Murtino village, Strumica region. FULM Savings House won the prestigious 2018 World Council Growth Award from the World Council Of Credit Unions (WOCCU) which marked the 70th anniversary of the International Credit Union Day and the beginning of its 20th anniversary promotion. At the celebration, certificates of gratitude were given to the most deserving members and associates of FULM Savings House for their particular contribution. The event was enriched by the presence and address of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Zoran Zaev, who congratulated the management and members for this recognition for greatest growth in a choice of 106 countries and the success achieved by FULM this year in Singapore.

Many farmers from the Strumica region have been part of the success story for the past 20 years in the first Branch Murtino. Vancho Chavdarov, who thanks to the loan from FULM could plant an orchard with cherries, sour cherries and apples in the village of Staro Baldovci. Vancho emphasized that the sincere attitude of the employees was crucial for taking out a loan from FULM Savings House. “They gave me the money for good luck, so the trees grew unusually large”, jokes Vancho Chavdarov.

The International Credit Union Day (ICU Day) celebrates the concept: “People helping people,” and reminds the history of the credit union movement. This day is celebrated every third Thursday in October, for 70 years now, since 1948. According to the 2017 statistical report, 89,026 credit unions, in 117 countries around the world, serve 260 million people. (www.woccu.org)