This edition provides a snap shot of two Irish credit unions and their immediate actions taken to help credit union members, staff and communities in response to the COVID-19 crisis in March and April 2020. These actions demonstrate and exemplify the ‘credit union difference’. The COVID-19 health crisis has meant extraordinary operational and commercial challenges to credit unions. This podcast refers to the CFCFE report that in turn refers solely to credit unions in the Republic of Ireland; CFCFE has published separately on the actions taken by British credit unions, along with the podcast EDITION 6 in this series. The podcast and indeed the report does not cover except by implication the issues arising for the general public from the COVID-19 pandemic, nor does it look at governmental interventions. This podcast, and the CFCFE paper, does not provide a  comprehensive or detailed documentation of Ireland’s credit unions, but merely a snapshot. The credit union movement can be proud of the demonstration of its values described here. Thanks to Nick Money (Director CFCFE), David McAuley (CEO Donore Credit Union, Dublin) and Michael Byrne (CEO Core Credit Union, Dublin) for their enthusiastic contribution to this podcast.
June 2020

Talking Credit Unions with Chris Smith is a regular podcast dedicated to informing credit union practitioners, leaders and opinion formers on variety of industry topics. To contact Chris Smith, [email protected]