Financial Services Cooperatives Put Human Capital First

News provided by

2012 International Summit of Cooperatives

Apr 19, 2012, 10:00 ET

QUEBEC CITY, April 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Financial services cooperatives successfully reconcile competitiveness with their members' needs, pursuing reasonable profits while striving to offer their clients the best products and services. In doing so, they provide stability and financial security to millions of people.

The organizers of the 2012 International Summit of Cooperatives taking place in Quebec City this coming October say there is a need to increase awareness of financial services cooperatives and the advantages they offer so they can make an even greater contribution to the economic and social well-being of individuals and communities around the world.

Financial cooperatives are very successful, accounting for 26% of the entire cooperative movement worldwide. In 2008, they generated US$430 billion in gross revenue.

"The financial services cooperative model, which is based on democratic governance, participation, proximity and member satisfaction, works. By focusing primarily on human capital rather than profits at any cost, financial cooperatives have demonstrated their resilience and effectiveness during the financial crisis that began in 2008," said Stephane Bertrand, the Summit's Executive Director.

The renowned speakers we are announcing today will help raise awareness of financial services cooperatives and their powerful business model.

Jean-Louis Bancel - Credit Cooperatif (France)

Debra Da Costa - United Nations Federal Credit Union (United States)

Fortunatas Dirgincius - Lithuanian Central Credit Union (Lithuania)

Carina Geber-Teir - OP Group (Finland)

Herve Guider - European Association of Co-operative Banks (France)

Dominique Lefebvre - Federation Nationale du Credit agricole (France)

Monique F. Leroux - Mouvement Desjardins (Canada)

Michel Lucas - Credit Mutuel (France)

Alpha Ouedraogo - Confederation des institutions financieres (Burkina Faso)

Tracy Redies - Coast Capital Savings Credit Union (Canada)

Daouda Sawadogo - Reseau des caisses populaires du Burkina (Burkina Faso)