As Barbados commemorates World Credit Union Day, the spotlight shines on the economic significance of the credit union movement, a sector whose value is firmly rooted in data rather than sentiment. Dr. Ankie Scott-Joseph, an economist at the University of the West Indies, underscores the pivotal role of credit unions in the nation’s financial stability. According to the 2024 Financial Stability Report, jointly published by the Central Bank of Barbados and the Financial Services Commission, credit unions collectively hold assets worth $3.66 billion, accounting for 10% of the financial system and 22.8% of the country’s GDP. This translates to nearly a quarter of Barbados’ annual economic output, highlighting their substantial contribution to national productivity.