conference, co-hosted by Service Credit Union, focused on the challenges of serving this unique segment of our Armed Forces and the current political climate in Europe. Additionally, DCUC and its member credit unions’ mission was highlighted on a world stage, honored by the official remarks from Poland’s President, Andrzej Duda.

“Service Credit Union was proud to step up and support this year’s DCUC Overseas Sub-Council Conference. This was indeed a unique opportunity to focus on diplomatic efforts and we were proud to meet the President of Poland in addition to the U.S. Ambassador during the week,” said David Araujo, Service Credit Union president/CEO. “Service Credit Union continues to serve military members overseas and having our meeting in Poland was especially important in light of our growing military presence there.”
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​During the week, attendees heard from high-level speakers including U.S. Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Financial Management and Comptroller Robert Cook, and former Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO Command Operations General Philip Breedlove.

Attendees and guests were also invited to the Presidential Palace for a formal reception with President Duda, who shared his appreciation for the strong diplomatic ties with the United States and his continued support of hosting the U.S. military within Poland’s borders.

“This year’s Overseas Conference included many DCUC firsts, including having a U.S. Ambassador speak at our conference and meeting a sitting head of state, President Duda. Our speakers throughout the conference made clear the importance of the U.S. military presence beyond our borders, and we are incredibly proud of the work our overseas credit unions do every day to ensure the financial well-being of our overseas military population,” stated Anthony Hernandez, DCUC president/CEO. “We also owe a big thank you to Bogdan Chmielewski and the Polish and Slavic Federal Credit Union for their help in putting together such a memorable week.”

DCUC was beyond honored by President Duda’s remarks about meeting with our council and member credit unions. The official office website of the President of the Republic of Poland released the following statement:

“Polish–American relations have been very friendly and close for many years. We are proven strategic partners. I am convinced that meetings like today's contribute to the strengthening of relations between our countries,’ Andrzej Duda stressed. The President thanked all the representatives of America's Credit Unions for coming. He spoke highly of the work of the Defense Credit Union Council, which brings together more than 180 credit unions serving 37 million members.” (The official website of the President of the Republic of Poland, May 2, 2024, “Meeting with representatives of America’s Credit Unions,” retrieved May 13, 2024, from https://www.president.pl/news/meeting-with-representatives-of-americas-credit-unions,85185).

The conference agenda also featured updates from the DoD European financial offices for the Department of the Army and Department of the Navy, a national and global economic update from Dr. Ligia Vado, America’s Credit Unions, and Ewa Sierzynska, WOCCU, who gave a first-person perspective on the credit union movement in Ukraine and how it perseveres during war.

DCUC's 2024 Overseas Conference was made possible thanks to the following organizations and their generous sponsorships: Armed Forces Financial Network, TruStage, DDJ Myers, an ALM First Company, ALM First, Allied Solutions LLC, Gallagher, and Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union.